The single largest issue for AU students may be the economy, but there are mixed views on how capable President-elect Barack Obama will be in handling the economy.
Heather Ginzberg, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs said she thinks Obama will need to raise taxes to pay for his universal health care plan.
"[Obama's] going to make universal healthcare, which will be a huge cost to our economy," she said. "He'll have to raise taxes to pay for it."
Ginzberg said she is concerned Obama will need to tax people who earn more than $200,000 a year.
"Why should they have to share their money when they've worked just as hard for it?" she said.
Joseph Michael Puccini, a freshman in SPA, said he is hopeful that Obama will handle the economy well.
"Obama will fix the economy, but it may take a while to fix," he said.
Linda Patterson, an adjunct faculty member in SPA, said she is confident in Obama's abilities.
"I expect President Obama to surround himself with intelligent and capable people as he did in his campaign," she said. "He will address the 'main street' foreclosure issue quickly. He has already proposed a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures. According to reports, his transition team is already on the job."
Obama will face many difficulties, but will examine them with optimism, said Claire Harris, a freshman in SPA.
"Obama has a tough road ahead of him, but I think he'll pull through," she said. "He managed to pull off a tough campaign; he can do the same for our economy."
However, the economy is not the only issue currently at stake.
Nick Warren, a freshman in SPA, said the environment is also an important issue.
"The energy crisis is extremely important," he said. "We need independence, and we need more research."
Jenny Couch, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said it is important that Obama unite the country.
"Obama won handily with 52 percent of the vote, but 46 percent still voted for McCain and our nation is coming off eight years of one of the most partisan administrations," she said. "Obama must work with Democrats and Republicans."
Patterson said this election changed the way American society looks at certain issues such as race.
"This historical election mobilized voters who reject status quo politics and backward social notions that divide America," she said.
Puccini said he is delighted that voters elected the nation's first black president.
"This will have great effects not just for African Americans, but all of America," he said.
Spencer Siegel, a junior in SPA, said he is intrigued to find out the future impact of this election.
"It will be interesting to see the effect Obama will have on African American youth in about 10 to 15 years from now," he said. "I think that Obama will serve as a significant role model to these youth and really show them that education is really important."
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