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by Kristin Vantrease

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Students Willing to Pay
Big Bucks for Gasoline

Gas prices are at a national average of $2.978 per gallon, according to the Energy Information Administration. --Allison Brandow, photo

Thirty-five out of 50 Multnomah Bible College students interviewed Oct. 21 said that if gas prices rose to $5 per gallon, they would continue to drive.

Four students out of the 50 said that they would try to bike more, and the majority of students said they would try to cut back on the amount of driving they did.

Many students said that they simply did not have any other choice; they had no other way to get from here to there without using a car.

Although Portland does have many public transportation options, one student mentioned that he was "too lazy not to [drive]" because using public transportation such as the bus would require figuring out the various bus stops and times and adjusting to that schedule.

Dania Theda said she would stop driving if Portland's public transportation was set up like Europe's.

Amanda Bunn echoed this response and said that she "didn't want to be limited."

The common thread tying the students together to say they would drive if gas prices rose to $5 per gallon was the fear of restriction by not driving. This idea was summed up by sophomore Joy Huff: "A car equals freedom, and freedom comes with a price," she said.

Thirteen of the 35 students who said they would continue driving mentioned that they would drive less if gas prices rose, and two students said they would carpool more.

Among the students who said they would not drive, several mentioned other methods of getting around, including junior Tim Hernandon who said that he would get a moped. Jeremy Nakasone said that he would only drive if he owned a hybrid car.

Transfer freshman Jessica Howard said she "would rather roller-skate." This statement summed up the firm resolve of the nine people who said they would not drive if gas prices rose to $5 per gallon. This poll was conducted in person in the JCA and in the cafeteria on Oct. 21, 2007.

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