North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 5, Ed. 1 Tuesday, September 5, 2006 Page: 1 of 8

                                
NORTH TEXAS DAILY
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
Volume 911 Issue 5
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Students pay tribute to albino squirrel
i
Mackenzie Rollins / NT Daily
Students gathered Friday to pay tribute
to the albino squirrel who was killed
earlier this week by a hawk. Many
signed a memory book and shared
stories of the beloved creature.
By Amberlee Sterling
Staff Writer
About 100 people stoppedby a memo-
rial service Friday Sept. 1, to pay tribute to
the death of N T's second recorded albino
squirrel, said T.J. Zambrano, Denton
graduate student and Albino Squirrel
Preservation Society president.
A white candle, pictures and video
footage of the squirrel and a book for
people to jot down fond memories or
encounters with the snow-white rodent
decorated the table set up behind the
Eagle Student Services Center.
"Even when he was sleeping it was just
so peaceful to watch him," said Pamela
Hogan, North Richland Hills junior. "Also
when he was playing, it was very exciting,
and he would play with all of the other
squirrels just like he was the same, even
though we all know he was very special
in our hearts."
Hogan even filled two pages of her
college scrapbook of pictures she took of
the squirrel, she said.
Some students have been a part of
the ASPS from day one, including
Veronica Acosta, Flower Mound grad-
uate student.
When Acosta lived in Kerr Hall in 2002,
she remembers Zambrano, a resident
assistant at the time, asking people to join
his new club, she said.
Like many other friends of the squirrel,
Acosta was sad when she heard of the inci-
dent, she said.
"I mean, it's not the end of the world,
but it's kind of the end of an era of campus
culture," Acosta said.
Students were not the only ones present
at this service. NT staff and alumni were
also present to wish the creature a fare-
well.
Cindy Farrell, NT senior mail clerk, fed
the squirrel every day on her lunch break
for two and a half years, she said.
"He would almost know who were the
ones that fed him, you know, because
he would know to come up right away,"
Farrell said.
When attending a Texas Rangers' base-
ball game, Jason Stults, NT mail clerk,
would gather up peanuts to bring back
to the critter, he said.
"People laugh about what's going on
here, but I think, you know, it's sad because
the squirrel brought a lot of peace to
people, especially me," Stults said.
Andy Hogue, NT alumnus and ASPS
alumni director, said he took a day off
of work from reporting at the Gainesville
Daily Register to be with his fellow albino
squirrel lovers.
"I'd like to say the albino squirrel move-
ment is not designed to replace the eagle,"
Hogue said. "It is not designed to demean
the university. It is meant for creative
people to rally around. It's become a
symbol to those of us who feel a little
misunderstood, a little out of place, and it's
a group for everybody to join, any major,
any lifestyle. It's a group for everybody."
There was a large turnout of support,
Zambrano said.
"I hope that the students aren't too
sad, but we will move forward, and we've
already heard rumors of a second albino
squirrel, I guess a third albino squirrel, so
keep an eye out," he said.
NT perishes
A
Michael Clements / NT Daily
Woody Wilson, NT quarterback, (8) cannot escape UT tacklers during the first quarter of NT's season opener
in Austin on Saturday. The UT defense held NT to just 95 total yards. See story on page 5.
Grassfires continue to threaten Denton
Mackenzie Rollins / NT Daily
Students gathered Friday morning to pay tribute to the albino squirrel who was
killed early last week by a hawk.
Engineering college
begins new materials
science program
NT one of three Texas universities
to offer the degree
By Phil Banker
Staff Writer
NT has become
the third university
in Texas to offer a
degree in mate-
rials science, afield
which is improving
the items used in
everyday life, from
cars to computers.
Starting in fall
2006, the College
of Engineering is
offering an under-
graduate degree in
materials science
and engineering
(MSE). The program
was previously
limited to graduate
and doctoral level
students.
"I'm very excited
about being able to
teach undergrad-
uate students," said
Thomas Scharf of
the materials science and engineering department.
According to the MSE Web site, the U.S. Department of
Commerce identified advanced materials as one of five things
the United States must master in order to stay scientifically and
economically competitive in the world market.
Mike Kaufman, chair of the MSE department, said that mate-
rials science could be used to improve the materials that are
used in our everyday lives.
"Materials are found all around us," Kaufman said. "Materials
science can be used to make things better, and materials
science engineers are the kind of people that will be making
those kinds of decisions."
Kaufman said that MSE could lead to advancments such as
cars that are more gas efficient due to being lighter, and that
are strong enough to not sacrifice safety.
"We're the people who come up with the ideas to make
computers faster, memory storage greater," Kaufman said.
"We're able to use nanotechnology to manipulate things on
a new level and make them more functional, and make them
better."
According to Kaufman, a degree in materials science can
lead to careers in the manufacturing, computer, automotive,
aerospace and space technology industries.
Materials science can also open up new possibilities in
environmental industries through research into the use of
cleaner materials during manufacturing, according to the
See NT on page 7
Liliana Castillo / NT Daily
Michael Kaufman, chair of the
department of material science and
engineering, was appointed by the
Board of Regents in early 2004.
By Mandi Wallis
Intern
Despite the rain on Monday Denton
continues to "remain in a very dangerous
situation," said Bruce Hunter, director
of the Center for Spatial Analysis and
Mapping. LIunter confirmed that the
drought in Denton is substantial.
Last week Denton was issued a heat
advisory.
The Texas Forest Service said the
drought has reached a high point.
Compared to past averages, Texas is in
the upper three percent.
Heat can raise the amount of evapo-
transpiration, said Nick Walker, Fort
Worth alumnus and meteorologist for The
Weather Channel. Walker is also known as
"The Weather Dude." Evapotranspiration
is both evaporation and transpiration,
Walker said. The long periods of high
temperatures this summer has increased
evaporation, causing dry grasses and
plants, which increase the risk of grass-
fires, he said.
"Even if the temperature is not hot, the
same thing can occur if the humidity is
low," Walker said.
Hunter said the low humidity is a
potential threat and despite the rain, "we
could easily have grassfires today."
With low moisture content in the
soil and vegetation, little heat is needed
to start a fire, said Randy Nickerson,
battalion chief of information services
at the Denton Fire Department.
"A cigarette is plenty to get the road-
side going," Nickerson said.
The National Weather Service and
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration forecasted the cold front
and showers that moved through NT on
Saturday. According to the report, in spite
of rain, the moisture may still be limited.
Winds are expected to increase, which
contributes to the potential for fires.
However, the risk of grassfires can
be reduced with prevention. The Texas
Forest Service advises individuals to
comply with burn bans, and to properly
dispose of smoking materials. Denton
remains under a burn ban with 155 other
counties in the state.
A permit is always required to burn
within the city limits of Denton.
From Jan. 1 to July31,2006, the Denton
Fire Department responded to 92 grass-
fires inside the city limits, Nickerson said.
It also assisted other departments outside
of the city limits.
The Denton Fire Department offers a
free Citizen's Fire Academy to increase
community awareness, improve public
understanding, and encourage preven-
tion and safety.
September has been designated as
Campus Fire Safety Month. The National
Fire Protection Association and the Center
for Campus-Fire Safety are working
together on a campus-fire safety public
awareness campaign.
Courtesy of KRT
"It's a miracle we didn't burn," Ringgold resident Cecil Duke said standing
in what was the front door of his home on lanuary 4, 2006. A firestorm raged
through! this tiny Texas town and nearly destroyed every home in sight on
lanuary 1, 2006.