Central Michigan

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Across party lines, ages and races people are turning out to vote with one thing in mind - the economy.

In the wake of one of the worst drops in the economy, people are concerned about their houses, jobs and families.

“(The economy) runs everything,” said Waterford sophomore Shannon Esselink.

Mount Pleasant native and 1989 CMU alumnus Tom Crean is entering his first season as Indiana's men's basketball coach. He spoke with Staff Reporter Justin Berndt about growing up in Mount Pleasant, getting into coaching and CMU football.

Justin Berndt: What are your feelings about Mount Pleasant and CMU?

Tom Crean: Well, I grew up in Mount Pleasant, so it's home.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has the edge in politcal polls with five days before the presidential election.

A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll listed Obama leading Republican presidential candidate John McCain by 50 percent to 43 percent late afternoon Thursday.

Bryan Schroeder wants to show the state of Indiana on Saturday what he can do in a CMU uniform.

The freshman running back rushed for 2,043 yards and 26 touchdowns his junior year as a prep star at North Harrison High School in Ramsey, Ind. But Schroeder has been sidelined with injuries since that season.

One group of students is making sure transportation is not an obstacle to get to the voting polls on Election Day. ?

Lindsay Henry, Hemlock senior, and Caitlin Cavanaugh, Royal Oak senior, are working with their COM 401: Capstone in Communication classmates to organize free rides from campus to the voting polls on Nov.

The volleyball team begins its final stretch through the Mid-American Conference West Division against Toledo at 7 p.m. today at Rose Arena.

CMU then hosts Ball State at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Chippewas lost a combined one set the last time they played the two opponents.

The city has doubled its number of election workers this year in preparation for the expected record turnout in next week's election.

With six or seven workers typically present at one of Mount Pleasant's seven precincts, Deputy City Clerk Sue Jones said as many as 15 people will be at each voting location to accommodate voters.

Looking to add to its first winning season, the women's club soccer team travels to Bloomington, Ind., to compete in the club Regional tournament at Karst Farm Park.

Sophomore Erica Lemm is pleased by CMU's 6-3-1 record and its first ever appearance to Regionals.

The deadline to vote absentee is approaching fast.

“The cutoff time to vote absentee is up until 4 p.m. Nov. 3. The last day you can mail ballots is Nov. 1. But we can't mail after (Nov. 1),” said Mount Pleasant Deputy City Clerk Mary Ann Kornexl. “And for students who are registered at their home address Tuesday, they will need to go home or vote absentee prior to Tuesday.

As of Thursday, it still is uncertain which quarterback Indiana will start at noon Saturday against CMU.

On one end, the Hoosiers have running quarterback Kellen Lewis, who held the starting job until suffering a high ankle sprain during IU's 45-9 loss against Iowa.

White Lake senior Eric Doll was unaware he was 2007's Rose Rowdie until last night.

Doll was crowned Rose Rowdies 2007 member of the year Thursday night during Fright Night at Rose Arena. Doll has been a Rowdie for five years. “The Rose Rowdies” is the name of the student section at CMU basketball games.

The last weekend of the regular season always is emotional for the field hockey team's five seniors.

But it means a little more for senior Amanda Lucik.

The team hosts Ball State at 1 p.m. Saturday and No. 10 ranked Michigan State at noon Sunday at the CMU Field Hockey Complex.

Economics professor Jason Taylor expressed deep concerns over proposed tax increases on those making more than $200,000 a year.

“I feel (Democratic presidential candidate Barack) Obama's policies will be the end of America's exceptionalism,” Taylor said. “I think Obama's entrepreneur tax and that's what it really is … will hurt America's entrepreneurial spirit.

I know I don't want to call the election this early, especially when I may jinx it for some.

But honestly, history is in the making, one way or another.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is close to being elected into the Oval Office. He is leading in virtually every poll that is done by the media to get an idea of how the election is progressing.