ISSUE: It is time for the newly elected officials to live up to their talk of change.

OPINION: The interest of students must remain a top priority.

SOLUTION: Newly elected officials must continue to fight to lower college costs and ensure a stable future for students. Students must also remain involved in politics so their voices can be heard.

The candidates have preached change, and change is here. Sen. Barack Obama is the new president, Lieutenant Governor Bev Perdue is North Carolina’s new governor and state Sen. Kay Hagan has dethroned Sen. Elizabeth Dole to become North Carolina’s newest U.S. Senator.

We congratulate the newly elected officials, but with their new power comes a load of new responsibilities. For our new officials to represent us and to seek what is in our best interests, they must keep issues, such as education and the economy, at the forefront.

At N.C. State, Chancellor James Oblinger proposed a 2 percent budget cut Oct. 1, cutting jobs and making larger classes. This proposal comes after a $9 million budget cut earlier this semester. N.C. State and other public universities are suffering and lowering their standards. We expect the elected officials to hear our complaints and advocate for more funding for public universities.

These new elected officials must keep young people in mind and remember that college students are the future. Obama must fight for the $4,000 tuition tax credit for college students that his campaign has advertised. Also, if Obama is going to be a president of the people, he must keep his promise to college students by increasing funding for college financial aid. Hagan also supported providing more financial aid for college students, and she must continue to advocate for low college loan rates and an increase of Pell grants.

Perdue’s College Promise Plan would give students whose families cannot afford the cost of higher education an opportunity to earn a college degree without the risk of debt. It is imperative she continue to develop this plan, which will provide education to lower income people who deserve college credit.

Some college students work to help pay for their education, and Perdue should continue to fight for a rise in the minimum wage as she said she would.

Also, the frail state of the economy has made college students wary about stepping out into the real world. Elected officials must keep the middle class and their bank accounts in mind when making financial decisions.

The responsibility for change does not rest with our elected officials alone.

Students have shown enthusiasm this election year, and they should not stop. Students should remain active and knowledgeable about the issues after the election. Although it may be difficult to think about politics so soon after the election it is important to remain just as involved, if not even more, in our government so we can ensure our voices continue to be heard and officials continue to look out for our interests.