By SARAH BROACH

Staff Writer

Months before the presidential election, MTV, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and music groups began to target the 18-24-age group with messages of practicing their right to vote.

According to The Associated Press, over 20 million voters Nov. 2 were under the age of 30.

The question of whether or not the campaigns impacted those who did vote still remains.

Shelly Brown, a freshman forestry major, said she did not vote, but is not affected by what celebrities and musicians say about voting and political views.

"I want to think for myself," Brown said. "[What is important is] what each candidate believes in."

Brown said she did feel campaigns such as MTV's "Choose or Lose" were good for informational purposes.

"It sums up what both candidates believe and you can see which you like best," Brown said.

Combs started the "Citizen Change" campaign earlier this year to get the younger voting group out to the polls. The campaign's slogan of "Vote or Die" was available on shirts and memorabilia for purchase.

"The forgotten ones will ultimately decide who the next president is," Combs said in July, according to Intervention Magazine.

Combs was openly for the election of Sen. John Kerry.

Jonathan Ashworth, a freshman mechanical engineering major, said he feels musicians are people just like everyone else with their own opinions.

"They have their right to express their opinion, but we don't [necessarily] have to [follow] them," Ashworth said.

"Rock Against Bush," a tour of music groups against a re-election of President George W. Bush, began in March. "Rock Against Bush" compact discs were also released, including music from Green Day, Foo Fighters, Weezer, Sum 41 and Good Charlotte.

Another anti-Bush tour was "Vote For Change," with acts such as Bruce Springsteen and the Dave Matthews Band participating.

According to MSNBC, country music singer Sara Evans contemplated starting a tour in support of President Bush but decided not to, in case of backlash.

Rocker Alice Cooper and country stars Toby Keith, Lee Ann Womack and Darryl Worley also vocally supported President Bush.

Kim Carroll, a freshman computer science major, said she loses respect for celebrities who are overly outspoken about their political views.

"I won't buy Dixie Chicks' albums anymore," Carroll said, referring to the Dixie Chicks' open stance against Bush. "I stopped supporting them."

Carroll said musicians should stick to what consumers pay them to do.

"I don't go [to concerts] to hear their political views," Carroll said. "I go to listen to their music."

Carroll said she feels there are some people whose votes were affected by musicians who spoke their minds about politics.

"It didn't have any affect on me because I [already] knew who I was voting for."