Gas prices topped $3.00 – no one should be surprised by that anymore. What we should be surprised by is the fact that Simpson students don’t seem to have taken notice.

Sure, we complain about gas prices. But then we drive to Wal-Mart. We go get a burger at McDonalds. We go home for the weekend. We haven’t taken effective steps to reduce our gas consumption.

There are obvious things students can do to reduce their gas use. For starters, see if anyone else needs something before going to Wal-Mart. Or, even better, walk to Wal-Mart. Do you really need to drive if you’re just going to get yogurt or light bulbs?

Simpson could do more to educate students on how to conserve gas by changing driving habits. Students are more likely to pay attention to literature that shows them how to make an immediate fiscal change, rather than a handout on how to improve their mind, body and spirit.

Giving tips on saving gas can be as simple as pointing out a few practical, easily applicable ideas that students would pay attention to. Why not show how, by carpooling, we might save $20 a week? Simpson needs to focus on giving information to the student body that we’ll actually use – and gas-saving tips are a great place to start.

However, it shouldn’t just be Simpson itself that should educated students on saving gas. Student-led groups can help out too. Progressive Action Coalition could publish literature, hold a table or post signs to educate students on gas-saving habits. Also, other student groups could set up a shuttle from Simpson to Jordan Creek Town Center as a fund raiser. Chargin $3 a student would be cheaper than driving out yourself, and if 15 students go, there’d be money left over after buying gas.

We may each be only one student, but, if we have some direction, we could make a difference. After all, there are about 1,500 of us.