Sig Ep House Fire

[PsychTau]

Sad news for Sigma Phi Epsilon Brothers. . .

Early today, the Arkansas Gamma Chapter house burned. The north half of the chapter house was destroyed by fire, the south half was water and smoke damaged. The whole house is a total loss. Preliminary reports state that it was probably arson, as traces of an accelerant was found at the scene.

The chapter house has been empty since May, as the chapter had recently lost their charter (The only good thing about that is no one was living in the house). According to the alumni that I know, the fraternity was keeping the house in preparation for recolonizing the chapter in a few years. Now they no longer have that, and have to start over with fundraising in order to rebuild (I don't think insurance would cover all of it).

My heart goes out to all of the SigEp brothers. I am also thankful that the house was empty at the time. I know that the Fraternity is strong enough to overcome this challenge as well, and you've got some great alumni here in Arkansas.

(As I get more info, I will share it with you. Especially if I find a link to a picture. What they showed on the news was unbelievable!!)

[bets]

Originally posted by PsychTau
Sad news for Sigma Phi Epsilon Brothers. . .
Preliminary reports state that it was probably arson, as traces of an accelerant was found at the scene.

PROBABLY?!?!? If you were on this campus, you would have a DANG good idea of whether or not it was arson!

The chapter house has been empty since May. . .

Let me clarify. They have been out of the house since May, but they have been off campus (as in NO Chapter Operations) since fall 01. And since May, they have been TRASHING the house. It has been the biggest eyesore on campus (and considering how much construction our campus has been undergoing, that's a challenge) since then, and it is the first thing you see as you enter campus from one of the 2 main entrances! I am talking about busting out all the windows, you name it!

My heart goes out to all of the SigEp brothers. I am also thankful that the house was empty at the time. I know that the Fraternity is strong enough to overcome this challenge as well, and you've got some great alumni here in Arkansas.

You know, my heart also goes out to the SigEps, but for more than the house burning down. Many of us on campus have seen the problems caused by some of the SigEps for at least the last 6 years. (Not all of them, SOME of them were decent men) It saddens me to know many of the things that went on with that chapter, and especially because I know other SigEp chapters that are so strong. And the alumni that I know are great too, but, now I don't have to worry about them on campus. I HIGHLY doubt that the "fundraising" efforts to rebuild the house will be successful, and they will have slim pickings for a new house to get back on campus in 4 years when their probation is over.

And, I am also glad that noone was in the house,not only because noone got hurt, but also because if so, that would just be one more untrue (TRUE?!?!) "rumor" that they can put on the back of their bid day shirt boasting about their fiascos!

[bets]

Evidence Points to Arson in Fraternity House Fire


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by Paul E. Carter
(Photos by Paul E. Carter)
www.nealink.com


Fire Marshal Leonard Jadrich examines the charred remains of an ASU fraternity house Monday.

Investigators say arson is to blame for an early morning fire Monday that destroyed the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house on the Arkansas State University campus.

Jonesboro Fire Marshal Captain Leonard Jadrich said it is definitely an arson case. "On my initial inspection I found an accelerate trail leading from the north end of the structure to the middle of the building," the fire marshal said. Jadrich added that burn patterns in the middle of the two-story house were consistent with the use of a liquid accelerate. Investigators from the Jonesboro Police Department removed some evidence from the scene late Monday morning.


The flames broke out around 1 a.m. Monday in the vacant residential structure at 105 Olympic Drive. The fire was discovered by an ASU police officer on routine patrol.

The first firemen on the scene found heavy smoke pouring from the 16,000 square-foot structure. Captain Alan Dunn said five engine companies, two ladder trucks, the special operations unit and reserve firemen fought the fire for close to three hours before bringing the blaze under control. "We were on defense for the first two hours," Dunn said in reference to fighting the blaze from the outside of the structure. Firemen directed streams of water from the ladder trucks, deck pumps and manned hoses in their attempts to douse the flames which at times leaped 80 feet into the air. Flames burst thru the south roof of the structure approximately one hour after the blaze was reported. Shortly thereafter a large portion of the south wall collapsed. The entire south half of the two story structure was consumed by the flames.

