As the momentum of the US Presidential primary election continues to gain speed students of America's only historically Black Catholic University hotly debates the need for voters to be more informed about candidates' policies rather than the hysteria whipped up over race, age and gender.

Xavier University, a predominately Black university in New Orleans, addressed the issue at a lecturers and students debate about media and candidates focus in the primary elections.

The students, a mixture of registered and unregistered voters, were supporters of both Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, although the majority were Obama followers.

Dr Pamela Waldron-Moore, Political Science Chair of Xavier University, who joined the discussion, has helped hundreds of students gain more awareness about the political positions taken by many of the presidential candidates and encourage her students to take part in campaigns and rallies.

During the debate she said: "For far too long African-Americans have been left out of the political framework and it is for that reason why people are drawn to people like Barack Obama because he is a familiar face."

"We have never been able to see an opportunity where there was a realisation of [African-Americans] being represented in the executive. People who had doubts about Obama winning are now saying that he has a chance - young people are particularly inspired," she continued.

One such young person is Brittani Melvin, 21, a political science student at Xavier and registered voter. She voted for Obama in the Louisiana primary on February 9 because she believes that Obama is bringing fresh ideals to the political platform and is capable of changing America for the better.

"I hope people are voting for Obama not for the mere fact that he is Black because I really think he offers a different perspective." explained Brittani.

The devastation caused by the Katrina floods in 2005 has to some extent affected how some people vote. "People are more concerned with rebuilding their homes and many want to make sure that the person they vote for has this issue on their agenda," she added.

Brittani's comments were not unfamiliar. Many of the students articulated the same responses and concerns.

One of the few Black Republicans at the debate, Jordan Sanchez, 21, also a political student, argued that he would prefer to see McCain in the White House, although he initially supported Ron Paul.

He argued that people were ill-informed about the candidates, explaining: "People are not voting logically they are only voting because either Obama is a Black man or because Clinton is a woman. People are not educated enough on the candidate's policies to make valid judgements on who to vote for. That's the problem."

Political science lecturer William T.Everette Jr, argues that although race is part of the reason why more people are voting he believes that, essentially, voters have and continue to probe and look at what the candidates can offer them.