Localized Story: Spring Break gas Prices

Bryan C. Visser

            Despite the recent rise of gas prices, a number of Dordt students have demonstrated little anxiety over the matter.

According to an article on examiner.com, during the past three weeks the average cost for a gallon of gasoline in the United States has gone from $3.14 to the current average of $3.50.
            Every spring break, dozens of Dordt students attend service trips as part of a project known as PLIA (Putting Love Into Action).

Most sites for these service trips require extended time driving to get to them; some of them being more that 1,000 miles away from campus.

When asked, members of college maintenance said that most vans likely to be used on PLIA get roughly 12-14mpg.This would mean a cost of around $250 simply to reach the site.

Bjorn Vaagensmith, one of the PLIA group leaders heading to Las Vegas, Nev. explained that every group gets a card from the college to pay for gas and that amount has increased since last year.

Dordt junior Emil Talen is one of the students traveling over 1,150 miles on a PLIA trip to New Orleans, La. Talen raised concerns that the increase in price may affect future students going on PLIA.

“I think it will concern the whole group of PLIA because PLIA prices are $65-85 depending on when you turn in your application. That price may go up next year if the prices stay the same as they are now or if they even go higher. It will definitely affect PLIA because students may not want to go anymore if it’s say $95-105,” Talen said.

By contrast, sophomore Abby Helder remains confident that the cost of students to attend PLIA will not go up by much if they do.

“I think it’s all taken care of. I think possibly it could go up maybe not by too much. People donate funds, so it won’t affect us too much,” Helder said.

            Those not going on PLIA in favor of going home or on trips of their own tend to favor carpooling as a means of dividing the cost of gas.

            Dordt freshman Tyler Ten Pass plans make the 500 mile trip home during spring break by carpooling. However he did raise a minor concern about the cost split up for those going.

            “Usually its $40 per trip, but now that gas is going up I don’t know if they’re gonna keep it that way or make it higher,” said Ten Pass.

            Ten Pass also raised concerns of how rising gas prices could result in higher prices at stores due to an increase in the cost of transport.

            “One thing that has always been brought up to me when the gas prices go up is how far can they go up until our society can’t work anymore?” said Ten Pass

Dordt senior Eric Tudor plans to spend his spring break with friends backpacking in Arizona and Utah. According to him, the round trip will be roughly 3,000 miles and each person going will be paying $170 for gas.

“It’s not affecting it too much even though it should. I guess we all recognize we’re already in debt and another couple hundred dollars is not going to make that any worse or better,” Tudor said.