Undergraduate geography students from the UNT and Texas A&M Departments of Geography recently explored issues related to fracking in and around the city of Denton. Led by Professors Matt Fry (UNT) and Christian Brannstrom (Texas A&M), the "fracking" field school began at McKenna Park, a site where controversy over Rayzor Ranch gas well units began in 2009. There, students spoke with Cathy McMullen, co-organizer of Frack Free Denton and the Denton Drilling Awareness Group (DAG).

From McKenna Park, the group drove to see, hear, and smell active fracking at a site in the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction (Photo 1). Continuing on, they went to the Vintage neighborhood and talked with Adam Briggle, a professor in UNT's Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies and co-organizer of Frack Free Denton. Dr. Briggle talked about the site and how vested rights affected how the city could implement its 2013 gas drilling ordinance. He also discussed how the construction of homes near vested gas wells creates tensions among new homeowners, the city, and operators (Photo 2).

At mid day, the students stopped for lunch on Fry Street, an iconic location near UNT. Former geography undergraduate students and co-organizers of Students Against Fracking, Angie Holliday and Nikki Chochrek spoke to the group about their role in student education projects. They also talked about their involvement with Frack Free Denton, particularly their use of creative media and entertainment to educate and organize.

To wrap up the day, the group of students and professors convened in the Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building for an overview of the issues. Dr. Tom LaPoint, Professor of Biology and and member of the Denton Drilling Task Force spoke about regional emissions and gas drilling. City councilman Dalton Gregory ended the day with a in-depth discussion of local government and the city's responsibility to enforce the new fracking ban.

The day ended with a lecture by Dr. Pete Gunter on Big Thicket National Preserve. From there, and welcomed by UNT's Silvey Society, the students got together in EESAT's beautiful atrium for the Silvey Society Annual Fish Fry. After that, it was all fish and fun!

Photo 1: Dr. Fry explains fracking at a site in Denton's extraterritorial jurisdiction.