Jonesboro Asst. Fire Chief Butch Herring said the fire was the largest fire the department has fought this year. "We're very lucky this building is isolated on the campus and not near any other structures," Herring said. The fraternity house is located at the intersection on Olympic Drive and Aggie Road on the east side of the campus.

Jadrich confirmed that the electricity and natural gas services to the building had been disconnected prior to the fire. City Water and Light records indicate the electricity was disconnected one month ago. The house has been vacant since the fraternity's charter was pulled by the university last fall after a hazing incident. Roger Lee, Dean of Student Affairs at ASU, said the fraternity's charter was suspended. "The charter was suspended by the university at the end of last fall's semester for four years," Lee said.

Dr. Rick Stripling, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, said the house, built in 1992, belonged to the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Chapter. "The house belongs to the national chapter but the ground it sets on belongs to the university," Stripling said.


Two Jonesboro firefighters spray the remains of the Sigma Phi Epsilon house Monday.

Sigma Phi Epsilon National Office Director of Communication Scott Thompson said the national office was actively pursuing a new occupant. "We were pursing options with other entities on the campus in hopes that someone could occupy the building," Thompson said.

University Police Detective Randy Martin said the building has been vandalized numerous times since it was vacated. Stripling said the doors and windows were boarded up for security reasons.

Dunn said one fireman was injured fighting the blaze. "Firefighter Greg Simpson was treated at the scene by Patient Transfer personnel after he injured his knee on a nail," Dunn said.

Firemen remained on the scene throughout the morning Monday hosing down hot spots in the remains

16,000 square feet???? That can't be right.....

[madmax]

Originally posted by Ginger
16,000 square feet???? That can't be right.....

Why cant it?

That's gigantic! Most of the houses I've seen have been 4,000 - 5,000 at the largest! That must be like 10 stories tall!!!

[Chop1228]

When our university took the houses away from us in 1995, a few of the fraternities tried their best to burn the houses down. None of them succeded, however, they did manage to break every window and destroy anything else in their respective houses. Needless to say we dont have much left from the house. This sounds like a similar story.

[madmax]

Originally posted by Ginger
That's gigantic! Most of the houses I've seen have been 4,000 - 5,000 at the largest! That must be like 10 stories tall!!!

16,000 is definitely huge but it's not impossible, especially for a large chapter.. Some chapters sleep over 50 members.

[bets]

16,000 is definitely huge but it's not impossible, especially for a large chapter.. Some chapters sleep over 50 members.

I bet the size was right, the house was one of the biggest on campus. And I don't know how many people lived there, but they had a large chapter compared to the rest of the frats on campus.

When our university took the houses away from us in 1995, a few of the fraternities tried their best to burn the houses down. None of them succeded, however, they did manage to break every window and destroy anything else in their respective houses. Needless to say we dont have much left from the house. This sounds like a similar story.

That is a very similar story. Why do guys want to do that to their house? Even if it is not yheir house anymore?I don't get it.

[Chop1228]

Well from the sounds of it their Nationals were looking to rent to another Fraternity... I dont think any house would be cool with another house living in "our" house. But i dont think i would burn it down. The reason the guys did it at our schools is the University was buying all the houses, or trying to, so they thought they could take out their agressions on the house and make the university pay since they were no longer ours...we still get to rent our chapter space and lodge for chapters and such but we cant live there anymore--our letters are still on the house, but thats all we have left and their not taking that away from us...

[bets]

Originally posted by Chop1228
Well from the sounds of it their Nationals were looking to rent to another Fraternity... I dont think any house would be cool with another house living in "our" house.

From what I have heard, the Nationals wanted to SELL it to ANYONE! The land is owned by the school, the house, by the frat. But noone wanted it, especially not for the price they were asking (a Sig Chi [next door neighbors to the Sig Eps] told me today that they wanted $800,000 for it!!)

I KNOW the school didn't want to buy it, and most of the houses here are pretty cool houses, and the ones that live in the smaller houses, probably wouldn't need the space of that house.

(As a sidebar, I just find it strange that a couple of frat men here at ASU are pyro-driven. We have had MUCH MORE than our share of burned couches, Homecoming Floats, etc. in the last few years. What is up with that?!?)

