Currently, he serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services.

Although the conversation covered a variety of topics, Levin focused on student issues and the importance of voting in the upcoming election.

Levin is a strong advocate for higher education.

He said even now with the higher costs associated with it, it is worth taking out money to pay for college because students will have a more economically secure life after graduation.

He added when his kids were in school, he had to take out vast sums of money to help pay for their education, and even though he dislikes borrowing money, he said getting his kids a degree was worth the price.

The Editorial Board agrees, as previous editorials in The State News have argued that a college education is essential for today’s graduating high schoolers, regardless of the cost.

Levin also called attention to what could happen to education funding if Gov. Mitt Romney, the Republican challenger in the upcoming election, wins and puts in place a budget similar to the one proposed by his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan.

“The Ryan budget, which has been embraced by Mitt Romney, specifically and dramatically cuts Pell Grants,” Levin said. “A million fewer students will get Pell Grants.”

Pell Grants are money provided by the U.S. federal government for students who need help paying for college. The grants are limited to students who come from lower-income households.

“If you really believe in education as one of the key goals in any society, there is a very clear choice.” Levin said.

Levin also said there is as much at stake in this election as there was in the 2008 election and that students should be just as energetic about voting, a point the Editorial Board consistently has made in the past.

Levin said he hopes college students play as big of a role in this election as they did in 2008.

“The outpouring of college students (in 2008) was unlike anything I have ever seen,” Levin said. “Last time I saw anything like 2008 was in 1960 when John F. Kennedy was running. It was so amazing.”

Levin was optimistic of where the country is now and where we could be in the future if President Obama is re-elected. His optimism is something many Americans, especially young voters, share.

“We’re just kind of unstoppable,” Levin said. “We can be in a recession and people are still going to continue to think, ‘Hey, times are going to get better.’”

“It’s kind of in our DNA, and that drives recovery,” he said.