Gavin Jackson | Daily Kent Stater

Credit: DKS Editors

Our backgrounds shape our opinions, our beliefs and even our politics. We spoke with several people to see how closely they are paying attention to the election and how their field of study or orientation influences who they will vote for come Election Day.

The majority of people who responded said their field of study isn’t the main determining factor when it comes to their choice of candidate. Instead, it is a culmination of factors, chiefly the economy. But here’s a look at what they had to say.

Economy

Alison Gombar, junior managerial marketing major, said she isn’t looking to the president-elect to fix the economy by January.

“The state that we are in right now, it’s going to take more than four years,” she said.

Amanda Centafanti, junior managerial marketing major, said she doesn’t think spending more money is the solution.

“Obama’s plan is ‘let’s spend more,'” she said, adding that she is also unsure of the repercussions of having a democratic Congress and a democratic president.

Assistant finance professor Dave Dumpe said he doesn’t think the candidates are knowledgeable about the current economic crisis.

“Quite frankly, I don’t think either candidate understands what truly is going on and what precipitated this crisis,” he said. “Neither has really voiced a clear plan to deal with this crisis.”

Shawn Hodgins, senior business management major, said he thinks both candidates have “decent” taxation plans.

“They’re going to try to do the right thing,” he said.

Healthcare

Sophomore nursing major Alana Smith doesn’t want socialized medicine.

“It affects my family,” she said. “If I have siblings who are doctors and nurses, then it’s going to affect the jobs they get.”

For Barbara Drew, Ph. D., Registered Nurse and associate professor for the College of Nursing, health care is the No. 1 issue and has been following the candidates closely.

“Obama made a point to say health care was a right,” she said. “I don’t remember how McCain framed it, but it wasn’t that way at all.

But Melody Baughman, senior nursing major, doesn’t agree with either candidate’s platform.

“I think both are leaning in the wrong direction,” she said. “Staring socialized medicine in the face is a scary thing for a nursing student because the shortage will be gone almost immediately.”

Senior English major Jeff Schneekloth never voted and doesn’t plan on voting in this election. Still, he thinks health care should be the main issue.

“It’s a problem,” he said. “It’s a sin. Somebody in your family gets sick, and you go bankrupt because of it.”

Education

Daniel Mahony, dean and professor for the Education, Health and Human Services, said the candidates’ platform for education will influence his vote.

“Where we go from here will be impacted by the next president,” he said, adding he thinks many professors and students feel the same way.

Based on the third presidential debate, Amy Webb, senior middle childhood education major, said she didn’t think either candidate had a solid education platform.

“Obama kept saying ‘We need to help underprivileged and more poverty-stricken people be able to receive a better education,'” she said. “It didn’t seem like he had a good enough stand on what he could do to help that … Everyone thinks we need to give more money to schools, but it’s a matter of how we’re going to get that.”

Barbara Farrell, freshman education interpretation major, said she will vote for McCain because of his plan to give educational vouchers.

“That really enforces private schools, and that’s where I work,” she said.

Contact student politics reporter Nicole Stempak at [email protected].