The University News (Irving, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 13, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 25, 2006 Page: 1 of 12
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SJ NIVERSITY4N E WS
Volume XXXV, Number 13
University of Dallas, Irving, Texas
January 25, 2006
IRVING AND UD WORK TO KEEP STUDENTS SAFE
by Mary Chadwick
MEWS EDITOR
Student Government presi-
dent Tommy Heyne and Irving
Mayor Herbert Gears are cooper-
ating to make crossing Northgate
safer for UD students.
In response to a letter from
Student Government, the city has
taken extensive steps to improve
the safety of the crosswalk from
UD to PDK and Tower Village,
home to many UD upperclass-
men. Two serious accidents, in
which victims have been taken
away in ambulances, have oc-
curred at the crosswalk.
In the two weeks since the let-
ter was sent, a speed-monitoring
device has been installed to alert
drivers to Northgate's 30-mph
speed limit. The small crosswalk
was repainted in large, fluorescent
white zebra stripes, and six high
visibility pedestrian walking signs
have been placed along Northgate
to prepare drivers for the possibil-
ity of people crossing. Although
SG did not particularly request
increased enforcement, the
Irving Police Department has
been seen on Northgate much
more than usual. Raj Luthra,
manager of PDK Foods Store lo-
cated across Northgate from UD,
observed that 20 tickets were
given in half an hour one day.
"We would highly advise stu-
dents to obey traffic laws, so as
not to put themselves or others at
unnecessary risk," Heyne said.
Heyne was extremely pleased
to see the affects of student
government's concern.
"We're happy that Student
Government is affecting positive
change for the good of the stu-
dents," he said. "We're especially
grateful to Mayor Gears and the
City of Irving for their prompt,
solicitous response. Now the
only danger is smoking the ciga-
rettes, not going to buy them [at
PDK]."
Heyne met Gears at Decem-
ber's "Salute to Irving" event,
which honored the city and cel-
ebrated the 50-year partnership
between the university and Irving.
The event attracted faculty, staff,
and city officials.
During the event, Heyne spoke
to Gears about the frequently used
crosswalk and explained that stu-
dents have very little protection
when crossing Northgate. Gears
suggested that Heyne write him a
letter explaining his concern and
desire to make the crosswalk safer
for the UD community.
After speaking with two po-
lice officers and members of the
university staff, Heyne wrote a
letter to the mayor on behalf of
Student Government, asking that
the city to look into making the
conditions safer for students. The
letter was shown to UD president
Dr. Frank Lazarus and Luthra.
Student Government and Luthra
signed the letter that was sent to
Mayor Gears two weeks ago.
UD students are glad for the
safer conditions.
"It's really cool that Tommy
[Heyne] has this initiative and
he goes through and contacts the
right people; it's obvious that the
authorities take him seriously.
[The crosswalk] is a good thing
for the school," senior Jorge
Preble, a resident of Tower Vil-
lage, said.
SG president Tommy Heyne
prepares to cross Northgate.
In response to a letter from
SG, Irving improved the
safety of the cross walk
between UD and PDK.
John Schuler
GRASS FIRES A DANGEROUS THREAT TO UD
A state-wide burn-ban has forced UD to cancel the traditional Groundhog bonfires.
by Mary Chadwick
NEWS EDITOR"
The dangerously dry condi-
tions across Texas and Oklahoma
came home to UD Jan. 19 as
a grass fire spread rapidly on
university property across Hwy
114.
"The fire spread very quickly,
a fire most likely started by a dis-
carded cigarette from a passing
car. I hankfully the Dallas Fire
Department arrived quickly and
was able to suppress the fire before
it got too far away from the road
where fire trucks can't get in," di-
rector of student life John Grant
explained. "We really hope that
our students, faculty, and staff
We really hope that our students,
faculty, and staff will be especially
cautious given the danger o: fire
now.
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it
Cs.rit.e
will be especially cautious given
the danger of fire now."
During the Christmas holi-
day, both Texas and Oklahoma
suffered from devastating grass
fires that spread throughout the
states engulfing nearly 20,000
acres in flames, according to the
North County Times of Riverside
County. In only two days, Texas
saw 73 isolated yet destructive
fires. Severe drought, fast winds,
and high temperatures — some-
times as high as 80 — contributed
to the severe fires.
Tossing a cigarette into
dry grass could ignite a
dangerous grass fire because
of severe drought conditions.
In late December, 73 fires
destroyed homes, took lives,
and burned thousands of
acres across Texas and
Oklahoma.
Some of the fires, however,
were probably sparked by human
error like ignoring the fire bans,
burning trash, shooting fireworks,
and throwing cigarettes out of car
windows. North County Times
reported a total of 120 homes
were destroyed in Texas, and three
lives were taken.
Because of the widespread
danger, UD staff is asking stu-
dents to take extra precautions
when dealing with anything flam-
mable. Grant sent an email to the
entire UD student body asking
students to be extremely careful
and reminding them that even
flicking a cigarette into the grass
could cause tremendous damage.
"The University is very con-
cerned about the possibility of
fire on our campus. We have
hundreds of acres of land that are
extremely dry due to the recent
drought. Even areas that are usu-
ally somewhat wet (like Ground-
hog Park) are in a very dry and
fire prone condition right now,"
Grant said.
The fire ban, which will still
be in effect during UD's annual
Groundhog celebration, means
the traditional bonfires will be
off of the night's agenda. Student
Life intern Sarah Chism looked
into the possibility of fire pits as
alternatives, but the ban is all-
inclusive.
"Although we can't have the
bonfires, Ben Gibson, (SPUD
Traditions Chair) has already put
together an awesome Groundhog,
so we're not worried about it at
all," Chism said.
John Schuler
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Martinez, Eric. The University News (Irving, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 13, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 25, 2006, newspaper, January 25, 2006; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth201422/m1/1/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Dallas.