Gas Prices Affect Students

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   High gas prices continue to affect students at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Students are, however, finding solutions to the problem such as living on campus and walking to class. 

   Junior Esbeida Arce said she drove back and forth from Hermitage everyday her first two years at college, but now she lives on campus. 

   "Sadly, it was costing me more money to buy gas than pay for rent and groceries, and I drive a little '04 Neon, but still gas is high even for that type of car," she said. 

   Even commuters who only travel a short distance maintain a strong opinion about gas prices and the reasons for them. 

   Senior Matt Baumgarten said his commute was so short that most days he walked to campus from his house. 

   "My opinion is that we are getting screwed by a combination of the oil companies and the EPA," he said. "The companies raise prices at the pump and are happy to let us blame OPEC for it." 

   Though commuters' budgets take the biggest hit, even students with no commute, or even those without a car, still find themselves affected. 

   "I don't have a vehicle so it really hasn't bothered my budget," said Ryan Hampton, a first-year student. "But when I do get a chance to drive my mom's car, it puts a big dent in my wallet." 

   First-year student Kaitlyn Woods said although she does not commute, gas prices were a good excuse not to go home on the weekends.

   Senior Christin McCoy Singleton used to go out every weekend to eat or just get away but is unable to now.

   "We now go once every once in a while," she said. "If the goal was to make everyone stay at home more, these gas prices have definitely accomplished that."

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