One of the growing complaints at URI is dealing with gas as students struggle to keep up with the rising and often fluctuating prices.
Third-year students Addy Nichols talked about her struggles with gas when coming to campus.
“It used to cost me $30 to put in my tank,” Nichols said. “It now costs me $60.”
Students have brought their concerns to URI administration.
“We are getting more requests about specific help with gas,” URI coordinator for food security and outreach Barbara Sweeney said.
If students have problems with gas there are steps they can take to have their voice heard.
“Students can fill out an intake form for the Rhody Outpost,” Sweeney said. “Students can also speak to me directly about basic needs because food is expensive, rent is expensive and gas is expensive.”
There are other ways the university helps students struggling to pay for gas, including using their Ram account cards at certain gas stations in the area, which can help cover some of the higher prices.
“We have been getting more specific requests for gas,” Sweeney said. “Several gas stations accept Ram Dollars. “
Only a couple of gas stations right now take Ram Account outside of URI, but the university hopes to expand that and make it more beneficial for students to buy a meal plan if they live off campus, according to Sweeney.
“I am working with our director of IT to explore if we can get more gas stations that accept Ram Dollars,” Sweeney said.
The Rhody Outpost has become a place on campus that students can go to when they are in need of help, providing food and other essentials to those who need them. Students can also donate to the outpost.
“I’m asking for kids who donate to the Rhody Outpost to consider donating a gas card,” Sweeney said. “This way I could give them a gas card to at least help defray their costs.”
The Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority is an essential part of helping students and staff cutting back on gas, according to Sweeney. Using RIPTA can be a major factor in reducing how much they have to spend on gas prices each month.
“RIPTA is certainly a vital service for our students and community,” Sweeney said. “I see a lot of faculty and staff when I leave waiting at the Memorial Union for the RIPTA to go to Narragansett or up into the city.”
With RIPTA, students who are commuting can also get certain benefits by riding the bus to school instead of driving. URI has partnered with RIPTA to help students and staff get to and around campus for free with new U-pass benefits, allowing students who show their ID to ride for free starting Thursday.
Carpooling is another way students can save time and gas.
“I’m happy to pair people up and work out carpooling or ridesharing for students that are struggling,” Sweeney said. “We try to maximize the resources we have in our community as well as we can.”