[DRau]

Side note....

SigEp at UCSB burned awhile ago.... I don't think it was arson or anything but when down in flames all the same. They rebuilt the house out of brick to prevent any future problems

(a Sig Chi [next door neighbors to the Sig Eps] told me today that they wanted $800,000 for it!!)

My old sorority house is worth something like 1.5 million.... Land is SOOO expensive in Southern Cal!!!!!

[PsychTau]

You are right. . .I am not on that campus. Therefore I cannot certainly say that it was arson, I do not have that firsthand knowledge. I can only report what I know and have been told. I do know that the alumni have worked hard to try to keep that chapter on the right track, I wish that their efforts had turned out better. . .

I have SOME info about what happened up there, not all. I do know that the person who gives me this info presents himself as a true AUTHORITY on the subject, but seems to be not telling the whole story regarding the seriousness of the chapter's actions. (Example: I know that if the chapter was being suspended/closed by the University AND the Fraternity, then there was something more seriously wrong than "just a harmless little party". ) I know rules have been broken many times for their charter to be lost. My "source of info" sometimes minimizes these things, but I can read between the lines.

That being said, I have definately formed opinions about the subject that may fall a little closer to yours than anyone realizes. However, I don't want to go into that here, because I haven't ever interacted with these guys, so my opinions are pure speculation.

As far as selling the house, here's what I've been told: The national fraternity wanted to sell the house, the alumni housing board did not. They worked out a deal to lease it to the university, and planned to recolonize the chapter there when they were allowed to (This is the board's plans). How much of that is reality I don't know.

And as far as the size of the house, yes, it is LARGE!!! One of the news channels here had a wonderful aerial shot of the house after the fire was out. I was hoping they would post it on their website, but I can't find it.

I guess my sympathy lies with the alumni who really wanted to try to recolonize the chapter eventually. This has just added one great big obstacle to overcome, which would REALLY discourage me if I was in their position.

The whole situation sucks at this point. . . .

[bets]

PsychTau,

I completely understand. I really do feel for their alumni, and for the good guys that were trying to make the chapter better (just, in my opinion, they were FAR outnumbered).

When everything went down in the Fall that got them off campus, it was just the topping on the cake. It would be interesting to see what you heard happened, but like you, I don't want to get into that here. But punishment-wise, from what I heard, (which was a good University source), their Nat's just kind of gave them over to the University (as in, whatever the University decides is fine, because our punishments are not doing ANYTHING), and the University ruled to put them on suspension for 4 years (because, theoretically, in 4 years, the current members will be gone, ie. graduated, though they must not know our campus--try 5-7 years, )

Then when that happened, the house was still full of members, yet they were no longer an official frat. This spelled DANGER to many of us on this campus (as they were not official, they didn't have to register parties, or have security, or anything. And on our campus in a DRY county, it's nice to have University security that will not look into your cup unless absolutely necessary). Policemen friends constantly warned us about how the house was just a bust waiting to happen, but I guess they kept it in check well enough, cause it never happened.

But I've got to say, as far as I know, no deal was going to be made with the University. I work on campus, in an office very near to the head honchos, and the word gets passed along quickly there. There were deals that were offered, but the university was never interested more than just wanting to get the guys out of the house.

According to the fire chief, arson is highly suspected. I spoke with someone that had been dealing with an alumni since this happened, and the conversation was summed up as the alumni said, "We just can't wait till the perpertrators of this crime are found" to which the university employee stated, "oh yes, then this dark cloud which has been hanging over the chapter will be cleared away" (this was said dripping with sarcasm). So, it's not just Greeks that have been fed up with all of this, it has affected our school and city community.

But you're right, the whole situation DOES suck, and hopefully it has played out long enough and will die down so the alumni chapter WILL be able to rebuild it with QUALITY men in 4 years.

Another article can be found at www.jonesborosun.com, if anyone is interested.

[sairose]

I agree with Bets, since I also go to ASU. I have heard several things about the Sig Eps here and knowing about everything, there's not a doubt in my mind it was arson.

I wondered why they were still living there after their charter got pulled. How did they get away with that anyways???