Technician
wednesday april
11 2012
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Gas prices skew decisions on transportation With gas prices rising, students consider alternate routes to campus.
drop,” Wright said. Wright said one of the most important things to remember when considering University Transportation’s fuel costs is they pay the same Elise Heglar prices as regular customers. News Editor “The fuel cost for us is just like when you go to the gas pump and Recently, it seems impossible to escape the talk of rising gas prices. fill up your car,” Wright said. Brian O’Sullivan, University proStudents and University Transportation, in particular, are considering gram manager for Transportation, how these prices are affecting them. said although rising gas prices are A report on finances taken June always a concern, he does not think 30, 2011 recorded that University it will affect the Wolfline in a subTransportation spent $672,386 on stantial way. “Generally, I’d think it has less fuel. According to Ronnie Wright, assistant director for finance in impact on the Wolfline and more Transportation, these numbers are impact on Capital Area Transit or Triangle Transit,” very normal. O’Sullivan said. The money for W hen asked this fuel comes whether or not he from a combinathought students tion of student were using the bus fees and the Transsystem more often portation Departdue to fuel prices, ment. Wright said O’Sullivan said it 80 percent of the was hard to say. money is f rom Ronnie Wright, “Students may fees and 20 percent NCSU Transportation have cha nged from transportaassistant director for finance their travel betion, though these hav ior, but we numbers have rehaven’t seen a dramatic increase,” cently been changing. “We’ve reduced the use of student O’Sullivan said. Wright said considering oil prices fee money quite a bit,” Wright said. Transportation has frequently when voting in the upcoming presidealt with fuel prices fluctuating dential election will be important. “President Barack Obama is defiin the past, according to Wright. In June 2008, fuel prices clocked in at nitely trying to put a stop to the oil $4.29 and in Feb. 2009 they dropped climb. This is one of the major consumer concerns right now,” Wright to $1.81. “That’s what you call a substantial said.
“The fuel cost for us is just like when you go to the gas pump and fill up your car,”
Natalie claunch/Technician
Raleigh gas prices for April 10 averaged $3.904 per gallon, which is above the North Carolina state average of $3.898 per gallon for the day, according to Raleighgasprices.com. The website offers citywide gas price comparisons updated by members.
Gregory Anthony, senior in parks, recreation and tourism management, chooses to skateboard to campus when it’s nice out in order to save money on gas. “It’s expensive for gas and for parking,” Anthony said. While conserving money is one of his reasons for avoiding the drive to campus, Anthony is also interested in the eco-friendly efforts of choosing to skate. “All that stuff, it’s just not good for the environment,” Anthony said. Anthony said he believes the most important thing about choosing al-
ternative transportation is spreading the word to other students and trying to make a collective impact. “So many people go here, people can notice the impact of not driving to school. It can become a chain effect, and that can change a lot,” Anthony said. William Melton, junior in science education, drives 28 miles every day to get to campus and attend his classes. On average, he spends $50 a week on gas for his car. While the drive to school does get expensive, Melton continues to make the drive because of the early
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hours his Physical Training for the ROTC program requires. “If I didn’t have to be at school early every day, I would think about using Triangle Transit. And the prices definitely influence the way I drive,” Melton said. Wright maintains that fuel prices are something everyone should consider when making their transportation choices. “It doesn’t look good for oil prices, any way you look at it,” Wright said.
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Earth Day will hit N.C. State with a week-long celebration for students and faculty. Sam DeGrave Staff Writer
N.C. State is offering more opportunities than ever for students to get in touch with their green side this Earth Day. First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day is a holiday observed in more than 175 countries to raise awareness about environmental issues and foster a worldwide sense of environmental stewardship. April 22 is recognized internationally as Earth Day; however, N.C. State plans to designate a whole week to the holiday in order to leave a lasting impression on students and faculty alike. The week preceding Earth Day will be full of activities that will focus on teaching the importance of sustainability in a manner that is both fun and relatable to the lives of college students. The events featured in this year’s celebration are the result of a collaborative effort between various University and student-run organizations and will include a celebration in the Brickyard, a field day
tempt on Cento teach tennial students Campus, how to have an alternative fun while also bevehicle showcase ing conscience of the and a music festival environment. spanning the length of “We want to teach people Hillsborough Street. how to recreate in a sustainable The N.C. State Office of Sustainability is one of the major part- manner,” said Peter Koutroumpis, ners in the committee that plans the assistant director of special events festivities surrounding Earth Day, and assessment for University Recalong with the Union Activities reation. Koutroumpis hopes that hosting Board and University Recreation. David Dean, outreach and com- an event on Centennial Campus munications coordinator for the will engage a larger portion of the Office of Sustainability, has been student body and convey an imporworking with the office since its tant message about the importance creation in 2008. Though he has of environmentally friendly transit, since the majority many Earth Day of students have celebrations unto commute from der his belt, Dean main campus. has high hopes for David Crye, asthis year’s celebrasistant director of tion, stating that outdoor advenit will incorporate tures for Univerthe most diverse sit y Recreat ion lineup of events helped organize the University has t he Centennia l yet seen. field day, and be“Our goal is to David Dean, outreach and lieves that it will be weave sustainabilcommunications coordinator for an important part ity into the culture the Office of Sustainability of Earth Day 2012 and student body at N.C. State. The of N.C. State,” field day is the first Earth Day event Dean said. University Recreation is working to be held on Centennial Campus, alongside the Office of Sustainabil- and it was partially for that reason ity to help ensure that this goal be- Koutroumpis targeted the area for comes a reality through the field day this event, Crye said. The Wolfpack Student Environthat they are hosting on Centennial Campus on April 19. The field day mental Association is one of the will be held around Lake Raleigh student-run organizations working from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will at- to put together an Earth Day to re-
“Our goal is to weave sustainability into the culture and student body of N.C. State.”
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With changes in group settings, the student Facebook page has made a comeback and plans to expand. Jessie Halpern Deputy News Editor
member this year by collecting used clothes. Chris Fundanish, a junior in environmental science and co-vice president of WESA, is working with classmates Rachel Conley, senior in fisheries and wildlife, and Liz Sielatycki, junior in social work, to collect as many articles of used clothing as possible. The clothing drive is an attempt to keep clothes out of the landfill, according to Fundanish. “Most students are unaware of just how much clothing we send to the landfill and how long it takes for that clothing to break down there,” Fundanish said. There will be collection bins all over campus during the week leading up to Earth Day and there will be a collection center in the brickyard during the Earth Day celebration that will be held there on April 20. For a full list and schedule of the Earth Day events visit the sustainability website at http://sustainability.ncsu.edu/events/earth-day.
Two years in, the Wolfpack Students group on Facebook has low membership now, but Student Government hopes to see an increase in the upcoming academic year. Kelly Hook, former student body president, started the Wolfpack Students group in 2010, hoping to give students another opportunity to communicate. Originally, the group page was limited because of Facebook settings, but in May 2011 it transitioned to a new format and gave students more freedom in posting. Currently, the page has 4,157 members who post, comment and interact. “Students have taken to knowing they can ask questions on there, and it’s a great way to communicate,” said Chandler Thompson, senior in economics and former Student Body President. According to Thompson, the page is well-liked, but there have been complaints about user friendliness. Specifically, the fact that important posts end up getting hidden because of the number of students posting per hour. “We got a lot of complaints about that, so we tried changing
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