Serena Imani Korn, April 15
Increasing gas prices are causing significant change to everyday lives of South Puget Sound Community College students, according to a poll conducted on Wednesday.
The AAA auto club reports a gallon of regular gasoline averages $3.95 in Washington State and $3.98 in Olympia. This is moderate to the US national average of $3.86.
Of 62 SPSCC students polled, 61 percent said gas prices have had an impact on their lives; 26 percent said they felt no major impact. Those impacted are making significant alterations to their daily schedules.
In a separate question, 61 percent of students polled claim to drive less and 31 percent make efforts to carpool. 45 percent of those interviewed take Intercity Transit, utilizing their student I.D. cards as a free pass.
Jeff, in his first quarter at SPSCC, is one of those students heavily impacted by the rising gas prices. Jeff lives in Shelton, 21 miles northwest of Olympia. Finding gas prices particularly hard-hitting, he leaves his car at home, and instead catches a bus to downtown Olympia. While this saves money, it also causes Jeff to put more thought and planning into his schedule.
The car wasn’t the only thing to get left behind. Jeff is making other necessary cuts to maintain his tuition and other living expenses.
“Entertainment was the first to go. Things like eating out, social functions and expensive cable,” said Jeff.
The biggest impact for SPSCC students is on their budget. 68 percent claim that gas prices affect or cause shift to their budgets and spending habits. Of those students, 50 percent report having smaller grocery budgets or are eating much less
Similar to Jeff, Mike, also in his first quarter on campus, has to alter his budget. Groceries are most affected.
“Less food intake means more in the gas tank,” said Mike.
Mike is finding it more difficult than others to find alternatives. He has thought about switching to the bus or trying to carpool, but for him it is not a realistic option. Mike lives in Yelm, away from a bus line.
“I would be spending gas just to get to get to the bus. Same if I carpooled,” said Mike.
Mike did however switch to a more fuel-efficient vehicle to make the 20-mile commute, and stays on campus between classes.
So why are gas prices rising? According to “How Gas Prices Work” on howstuffworks.com, the United States consumes around 20 million barrels of oil products each day. Half of this oil goes towards mobile gasoline.
A barrel of oil contains 42 gallons, which translates to approximately 20 gallons of gasoline. The US consumes approximately 178 million gallons of gasoline every day.
Gas prices increase with high demands. Things like holidays increase the demand for gasoline, thus increasing the prices. Increases also happen when the world crude-oil market compresses and lowers their inventories. When supply is down, the stress for demand is high.
