Spring Break
Filling Up, Paying Up
Students' wallets-and budgets-feel the tug of rising gas prices
Jennifer Ross
Issue date: 8/29/08 Section: Features
Tick... Tick... Tick... That's the slow sound of your SUV filling up at the BP gas station at the corner of High and College streets. And while the gallon gauge moves slowly from zero to 20, the gauge measuring dollars spins out of control.
With gas prices averaging $3.64 per gallon Aug. 28 at uptown Oxford gas stations, Miami University students are left helpless against fluctuating prices at the pump, forcing some of them to budget money for the first time.
Pinching pennies
When it comes to adapting to rising gas prices, the results are mixed among Miami students.
For Ryan Bowden, a senior accounting major, increased gas prices mean he'll now be spending less cash on luxury items.
"I won't be dining or drinking in style because (it costs) so much to fill my gas tank," Bowden said.
Bowden said he regularly spends between $70-80 to fill up his Ford Explorer.
In addition to changing his budget, he said high prices restricted his summer plans.
"I was in Oxford all summer and only went home twice and traveled as little as possible because I couldn't afford to fill my tank that often," Bowden said.
While Bowden said he is a fan of carpooling and making an effort to drive less in general, not everyone is taking the same precautions.
Sari Wong, a senior marketing major, doesn't think gas prices will affect her spending or driving habits, even when it comes to filling up her Lexus RX 350.
"The gas prices here are much cheaper than where I live," Wong said. "So I do not think that it will really affect any of my plans. In a way I feel like I'm getting a deal out here."
And she's right. Although Oxford's $3.64 per gallon may be a high price to pay, Wong's hometown of Wilton, Conn. has gas prices close to $4. According to AAA's online fuel report calculator, drivers in major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York see prices above $4.
Getting around
While Bowden and Wong both have cars, they could get almost anywhere in Oxford without one. Senior early education major Kristin Schubert isn't as lucky.
While Schubert used to live off-campus in Oxford, this semester, she will be moving home to Fairfield because of her student teaching schedule.
Teaching second and third graders at Western Row Elementary in Mason, Schubert has decided to cut down her hour drive by half. Along with other factors such as a hectic schedule, Schubert said gas prices helped influence her decision to move home.
In addition to students like Schubert who must drive to work or internships, Miami commuter students have particularly felt the effects of rising gas prices, forcing many to cut corners where they can.
According to Erin Heyboer, the commuter adviser graduate assistant, approximately 80 students travel to Oxford five days a week. Heyboer said some of these students hail from neighboring towns, but some drive as long as 45 minutes to an hour to get from Harrison or Lebanon to Oxford.
Despite rising prices, Heyboer said the number of commuter students has not changed much from the 2007-08 academic year.
"Lots of students that live nearby commute all four years because they can save a lot of money," Heyboer said.
One such commuter is Cheryl Straus, a junior majoring in middle childhood education. For the past two years, Straus has commuted from Hamilton and intends to do so for her remaining two years at Miami.
"I am paying for college on my own," Straus said. "Commuting was more practical than living on campus. I am lucky enough to live only 20 minutes away from campus, so it saves a lot of money to commute rather than live on campus."
Currently, Straus said she spends approximately $35 each week and a half to fill up her 2008 Ford Focus. Now that the fall semester has begun, Straus said she expects to spend even more. However, despite the price hike, Straus said gas prices haven't deterred her from coming to campus everyday because of the uncontrollable nature of her education classes.
To eliminate excess driving, Straus said she obtained an on-campus job as a commuter assistant at the Commuter Center in Shriver.
"It is very convenient to have an on-campus job so that I don't have to drive more than I already do," Straus said.
Buddying up
Although Wong said gas prices wouldn't change her driving habits too much, she is considering carpooling to make it home to Conneticut for the holidays.
"Airfare is so expensive now, I'm debating driving home for Christmas," Wong said. "If I drive with my friend, whose car takes regular (gas) unlike mine, it will be worth it."
While carpooling may solve some problems, Perry Gordon, director of parking and transportation services, said students can also avoid high gas prices by using the Miami Metro bus service as much as possible.
"I'd like to see more people on buses and fewer cars in parking lots," Gordon said.
With six different lines that go on and off-campus, a nighttime door-to-door service and a bus to the Hamilton campus, Gordon said the metro is a strong resource for students.
However when it comes to the direct effect of gas prices on students driving in Oxford, Gordon is uncertain.
"As far as what will happen this year, I don't know," Gordon said. "It's hard to tell right now. We might see fewer students bringing back cars and registering for parking permits. We might not see those cars until prices go down."
According to Gordon, the cost of the metro is included in students' tuition and fees. Gordon said the cost to run the metro might increase in upcoming years, especially since Miami's transportation department had to pay an additional cost to the bus company in 2007-08.
"Let's say the gas prices don't go down; that cost gets passed onto the users of that service," Gordon said. "So yes, metro prices could rise, but it's still too early to tell."
