MADISON, Wis. -- While President Barack Obama is promoting his economic stimulus package, some University of Wisconsin-Madison students are promoting the idea that Obama needs to live up to his many campaign promises.

Students gathered in downtown Madison Saturday for a peaceful rally calling on President Obama, Wisconsin state legislators, and new UW chancellor Biddy Martin, to fulfill their promises and bring necessary change directly into young people's lives.

UW senior Alex Kalfayan wasn't initially planning on joining the rally.

"I was off to work and saw some people here," said Kalfayan. "It just seemed like a good reason for me to delay my work. I figured it was very important to show up and support the movement."

"An election is really just the most basic thing that somebody in our democracy can do," said Kalfayan. "You know, if all you're doing is voting, then you aren't really politically active."

Nearly 100 UW students are supporting the movement along with student organizations like the Working Class Student Union, WISC-TV reported.

Chynna Haas, president of the Working Cass Student Union said, "Our overall goal of today is really to make our voices heard and to let the people who we've elected and are now representing us know that this is what we want, that we are here, and we are going to hold them accountable to that."

Organizers of the rally said that they want lower tuition and an increase in grant aid; a better commitment to recruiting and retaining students and faculty of color; passage of the Dream Act; a scaling back of military efforts; a reform of instate tuition; and the support of green jobs and the Employee Free Choice Act.

"I would say it's a great time in the nation as far as hope and change, and so we want to make sure that we're moving forward and that we don't lose that momentum," said Haas.

Kalfayan concurs.

"If all of the momentum that was built up over the course of the election dies off here, then a lot of the momentum for progress diminishes," he said.

The students attending the rally realize that the new president is a very busy man. They said they've sent petitions and letters, but are hopeful that action will speak louder than words.