Sean O’Callaghan, a 21-year-old economics and political science major, Mike McLoughlin, a 21-year-old criminal justice major, and Jacob Tipp, a 21-year-old biology major when ti Buckland’s Station a few miles away from Silver Springs, Nev. to find ghosts on Oct. 16.

Sen. Barack Obama waves to the crowd after speaking at Peccole Park Saturday morning. Photo by Amy Beck

In his second visit to the University of Nevada, Reno within a month, Sen. Barack Obama mocked his opponent Sen. John McCain and discussed plans to revive the economy to a crowd of about 11,000 people.

Some people camped in their cars, while others stood outside Peccole Park as early as 1 a.m. Saturday morning, so they could snatch a front row spot for the presidential candidate’s 10 a.m. speech.

In the first half of his address, the microphone malfunctioned for about five minutes. While waiting for it to be fixed, the crowd chanted “Yes we can,” while Obama shook hands with the audience members. When sound started working, he joked, “I told you folks were having trouble making their electricity bills. Either that or somebody from the McCain campaign kicked our plug out of the socket. That was just a joke, there’s no evidence of foul play.”

Obama continued speaking, and discussed McCain’s economic policies and attempts to separate himself from President George Bush.

“John McCain has been really angry about George Bush’s economic policies – except during the primaries, when he said we’ve made ‘great progress economically’ under George Bush,” Obama said, drawing laughter from the crowd. “In fact, John McCain is so opposed to George Bush’s policies, that he voted with him 90 percent of the time for the first eight years. That’s right, he decided to really stick it to George Bush – 10 percent of the time.”

Obama said it is his own economic policies that will change the United States as he cuts taxes for the middle class and creates jobs.

Ronille Pabico, a 23-year-old UNR accounting major, said he supports Obama’s tax plan because it “focuses on the middle class.”

Obama said he wants to cut taxes for 95 percent of workers and their families. He also plans to create five million new green jobs by building solar panels and wind turbines and 200 million more jobs by building schools and bridges.

“And if people ask how we’re going to pay for this, you tell them that if we can spend $10 billion a month in Iraq when they got a surplus, we can spend some of that money right here in Reno, Nev., right here in America,” he said, evoking chants and cheers from the crowd.

Obama also promised to fix the health care system by ensuring people have access to insurance and lower premiums.

He said improving education is also among his priorities.

“John McCain’s top economic advisor said the other day that they have no plan for college affordability because they didn’t want just to giveaway money interest groups,” he said. “I don’t think the young people of America are an interest group, I think they are our future.”

He said he plans to hire more teachers and increase their salaries. He also promised to make tuition affordable to people who serve the community or country.

Obama rallied the crowd, encouraging people to early vote and help the country overcome its current problems.

“Together, we cannot fail,” he said. “Not now.”

He went on to list reasons of why people need to help change the United States, citing the economic and housing crises and unaffordable health care.

He said if everyone helps campaign, “then I promise you, we will not just win Nevada, we will win this general election, and you and I together, we are going to change the country and change the world.”

David Feemster, a 33-year-old UNR alum, called Obama’s speech “phenomenal.”

“He just seems to be able to relate to a large amount of people,” he said.

As thousands of spectators filed out of the UNR baseball field toward south campus, they weaved between volunteers encouraging early voting.

The Joe Crowley Student Union Staff expected at least 1,000 people to stop by the polls, but the queue for wrap-around lines stood empty. Only about 50 people had voted in the union as of 11:30 a.m., while vehicles clogged Virginia Street on their way off campus.

Chuck Price, the union director, said he thinks people might not have brought their sample ballot and didn’t want to vote without it.

Although the early voting lines were empty, Obama’s visit left the UNR campus teeming with people.

“I think it energizes young people who are here on campus,” said Jeff Giertz of the Obama campaign. “It underscores the importance of the youth vote.”

Jessica Fryman can be reached at jfryman@nevadasagebrush.com.

Audio produced by Clint Demeritt.

