Albino Squirrel Preservation Society

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The Albino Squirrel Preservation Society (ASPS) is an international collegiate organization dedicated to "fostering compassion and goodwill" toward albino squirrels. The ASPS has approximately 700 members in eight chapters across the United States, Canada and England.

University of North Texas albino squirrel UNTalbinosquirrel.jpg
University of North Texas albino squirrel

Founded in April 2001 at the University of Texas at Austin, the first ASPS chapter was created to celebrate a longstanding legend on campus, which states that seeing an albino squirrel before a test is good luck. [1] [2] In reality none of the white squirrels on campus were technically albino and are instead typical fox squirrels with lighter coats. [3] [4] [5] In less than a year, the UT Austin chapter became one of the largest official student organizations in the University's history.

After widespread popularity at UT Austin, the society's second and third chapters formed at the University of North Texas [6] and University of Pennsylvania, respectively. [7] In the following years, ASPS chapters were formed at the University of Western Ontario, Cambridge University, Texas A&M University, Illinois State University, the Juilliard School of Music, the University of Louisville, and Concord High School in Concord, California.

The ASPS has gained nationwide popularity through a number of media appearances, most notably with the University of North Texas chapter's appearance on Animal Planet. Club activities include pro-squirrel rallies, campouts, and t-shirt sales. [7]

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References

  1. Hall, Leigh (December 6, 2004). "Group has a squirrely way to help students ace finals". The Daily Texan . p. 2 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Palmer, Christopher (October 26, 2009). "Do you know the legend of the albino squirrel?". UT News.
  3. Lindell, Carolyn (December 31, 2013). "Central Austin's famous blond squirrels aren't as special as you might think". Austin American-Statesman .
  4. "The Legend of the Albino Squirrel". UT School of Undergraduate Studies.
  5. Egerton, Owen (November 2017). "Boomerang Days: My White Whale". The Alcalde . Archived from the original on 2022-10-06.
  6. Harvey, Holly (April 26, 2012). "The legacy of UNT's albino squirrels live on". North Texas Daily . Archived from the original on 2021-01-28.
  7. 1 2 Ruff, Julie J. (November 7, 2002). "Love for albino squirrels drives student activists". The Daily Texan . p. 2 via Newspapers.com.