GougarCfy
Fall 2007
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Volume 36- Issue 1
Gas Prices Effect WCC Students^ Summer
By: Keisha Call
As summer has come and gone, so has
vacation time. People dreamed of going to
the beach, to the mountains or to another
state to get away from everything. This year was
different than most. With gas nearing three dollars
a gallon, many people said they stayed home to
save money but the high gas prices didn’t disrupt
everyone’s plans. A random survey of several WCC
students, family, and friends indicated that most
people still carried out their vacation plans. Sixty-
two percent of the people being surveyed were
unaffected by the gas prices and thirty-eight percent
were affected. The most popular vacation spot this
summer was the beach.
One person said the high gas prices didn’t affect her
plans for this summer but that she was taking “fewer
trips to Wal-Mart and shopping less frequently
at shopping malls and grocery stores.” Another
person being interviewed stated that the high gas
prices didn’t affect her summer plans but "having no
job” did. One person stated that when she moved
here four years ago from Utah, the gas price was
$1.59. She was unable to return to Utah to see her
friends and family, this summer because of the high
gas prices. Another person that lives at the beach
planned to come home to family and friends but
the gas prices also changed his plans. An additional
person being interviewed said that he and his family
had already visited Lake Gaston once and would be
going back again before the year ended.
With gas prices continuing to fluctuate, drivers need
tips on how to save at the pump. The best way to
ease the sting of the high gas prices is to carpool and
don’t top off the tank because it can cause more harm
to your car and to the environment. Also when
"'V
topping off your tank, you could be paying for gas
that is fed back into the station’s tanks because your
gas tank is full. The gas nozzle will automatically
click off when the tank is full. Finally, keeping your
car in good working order can help save on gas. This
can improve gas mileage by four percent. Drive the
speed limit posted. This can help save up to $1.06
per gallon. Also it is safer for you and others. These
are just a few of the tips for saving on gas mileage.
You can find more on http;//www.fueleconomy.gov/
feg/drive.shtml. Hope everyone had a great summer!
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WHAT’S INSIDE
1
Cougar Cry IMitorial Guidelines pg 2
College Transfer Advising Center pg 2
MerleFest 2007 Sets New Records pg 2
College Calendar pg 2
Student Clubs pg 4
WCC Earns Superior Rating pg 4
Respiratory llierapy Program .pg 4
Glob.'il Kducation Department pg 6