The Chanticleer

Issue date: 9/15/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Chris Yow

With the beginning of classes and gas prices rising, students who are already on a tight budget are forced to change their spending ways.

After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, gas prices have jumped to well over $3 in some areas and over $7, reportedly, in certain areas of Mississippi. With JSU being a "commuter college", a wide selection of the student base are affected. Students are forced to play with their schedules, trying to get all their classes in on either Monday, Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday and Thursday.

"This sucks." states Michael Smith, a drama student from Lincoln, Alabama. "I had to get a part time to job just to pay for gas. I usually just go to school and focus on that but this semester I can't."

The hike in gas prices was caused by a variety of factors including a dwindling supply, a change in economy, and the war in Iraq. Some retailers have run out of regular gas and commuters were forced to buy either premium or plus while other retailers have purchased only regular.

Signs were posted informing buyers that they must pay before they pump. With the added burden of paying for gas, the number of drive-offs has increased dramatically.

"Commuters are angry at the extra cost," says Nancy, a local gas station attendant. "I can't say that the number of pump and runs have increased here but I have heard stories about other stations where they have tripled over the last month."

Adam Niche, a business major from Arab says that he usually tries to go home every weekend. High gas prices have forced him to decrease the number of return trips he can make. Now he returns home only every other weekend.

Over the past few days, prices have begun to drop to as low as $2.79, but that's still too high for many students. Some have made sacrifices like going out less, shopping less and some students have even cut down on their eating habits.

Rumors of the federal government stepping up to assist and forcing gas companies to lower their prices are surfacing, but no action has been taken. One can only imagine what it is going to take to make the government stop the ridiculous gas prices from getting any higher.

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