Marriage equality group Oregon United for Marriage kicked off a student  campaign today at eight schools across Oregon, including the University of Oregon. The campaign, headed by a different student chair on each campus, is targeted toward young adults (age 18-29) and is meant to raise awareness and collect signatures in order to put marriage equality on the ballot for the November 2014 elections.

Other campuses that have embraced the program include Southern Oregon, Willamette and Oregon State universities and Portland Community College.

Student volunteers today worked to collect the signatures needed to become an official group and began the outreach plan to inform students of the pain of marriage inequality.

“College students get it,” said Kenneth Sergienko, UO campus chair for the student branch Oregon United for Marriage. “They understand that denial of freedom of marriage hurts same sex couples.”

Oregon United for Marriage has set aside a section of its website specially designed for students who are interested and want to learn more.

According to this part of the website, Students United for Marriage, “eighty-one percent of young adults — regardless of political affiliation — support the freedom to marry.”

“Students generally want to stand up for equality,” Sergienko said. “Our students tend to be great supporters and that is why we are drawing such a focus to them.”