As November’s election increasingly comes into focus for all voters, it’s probably a good idea to check in with the newest set of participants. College freshmen are, obviously, taking an active part in the process for the first time and we’ve checked in with a group of them at Webster University.

The suburban St. Louis liberal arts college represents a reasonable cross-section of the region, with students usually from within the immediate, 100-mile radius of the Webster Groves campus. That said, the group we surveyed – adjunct professor Thomas Crone’s Introduction to Mass Communications class – is not an exact demographic representation of the school. This group, for instance, includes 20 US citizens, and only three non-citizens, on a campus where foreign students do flock. The group was also predominantly white, with a smaller percentage of students who are African-American or other ethnicities.

That said, they do fit the profile of new voters, with nine of them aged 18, another eight at age 19 and four more checking in at 20 or 21. In total, this would definitely qualify as a first-time-voter crop.

And they say they plan on voting.

Eighteen of the 23 students say they planned on voting. Of the 23, 17 say they’re registered to vote, with two more planning to do so before the October 8 deadline. With three students as non-citizens, that means only one eligible voter in the room indicated a non-vote.

Thought not asking for the names of candidates, 14 say that they know their choice; another five said they don’t know; two more give a “maybe.”

We also asked them a few additional questions and we’ve copies some of the answers below, because they were particularly intriguing, or they summed up the mood of many. A sampling of their feedback.

What are, let’s say, the three key issues of this Presidential campaign?

“1. Offshore drilling. 2. Bringing home troops. 3. Experience vs. newness.”

“Lowering taxes, bringing troops home and gas prices.”

“The economy, health care and our foreign policy.”

“Health care, the war in Iraq and illegal immigration.”

“The war in Iraq, change, gay rights.”

“The handling of foreign affairs, gas prices and maintaining the economy.”

Is either major Presidential candidate speaking to issues of importance to you?

“Neither candidate is speaking about what’s important to me.”

“Is Ron Paul running? He has my vote is he is. He seems to be the only realistic candidate. He’s honest. Maybe too honest.”

“I suppose they’re addressing them, but whether, or not, their opinions are to my liking is another story.”

“Yes, my dad has gone to Iraq twice now and is going again. I would really like him to be able to come home and be safe.”

How about speaking to issues important to the college-aged generation?

“Gas prices and the war are the key issues with the college generation.”

“I’m honestly not sure what’s important to college-aged students, because when I discuss politics, my views of what should be going on the campaigns are always completely different.”

“No, not really to the college-aged generation. Health care and the economy are of little concern to young adults who are in the prime of their life and don’t have to worry too much about bills. It might actually be important, but college-aged people just won’t care overall. Concerning foreign policy, they will be the ones fighting any wars, so they do care more about that.”

“I think the issues presented are important to all Americans.”

“We’re the ones that possibly won’t be able to find job out of college, so these issues do pertain to us.”

Have you considered a third-party candidate for your vote?

“No, only because one of the major candidates will win. Third parties have no chance, regardless of whether I agree with them.”

“No, I only know about Ross Perot, and I miss his big ears.”

“Yes, and I would vote for the candidate who suits me best, regardless of their chances of winning.”

“No, sir, not really. Sad to say, but I am no a fan of politics.”

“I am always aware of the Green Party, but I feel that by voting for them, I am pretty much wasting my vote. That may be a closed-minded way of thinking about it, but that’s what I feel.

How much do you rely on new media for your Presidential election news?

“Heavily. I rely on the new media for election news.”

“I would say I use the internet more than watching it on TV.”

“I rely on it greatly.”

“I rely on NPR and the words of the candidates directly.”

“I don’t rely on media. The only news I hear is from others, because I don’t really pay attention to the election news.”

“Entirely.”

And do you get some of you new from faux-news sources, ala “The Daily Show,” “The Colbert Report” or “The Onion”?

“I do like ‘The Colbert Report’ and I do think Stephen Colbert know what he’s talking about. He’d be fun to write in.”

“I watch ‘The Daily Show’ and ‘Colbert,’ sometimes. If I take in news, it’s from them.”

“No, I don’t take those seriously.”

“No, but I should look into it.”

“I get news from actual news sources.”

“I do watch ‘The Daily Show’ and ‘Colbert Report’ but they really just make fun of our circumstances.”