Name: Colin Ackerman Class: Sophomore Hometown: Baltimore, Md. Major: Mass Communications/Film Studies Political Affiliation: Moderate Choice for President: Obama

The paisley carpet of the WMSR radio office is littered with crumpled papers, indie music magazines and an exhibition of CD covers. Vibrant band stickers and posters cover almost every flat surface in the room-the walls, the desks and the file cabinets.

Colin Ackerman sits on a striped vintage couch, downing a bowl of mashed potatoes. Ever so subtly he nods his head of auburn curls in rhythm with the beat of The Little Ones' newest album, Morning Tide.

In his navy and gray wool hoodie, Ackerman looks like an average college student would on his lunch break, yet this avid Glenn Kotche fan is anything but an ordinary citizen.

A native of Baltimore, Ackerman is the second oldest of six children, two of whom are adopted from Korea and the Philippines.

Ackermans's multi-faceted family and the looming economic threat to his father's job are just two of the factors influencing his choices concerning the presidential election.

While the Ackermans are not planning to adopt again, another adoption would be a financial difficulty for the family. Ackerman said his father, an attorney, is also in jeopardy of losing the job he began a month ago.

Eileen Ackerman, Colin's mother, said if this happens, her family's lifestyle would change.

"If Paul did lose his job, we probably wouldn't have to move to another state but we'd definitely have to downsize," Ackerman said.

While growing up with multiple siblings was difficult, Ackerman said the crashing economy has only made family life more difficult. His parents have six college tuitions to pay, meaning public universities for Ackerman and his siblings.

To pay to attend Miami University, Ackerman said he worked hard in high school to earn scholarships and took out several student loans to pay his out-of-state tuition.

At Miami, Ackerman works as a resident assistant at Mary Lyon Hall, earning $8,400 of his yearly tuition. Ackerman additionally works at WMSR as the co-music director for 10 to 12 hours a week at $7 an hour.

For Ackerman, one of the most important issues of the 2008 election is college affordability. Ackerman said increasing college tuition has a large effect on young adults.

"The economy is our future and our responsibility," Ackerman said. "Everyone should be aware of it."

Ackerman said he can see positives and negatives to each candidate.

"On a superficial level, Obama is more fluent and composed, but he is more inexperienced," Ackerman said. "McCain is an experienced war hero, but is he really what everyone needs?"

Ackerman said he is also concerned about adoption awareness.

"There's not a lot of government funding for adoption programs," Ackerman said. "McCain would probably be more help with this."

Whether it's growing up with a sister from Korea or having to pay his way through college, these influences are just a few of the factors influencing Ackerman's decision in the 2008 election.