With gas prices averaging $3.64 per gallon Aug. 28 at uptown Oxford gas stations, Miami University students are left helpless against fluctuating prices at the pump, forcing some of them to budget money for the first time.
Pinching pennies
When it comes to adapting to rising gas prices, the results are mixed among Miami students.
For Ryan Bowden, a senior accounting major, increased gas prices mean he'll now be spending less cash on luxury items.
"I won't be dining or drinking in style because (it costs) so much to fill my gas tank," Bowden said.
Bowden said he regularly spends between $70-80 to fill up his Ford Explorer.
In addition to changing his budget, he said high prices restricted his summer plans.
"I was in Oxford all summer and only went home twice and traveled as little as possible because I couldn't afford to fill my tank that often," Bowden said.
While Bowden said he is a fan of carpooling and making an effort to drive less in general, not everyone is taking the same precautions.
Sari Wong, a senior marketing major, doesn't think gas prices will affect her spending or driving habits, even when it comes to filling up her Lexus RX 350.
"The gas prices here are much cheaper than where I live," Wong said. "So I do not think that it will really affect any of my plans. In a way I feel like I'm getting a deal out here."
And she's right. Although Oxford's $3.64 per gallon may be a high price to pay, Wong's hometown of Wilton, Conn. has gas prices close to $4. According to AAA's online fuel report calculator, drivers in major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York see prices above $4.
Getting around
While Bowden and Wong both have cars, they could get almost anywhere in Oxford without one. Senior early education major Kristin Schubert isn't as lucky.
While Schubert used to live off-campus in Oxford, this semester, she will be moving home to Fairfield because of her student teaching schedule.
Teaching second and third graders at Western Row Elementary in Mason, Schubert has decided to cut down her hour drive by half. Along with other factors such as a hectic schedule, Schubert said gas prices helped influence her decision to move home.
In addition to students like Schubert who must drive to work or internships, Miami commuter students have particularly felt the effects of rising gas prices, forcing many to cut corners where they can.
According to Erin Heyboer, the commuter adviser graduate assistant, approximately 80 students travel to Oxford five days a week. Heyboer said some of these students hail from neighboring towns, but some drive as long as 45 minutes to an hour to get from Harrison or Lebanon to Oxford.
Despite rising prices, Heyboer said the number of commuter students has not changed much from the 2007-08 academic year.
"Lots of students that live nearby commute all four years because they can save a lot of money," Heyboer said.
One such commuter is Cheryl Straus, a junior majoring in middle childhood education. For the past two years, Straus has commuted from Hamilton and intends to do so for her remaining two years at Miami.
"I am paying for college on my own," Straus said. "Commuting was more practical than living on campus. I am lucky enough to live only 20 minutes away from campus, so it saves a lot of money to commute rather than live on campus."
Currently, Straus said she spends approximately $35 each week and a half to fill up her 2008 Ford Focus. Now that the fall semester has begun, Straus said she expects to spend even more. However, despite the price hike, Straus said gas prices haven't deterred her from coming to campus everyday because of the uncontrollable nature of her education classes.
To eliminate excess driving, Straus said she obtained an on-campus job as a commuter assistant at the Commuter Center in Shriver.
"It is very convenient to have an on-campus job so that I don't have to drive more than I already do," Straus said.
Buddying up
Although Wong said gas prices wouldn't change her driving habits too much, she is considering carpooling to make it home to Conneticut for the holidays.
"Airfare is so expensive now, I'm debating driving home for Christmas," Wong said. "If I drive with my friend, whose car takes regular (gas) unlike mine, it will be worth it."
While carpooling may solve some problems, Perry Gordon, director of parking and transportation services, said students can also avoid high gas prices by using the Miami Metro bus service as much as possible.
"I'd like to see more people on buses and fewer cars in parking lots," Gordon said.
With six different lines that go on and off-campus, a nighttime door-to-door service and a bus to the Hamilton campus, Gordon said the metro is a strong resource for students.
However when it comes to the direct effect of gas prices on students driving in Oxford, Gordon is uncertain.
"As far as what will happen this year, I don't know," Gordon said. "It's hard to tell right now. We might see fewer students bringing back cars and registering for parking permits. We might not see those cars until prices go down."
According to Gordon, the cost of the metro is included in students' tuition and fees. Gordon said the cost to run the metro might increase in upcoming years, especially since Miami's transportation department had to pay an additional cost to the bus company in 2007-08.
"Let's say the gas prices don't go down; that cost gets passed onto the users of that service," Gordon said. "So yes, metro prices could rise, but it's still too early to tell."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Joe Martin
posted 8/29/08 @ 5:08 PM EST
If you drive a Lexus RX 350 you should not worry about paying for gas, and even moreso premium fuel. It's at most $5 a tank extra for premium as opposed to regular. (Continued…)
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