Gas conservation may become a concern for NIU students as prices in DeKalb are averaging about $2.30 per gallon.

Meghan Borczak, a freshman pre-physical therapy major, said she thinks the gas prices are quite extreme.

“I walk a lot more and try to stay around campus to avoid driving,” Borczak said.

Sophomore criminology major Jon Karn agreed the prices are out of control. Karn said he carpools or rides the bus to help lessen the amount of money he spends on gas.

“It takes $40 to fill up my car,” Karn said. “And I usually fill it once a week.”

NIU students aren’t the only ones affected by high gas prices. Cranston Murphy, a Kishwaukee College student and delivery man for Lukulo’s, had strong feelings about the prices.

“[The gas prices] are ridiculous,” Murphy said. “It seems like there will be one specific price all over town, but then it will jump 10 cents the next day.”

NIU’s University Police and the Huskie Bus Line avoid gas stations. Lt. Matt Kiederlen said University Police receive their fuel from the NIU transportation department at a cost of 35 to 49 cents per mile. Kiederlen also said one of their marked cars was changed from a Ford Crown Victoria to a Toyota Prius to conserve gas.

The Huskie Bus Line purchases gas in bulk from different vendors, said Charles Battista, Huskie Bus Line general manager. They receive 7,500 gallons by truckload every seven to 10 days. Battista said the last truckload averaged out to $2.07 per gallon, due to the federal excise tax credit the Huskie Line receives.

“[The Huskie Line] is in the same boat as everyone else,” Battista said. “We try to get the best deal we can.”