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Rising gas prices have USU students watching pennies,
planning trips more carefully
Photos by Robert McDaniel
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By Sarah Ali
September 8, 2005 | Has the dramatic increase
in gas prices during the past two weeks had an
effect on student life at Utah State University?
The answers vary, but according to a group of
engineering students, change has definitely occurred.
Hurricane Katrina directly changed the lives
of all the citizens of New Orleans, but the aftermath
of its damage has even affected the USU students
who live miles from the destruction.
The Smith's station on 400 North Street, known
for its slightly lower prices, displayed a disclaimer
on the window of the clerk's desk apologizing
for the significant increase. It said Katrina
cut into gas supplies and prices nationwide have
been "increasing sharply."
Leigha Foster, a senior majoring in aerospace
engineering, said it used to cost her $22 to fill
up the tank to her 1994 Ford Escort. It now costs
$40.
Foster said many of her friends were finding
the increase in gas prices difficult to handle.
"I know people who live in Ogden and the
commute is killing them," she said.
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A glance at the numbers left on the pumps, reaching
close to $50, proves that Foster is not the only one
shelling out the dough to fill up. Now that a gallon
of gas has risen to nearly $3, students have begun to
rearrange their budgets to account for the large chunk
that gas is eating out of their paychecks.
Another engineer, Nick Hoaglin, a senior majoring in
biological engineering, has experienced a direct impact
on his lifestyle.
He said, "I can't go all willy-nilly in my automobile
anymore. No more just jumping in the car and going to
Bear Lake or Salt Lake. . . . I've had to modify my
activities -- like when I want to rent a movie, I now
think about what else is in the neighborhood of Hollywood
video, so I can save my trip later and only drive out
once."
Kyle Morrey, a senior in civil engineering who also
works part time as a bus driver for the LTD, said, "Initially
I think people were just biting the bullet and buying
the gas, but since the prices haven't gone down, they
will probably start looking for alternative means of
transportation."
Morrey also said the LTD has instructed its drivers
to turn off the buses in between trips to save on gas,
rather then leaving them idle as they normally do.
The Cache Valley Logan Transit District manager, Todd
Beutler, said the has seen an increase in the usage
of the bus system. In comparison to last year's figures
for August, the number of riders has gone up by 10,000.
He believes that the increase is based on two factors:
one, people are looking for an alternative to driving
and two, the LTD has been working on getting out more
information about their service.
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