One speaker said students should follow his example and get involved young.

Boston City Councilor-elect Michael Ross, 27, said that young people shouldn't be discouraged from

campaign work. "Don't say you need to study, don't say you need to sleep, just get involved," he said.

Ross, the first Jewish city councilor since 1951, recently won an election against an established politician through a quirky, volunteer-driven campaign.

Other speakers discussed the progress and problems of the Middle East peace process.

"I believe that Israel has reached a point of no return," New England Consulate of Israel Consul General Itzhak Levanon said in a speech titled "Israel in the New Millennium."

"There is only one way to go, and that is straight forwards. We have set up two target dates [for accords], and we believe we can meet these dates," Levanon said.

But, Levanon said, the Palestinians need to align their words with their actions. "The Palestinians cannot play a double game. If you would like to reach peace, you have to talk peace.... We would like to stop this dual standard," he said.