Reported by Casey O’Lear, produced by Clint Demeritt.

Sen. Barack Obama delved into issues including the economic crisis and health care system as he spoke to a crowd of about 12,000 along with media from around the nation on the University of Nevada, Reno quad Tuesday morning. The Democratic presidential nominee’s plans for change sparked cheers and chanting from the audience.

Obama’s speech came a day after the House failed a $700 billion economic bailout plan and the Dow Jones industrials fell more than 700 points.

He focused on how the economy affects students, families and small business owners. He proposed plans to move forward to a place where the United States can educate the next generation and stop heath care from financially crippling families.

“We’re all in this together,” he said. “”Believe in this country and most importantly, believe in your ability to change it.”

He said Nevada could play a large role in the upcoming election and that “we need to roll up our sleeves” and get to work.

“His presence on campus shows our growth on a national scale,” said Emily Wozniak, a 19-year-old university student. “Nevada is a bigger deal than people think.”

Obama echoed Wozniak’s thoughts.

“Together, we are going to move this country forward,” he said. “I need you Nevada.”

If elected, Obama said he would help pull the American people out of the economic crisis and review plans to tackle the situation the day he takes office.

A supporter of the economic bailout plan, Obama said taxpayers would get most or all of their money back if it is executed correctly.

The optimal plan is that the government would temporarily purchase the bad assets of financial institutions so they can start lending again, he said. Then, once the economy recovers, the government could sell those assets.

Obama admitted the plan is not fool proof and sacrifices would be necessary. With less money going into the treasury, some programs would need to be eliminated or delayed, he said.

Despite the drawbacks, Obama said a recession could follow without an economic rescue plan.

He said it could be harder for students to get loans, that millions of jobs could be lost and business owners might not be able to make payroll.

“The fact that we are in this mess in the first place is an outrage,” he said. “It’s an outrage because we didn’t get here by accident.”

He said the crisis is a result of the current economic philosophy, which gives more to the people who have the most, letting the rest trickle down.

“I know this is especially frustrating to young people because you don’t even have any money,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.

Obama said he could relate to the college students in the crowd since he remembers what it was like to eat pizza every night.

One UNR student said he liked Obama’s focus on connecting the issues to students.

“I think he did really well,” John Walston, a 21-year-old physics major, said. “He related the issues well to the college-aged crowd.”

Obama pointed out that while students may not realize how the economy affects them now, he said they would feel its affects as they look for jobs and start families.

Creating a new economic philosophy includes passing an economic stimulus plan, he said.

“That will help folks cope with rising food and gas prices, save one million jobs by rebuilding our schools and roads, and help states and cities avoid budget cuts and tax increases,” Obama said. “That is what I will do as president of the United States.”

In addition to his economic initiatives, Obama said he plans to reform the health care system and raise teachers’ salaries.

His plans for health care include lowering premiums to make it more affordable for the middle class.

In exchange for increased salaries for teachers, he expects higher standards in the classroom.

Obama said the changes will not be easy, but they are possible.

“America, together we cannot fail,” he said.

Nevada Sagebrush reporter Jessica Estepa contributed to this report.

Jessica Fryman can be reached at jfryman@nevadasagebrush.com.

Audio produced by Clint Demeritt. Story by Jessica Fryman.

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Nevada Sagebrush Managing editor Nick Coltrain and Dan Lucas, of Wolf Pack Radio’s The Voicebox, co-hosted the debate.

Links:

Zero Punctuation: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation

This week: The Mass Effect controversy, the MacBook Air, and Wii’s “No More Heroes”

Links:

Geoff Keighley and Cooper Lawrence on Fox News: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/163925.html

Cooper Lawrence recants her comments: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580632/20080130/index.jhtml

Author faults a game, and gamers flame back: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/26/arts/television/26mass.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

No More Heroes trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGtgqw3IsVI

Apple filing proposes iMac-like docking station: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/01/03/apple_filing_proposes_imac_like_notebook_docking_station.html