Students had many different reasons for attending. For several, Sanders' advocacy for tuition-free college education was a selling point.

"They spend what, like two trillion (dollars) on the Iraq War and they can't pay for my education?" James Madison College freshman John Mandwee said. "That's messed up."

Petitions calling for the legalization of recreational marijuana, since Sanders supports ending the federal prohibition on it, were a common sight as patrons waited in line outside Breslin.

Some students were politically curious, such as animal science junior Noah Wolinski, who follows Sanders but attended to hear more about his policies.

"This is mainly just an educational experience for me, just to make sure this is currently the path that I want to stay on," Wolinski said.

Kinesiology freshman Miah Godbolt, who supports Sanders, attended even though she won't be old enough to vote in the Michigan primary on March 8.

“I feel like now is the time to pay attention to the candidates that are running to be in charge of this country in the future,” Godbolt said.

Some found their way to Breslin on Wednesday to disagree with Sanders, such as MSU Turning Point USA. The group, which looks to educate students about limited governments and capitalism, did not attend the rally itself but spent time engaging with those in line.

Political theory and constitutional democracy freshman Madi Sholtz said that the MSU Turning Point USA's  goal was to help students realize that not every college student is "feeling the Bern," and that it’s OK to think differently than their peers.

All aside, many students were civically engaged Wednesday. The crowd completely filled not only the floor and lower sections of Breslin, but spilled into the upper level as well.

Breslin's estimate for total attendance was roughly 10,000.