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Stress CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Ruthann Fox-Hines, will consist of strategies for preventing and controlling stress levels. Topics will include tips on physical self care, the importance of humor and self-talk, priority setting and time management and “mini vaca tions.” One Greenville-based compa ny, Calm Your Mind, offers a brochure on stress-reduction. Written by a survivor of at tempted suicide, the brochure . suggests eliminating panic at * tacks by engaging healthy think ing such as positive self-affirma tion, gratitude and thoughts of helping others and by eliminat ing resentments. “The brochure is directed to ward people who do not have a lot of time to invest in a course or therapy, which are both good ideas,” said Jon Donald, chair man of Calm Your Mind. “It is not meant to replace those things. It is a before-it-is-too-late effort.” The techniques discussed in the brochure focus on the para-sym pathetic nervous system, the “de cision-making” part of the general nervous system that acts against chemical imbalance, which occurs in the sympathetic nervous sys tem or “reaction part” of the gen eral nervous system. Panic occurs when the decision-making part fails to intervene with the reaction part. To help alleviate stress levels, Donald suggests using deep breathing techniques, drinking water and correcting diet — start ing with giving up coffee, soft drinks and candy. Another on-campus group that helps students deal with stress, Promoting Educating and Encouraging Realistic Self-image, helps students to maintain a healthy lifestyle and overcome the stress tied to that lifestyle. P.E.E.R.S works along with Peer Health Educators who train mem bers to help others with body im age problems and stress associat ed with these problems. "There is so much stress on looking good and eating well,” P.E.E.R.S. Vice President Shannon Feller said. For immediate assistance for depression, panic or suicidal thoughts, contact 1-800-SUICIDE, the Teen Education and Crisis Hotline, 1-800-367-7287 or the National Alcohol and Drug Abuse Hotline. 1-800-821-4357. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu Gas prices climb to record high average CAMARILLO, CALIF. -Gasoline prices reached a record-high na tionwide average of $1.77 a gallon for all grades, rising 1.34 cents in the last two wee^s, according to a study released Sunday. Gas prices have jumped by nearly 26 cents so far this year, and while they won’t be falling by that amount any time soon, they aren’t expected to rise much high er, according to the Lundberg sur vey of 8,000 stations nationwide. The survey was conducted March ^ 12. The previous combined aver age record high was a May 2001 price of $1.76. Analyst Trilby Lundberg said the latest spike reflects the rise in crude oil prices and an increase in refinery work to prepare for greater spring and summer gaso line demand. OPEC declared earlier this year that it would reduce official oil pro duction by April 1 and crack down on those countries exceeding the level.Lundberg said work at the refineries is nearly complete. The national weighted average price of gasoline, including taxes, at self-serve pumps Friday was about $1.74 for regular, $1.84 for midgrade and $1.92 for premium. College CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 If that were not confusing enough, each benefit comes with its own definition for the “higher education expenses” that can be defrayed with tax breaks. School fees, room and board, books, sup plies and equipment might or might not qualify. “There’s all sorts of complexi ^ ties in these credits,” said Karen Yeager, director of tax research for H&R Block, which last year asked Congress to streamline the rules governing education cred its. Yeager said the company’s tax hot line gets many calls from peo ple confused by the rules. The Treasury Department asked lawmakers to shrink the current benefits into two credits. One — still named the Hope credit — would apply to students in their first two years of college. A second would combine all the other bene fits into a single tax credit for tu ition and some student loan inter est, and make the new combined credit available to each student in ^ a family. Both credits would start de clining for individuals earning $50,000 or more and couples earn ing $100,000 or more. There would UtJ a S1I1&AC iwi me CUU' cation expenses that qualify for the tax credits. It might be a great idea, and some lawmakers have written bills that would simplify the tax laws. But bills adding to the com plications also abound, including recent ones that would establish a new deduction for up to $1,000 in textbook purchases and a new $1,500 tax credit to help college graduates pay off their student loans. “I guess the only way that streamlining would happen ... is if every single person who gets one of these benefits would be bet ter off,” said Chris Edwards, di rector of fiscal policy at the con servative Cato Institute. The group holds the position that the government should elim inate special tax breaks that have been built into the laws. But Edwards, a father of newborn twins, also finds himself as per plexed as everyone else about how to prepare for his children’s edu cation. “It really is very complicated, and I’m supposed to be a tax ex pert,” he said. “What detes the av erage person do?” Summer Money Have you completed your application for Summer School Financial Aid? Apply on-line at www.vip.sc.edu Application Deadline April 1, 2004 at 5:00pm Courtesy of the Office of Student Financial A»d & Scholarships You don’t have to move heaven and earth to clean up the clutter around your house. Just bring your extra stuff to Shurgard. We can help you tame your garage, add breathing room to your basement, or turn the spare bedroom back into a spare bedroom. Give us a call. We’ll tell you how you can save on storage, and save your sanity at the same time. | Just bring this coupon to Shurgard and we'll give you 25% off packing supplies . 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