Sen. Russ Feingold (D) encouraged students to get out the vote in today's general election during a speech at the Alumni Memorial Union.

About 85 people, the majority of whom were students, attended Feingold's speech Saturday in which he commended attendees for their dedication and enthusiasm toward the presidential campaign.

"You are holding history in your hands," Feingold said.

Feingold, who is campaigning to serve his third term in the U.S. Senate, spent most of his speech promoting Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (Mass.).

"You need to elect John Kerry the next president of the United States," he said.

He said every election is important, but stressed the significance of today's election, saying the power to make history exists in Wisconsin and Milwaukee.

Republican Tim Michels, Libertarian Arif Khan and and Independent Eugene Hem are all challenging Feingold for his Senate seat.

Despite seeking re-election, Feingold stressed one point as heavily as his personal campaign.

"We simply have to remove George Bush from the White House," he said.

Feingold described the Democratic Party as a group of "agents of change" he is proud to have served with for the past 12 years. He said he believes the party will take control of the Senate after today's election.

"I intend to be there in the new Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate," he said. He expressed desire for a Democratic majority so Kerry would not have to face a "hostile Congress" if he is elected.

If the Democrats gain a majority in the Senate, Feingold said they would continue fighting terrorists without implementing stipulations that affect the general public.

He said he would not tolerate provisions that impair the rights of law-abiding citizens but have nothing to do with stopping terrorists.

"We will destroy terrorists but also protect freedoms of the Constitution," he said.

Melissa VanDygriff, sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences and a member of Marquette's College Democrats who attended the rally, said she voted early for Feingold.

"He's been in Congress for so long," she said of Feingold. "He's well-liked, a genuine person and a good speaker."

Anne Candioto, sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, said at the rally she plans to vote for Feingold today.

"I like that he voted against the Patriot Act and that he actually read it," Candioto said. "His positions in general tend to match mine."

Many students at the rally clutched blue signs endorsing Feingold and sported stickers supporting both him and Kerry.

Feingold geared parts of his speech toward the college-age crowd, saying young people are often without jobs or insurance under the Bush administration.

"It's just not right," he said.

He said the Bush administration was not right in handling the environment. According to Feingold, environmental issues have not received enough attention in this year's presidential campaign.

He said he is taking the lead in the Senate to improve environmental policy but needs more time to do so.

"I want six more years," he said.