Since the drop in gas prices, students have been appreciating the benefits of cheap gas, if not reaping them.

“(Cheap gas prices) are exciting,” said Jessica Coonley, junior in LAS. “But I still feel like using gas is bad.”

Coonley said she won’t be guzzling as much gas as possible just because prices are down.

But many students who have cars on campus are excited about not having to break the bank if they want to leave campus for the weekend.

Melissa Fragoso, junior in Education, said she thinks the prices will definitely make weekend travel a greater possibility for students.

Even students who may not have time to get away from campus are still excited about the low prices.

Nicki Dahm, graduate student, said lower gas prices may prompt travel for people in general even if she won’t be able to take full advantage.

Though she has a car on campus, she usually doesn’t travel on the weekends. Dahm still likes that gas is cheap so that travel can be more of an option.

“If I were thinking about going somewhere I’d be more apt to go,” Dahm said.

Some students who don’t have cars on campus remain indifferent to lower prices.

Brian Zuro, sophomore in LAS, said he was surprised gas prices are down but that it’s hard for him to take advantage of them.

“I don’t travel very much anyway. If I do I usually go by train,” Zuro said.

Nonetheless, some students like that mandatory travel expenses will not be as pricey, and those who don’t have a car on campus are happy that the drop in gas prices has corresponded with Thanksgiving break so that they can drive cheaply at home.

Fragoso said even though prices are higher near Chicago, she’s still glad they are down from where they were.

“I do a lot of driving at home so it helps a lot to have lower prices,” Fragoso said.

With all the excitement it is easy to overlook the dark side to the low prices.

“I love them,” said Jill Wojciechowski, graduate student. “Unfortunately our economy had to crash before they became so low.”

Even though the low gas prices correlate with the country’s weakening economy, students continue to try and make the best out of a bad situation.

But even those who know the cause are happy to be pumping gas for less.

“I still think it’s really great,” Wojciechowski said