The Russian conflict in Ukraine is leaving students with light wallets and heavy hearts.
While rising gas prices are an immediate concern, humanitarian and socioeconomic factors come into play with the ongoing Russian/Ukrainian conflict.
Citrus professor of economics Luai Zawahreh said in an email students should prepare for higher than normal gas prices.
“Gas prices will not return to what they were two years ago, between $2.20 and $2.50 a gallon, students may factor that in as part of the spending budget,” Zawahreh said. “Economic factors show that individual income and household income has increased, and over time people may change their demand from gas engines to the more electric engine automobiles.”
Citrus professor of political science Gerhard Peters said Ukraine acted as a catalyst to fuel an already rising oil market.
“It (rising gas price) could have the effect of driving a more fuel-efficient vehicle or wearing dockers instead of Prada,” Peters said.
Now more than ever students are feeling the heat from driving gas-powered vehicles. Although demand will increase for electric vehicles in the future, some students are dealing with more immediate problems, like daily commutes to school.
Citrus biology major Searrah Cardenas said gas prices coupled with being a full-time student and working a minimum-wage job have had a major impact on her life.
“Gas prices are reaching almost $7(per gallon) when I’m only making $15(per hour) is absurd,” Cardenas said. “The cost to fill up my tank has doubled and has me struggling to make ends meet.”
Citrus dental major Joshua Groman is worried about driving to his family as the prices continue to rise.
“To be honest, I have been much more conscientious about where I am going now and if it’s worth the drive since my car already wastes quite a bit of gas as it is,” Groman said.
Citrus professor of psychology Brianne Levine-Peters said with the number of students still taking online classes, and many working from home, it initially did not seem like the prices were that big of a deal.
“When I thought more about it, it immediately came to mind that we are all experiencing a bit of cognitive dissonance,” Levine-Peters said. “Especially in California, where the gas prices are extremely high.”
Levine-Peters said cognitive dissonance is a conflict of two different attitudes and can make us feel uncomfortable.
“We’re seeing polls on social media where there are tons of support for Ukraine and support for imposing sanctions on Russia,” Peters said, “but on the other hand, no one wants to pay more gas and that’s the conflict. That’s the discomfort.”
Groman said seeing the shelling and reports of civilians dying in Ukraine is alarming.
“Hopefully the sanctions may deter Russia but that does not seem to be the case so far.” Groman Said.
Worrying about the price of gas is an appropriate response, but other luxury items in life, like expensive purses and large fuel-inefficient trucks, seem to not fit into that equation, Peters said.
Levine-Peters said this is where the cognitive dissonance is affecting the view on the crisis and the immediate problems on the homefront.
“One of the ways we reduce cognitive dissonance is to reassess and change our behavior,” Levine-Peters said. “If I say I don’t want to pay so much for gas then I need to do something to reduce that discomfort. That can be something like getting a new car or something like changing who we are blaming for the problem.”
Citrus professor of history Bruce Solheim said the U.S. needs to be cautious when dealing with cutting off oil supplies to Russia.
“The Japanese had to secure Indonesia during World War II so they wouldn’t have to be dependent on us (the U.S.),” Solheim said. “Cutting off the Japanese oil supply accelerated our involvement in the war, as they decided to attack in retaliation. That could happen again if we’re not careful.”
Solheim said economic sanctions are good for a limited time and for a limited reason but ultimately, they will not stop an aggressor nation.
