Attacks compel drivers to fill up

By Heather Mangold
City Editor

Cars were lined up on the roads by nearly every gas station surrounding campus on Tuesday evening as students anticipated a dramatic increase in gas costs after hijacked planes attacked U.S. cities.

As gasoline and oil companies immediately raised prices after the attacks, the nation's largest oil companies quickly reacted by freezing their prices and pledging to keep distribution steady.

Jeff Grzymajlo, a senior in the School of Agriculture, said, just to be safe he was going to buy gas before prices went too high.

"I'm sure gas prices are going to skyrocket," said Grzymajlo. "I've been to all the other stations and there's lines on the streets."

Prices ranged from $1.60 to $1.99 at gas stations surrounding campus on Tuesday. Across the nation, gas prices went as high as $5 per gallon.

Panic caused by rumors of a pending gasoline shortage caused gasoline wholesalers and retailers to raise their prices dramatically in states such as Michigan. However, some local gasoline retailers did not alter their prices at all.

West Lafayette Mayor Sonya Margerum said the attacks were no reason to cause a panic.

"People rushing to gas stations is not appropriate. There's plenty to go around," said Margerum. "Everyone should just stay calm."

Robert Head, a senior in the School of Technology, did just that.

Head said, "I think that they're (gas prices) going to top out because we have plenty of resources and I think borders will reopen."

According to the Associated Press, Greg Seiter, a spokesman for the AAA Hoosier Motor Club in Indiana, said his office had received reports of prices rising to $3 and $4 a gallon in parts of Indiana, including Anderson, Bloomington and Indianapolis, throughout the wake of the attacks.

"What happened immediately after (the attacks) was the price of crude oil in overseas trading climbed suddenly," said Seiter.

The AAA's national office is urging retailers not to impose large price increases.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Attacks compel drivers to fill up

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City editor:
Heather Mangold

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