Gas prices fell from $2.66 to $2.58 in the Triangle area in the middle of last month, but now they are back on the rise and have already surpassed last month’s high.

Students across campus are not happy with the hike in gas prices and find the rise to be more of a political battle than an actual cost increase in crude oil.

Megan Grey, a junior in international economics, said she pays a whopping amount to fill her car just so she can make it to school.

“I drive a Mazda Millennia and live an hour away from campus,” she said. “I have to fill my car with premium gas and each trip to the gas station costs me well over $60.”

Grey said she thinks gas prices fluctuate more based on the need to finance our economy and the cost of crude oil is not actually changing compared to the prices we pay.

“I think gas prices are based on current political needs and not the actual price of oil. The cost for crude oil is not changing half as rapidly as compared to the gas prices at the pump,” Grey said.

Grey said gas prices have a tendency to soar when natural disasters come around, but the last big disaster to hit the U.S. was Katrina.

“Gas prices shouldn’t be rising as quickly as they are, but I guess we are lucky, because compared to other countries our gas prices are relatively low,” she said.

Garrett Deal, a sophomore in communication, said he didn’t understand why prices have been rising so much seeing as there have been no natural disasters.

“There’s no reason for them to jack prices up 30 cents like they have been doing,” he said. “They cite the reason as bad weather in the Gulf [of Mexico], but there hasn’t been any weather there all year so it seems a little fishy to me.”

Sam Allen, a senior in biological sciences, thinks the government is completely responsible for the unnecessary rise in gas prices, as the prices have been unusually high.

“Gas prices are manipulative, gouging into the the pockets of every hardworking American,” he said.

Allen said it was especially difficult to fill his tank over the summer.

“I took summer class and when having to get gas at least once a week, it makes having to commute hardly economical,” Allen said. “I drive a Toyota Camry and even that was expensive to fill.”

Charles Sadler, a senior in electrical engineering, said people will most likely buy gas regardless of the price.

“It doesn’t matter if the prices are raised,” he said. “Gas companies don’t care about us and neither does the government because they know we will continue to buy gas regardless of the cost.”

Though many driving students have come to terms with the increase in prices, even those who don’t have a car have sympathy for those who do.

“I don’t have a car, but gas prices must suck for those who have to buy gas,” Kelly Kocher, a junior in psychology, said. “I still feel bad for them.”