The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is home to dozens of colleges and universities. Students from across the country and all over the world become part of the fabric of our community during their academic careers. Many of you will choose to remain in Boston for a few years after graduation. Some of you will never leave, choosing instead to establish careers and raise families in the place you thought was only a temporary stop when you first arrived.

Doesn’t it make sense then, to try and make Boston a better place to live, work and raise a family? You can do this in very simple ways. First, Tuesday Nov. 5 is election day across the nation. If you’re registered to vote, make sure you find the time to cast a ballot. This simple exercise is probably the easiest way to get involved in the decision making process. It is an important right that Americans are lucky to have and, as we learned during the 2000 Presidential election, every vote really does count. Even if you are still registered to vote in your home state, it’s probably not too late to request an absentee ballot.

So you missed the voter registration deadline? There are still lots of ways to get involved. Volunteer for a few hours on election day. You have plenty of campaigns on the local, state and federal level from which to choose. Regardless of your party affiliation or thoughts on the issues of the day, you can find a candidate you agree with and lend them a hand. No campaign will turn you away.

Don’t consider yourself politically active and the thought of spending even ten minutes on the campaign trail holds no interest? Then find a cause you believe in and volunteer. There are countless worthwhile agencies, non-profit organizations and groups who would welcome an hour a week, even an hour a month. You could read to children, volunteer at a soup kitchen, collect clothing for those less fortunate, help protect our environment — the list of volunteer opportunities in and around Boston is endless. Check the yellow pages and the Internet for opportunities that interest you.

Students often ask me what they can do to make a difference or get involved in their community. When I offer these suggestions, I am sometimes met with skepticism. How will my one vote really count or my token volunteer time make a difference?

If every student in the City of Boston (and this means those of you in neighborhoods like Allston, Brighton, Fenway and Kenmore) took a few minutes to vote or committed to a worthwhile cause, imagine the voice you would have. There are thousands of college students of voting age in the city of Boston. Those numbers represent an important voting bloc that has not had a voice in most elections.

Voting captures the attention of your elected officials. On the national level, higher student voting turnout could easily translate into greater attention paid to the issues students care about, such as federal financial aid for tuition. Locally, you can create a potent coalition and advocate for the many issues that impact students. You could advocate for improved public transportation or a resurfaced Commonwealth Avenue or countless other issues that impact your life on a daily basis.

So if you’re registered, take the time to cast a ballot on Nov. 5. If you missed the deadline, it’s never too late to plan for next year. Our democracy counts on people caring enough to get involved in their communities. So during this election season, make sure your voice is heard. In fact, you can register today to vote in 2003.