As the election draws near, students are looking at the presidential candidates’ economic plans when making their choice, according to Lea Nickerson, a freshman in communication.

Nickerson said students have taken notice of recent issues in the economy and they’re hoping the next president can solve these problems.

“I know it’ll definitely sway my decision in the next election,” Nickerson said. “The economy has only declined since Bush has been in office. We need someone who can fix these problems, not make them worse.”

Nickerson said she believes something that can help the economy significantly is to bring U.S. troops back from Iraq.

“Bringing back the guys from overseas would save us a lot of money,” she said. “I’m not saying to just suck them all out at the same time, but we don’t need to keep sending them out.”

Other students, such as Lisa Lehman, a sophomore in elementary education, said they haven’t paid much attention to the election, but plan on learning the candidate’s platforms before they cast their vote.

“I haven’t been keeping up with everything that’s gone on in the election, but I’m not going to vote blindly,” Lehman said. “If a candidate can present a good economic plan that looks like it’ll work, it’ll definitely sway my vote. It’s not the only thing I’ll be looking at but it’s definitely one of the biggest.”

Janelle Derbyshire, a junior in microbiology, said she has felt the economy’s problems first hand. Her father recently lost his job at Dow Chemical, where he had worked as a chemist for 28 years.

“Dow Chemical started closing a lot of plants down because the economy is so bad,” Derbyshire said. “My parent’s income has taken a big hit. It won’t affect me as much because I got a full ride to school, but my brother is going to a private school in Virginia, so I don’t know what’s going to happen with that.”

Because of a lack of available jobs in the area, Derbyshire said her parents are looking into relocating.

“My family will probably move so my dad can find a job as a chemist,” she said. “He’s looking at jobs in Pennsylvania, and I’m not sure how that’s going to affect my brother and I.”

Students have also dealt with spiking gas prices and fuel shortage, according to Lehman.

“Gas prices are out of control,” Lehman said. “We definitely need to do something to fix the cost of fuel. It’s not just in the U.S. either. I was in Germany this summer and the lowest price of gas I saw was $4.15 a gallon. It’s insane.”

Nickerson said she has not only had problems with gas prices, but with the rising price of rent as well.

“I stay at Campus Crossings and it’s $100 more than what the people before us had to pay,” Nickerson said.

Elizabeth Bowers, a freshman in chemical engineering, said she does not believe the country’s economic problems can fall solely on the president.

“People keep talking about the economy and how it’s all Bush’s fault,” Bowers said. “I just don’t see how that’s possible. It’s up to the people to help out the economy, not the president.”