Loss of Two Sisters
 

Please pray for our sisters as two members have gone on to Chapter Grand.


Statement from Dean Of Students regarding Columbus fire

ATHENS, Ohio -- Based on information provided by the authorities in Columbus, OH, it is our understanding that three Ohio University and two Ohio State University students perished in a house fire on 17th Street in Columbus in the early morning hours of Sunday, April 13. It is also our understanding that the families of the deceased students have been notified of this tragedy. We are unable to confirm names or provide any additional information about the deceased until the Franklin County Coroner releases their identities.

This is obviously a terrible tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who have died.

Our Student Affairs staff is in close contact with the police, families and OSU officials, and we will provide updated information to the campus community immediately as soon as it is available.

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At least two of the Ohio Univeristy students who died in this fire were members of Alpha Gamma Delta here at OU. No one is sure if the third killed was a member, but people are saying that all three women that were killed were Alpha Gams.


__________________

To those whose hearts
Are e’er with us,
Though miles may lie between,
We lift the rose
Of friendship up,
The red, the buff, the green.
We lift the rose,
We pledge the heart,
And clasp the unseen hands
Of sisters dear
Whose true love here
Joins band to sister bands.


They may be gone, but they shall never be forgotten. Hug your sisters a little bit tighter today.

((((((((GC Alpha Gams))))))))

This is horrible news. My thoughts are with the families of all of the victims of this fire.

Please stay safe, everyone.

Godspeed

LiEP,
Tonya

When I first heard of the fire yesterday, I prayed that there were no AGD sisters...not that I really wanted it to be someone of another group.

I don't know much about the OU chapter, but I do know that I love each of my Gamma Tau collegians as much as I would love a real sister. My thoughts and prayers are with the OU chapter.

I will pass on the sad news to them.

LiEP,
Lynn

:(

The following was posted in the main thread about this in "General Forums" -- thought it would be worth repeating here, too:

I know that its getting late and many of you probably won't see this in time, but here goes anyway.

I think that it would be a sign of respect and love for our lost sisters if all Alpha Gams would wear their Badge sometime this week. I know in some places it is a tradition to put a black ribbon behind the Badge. I don't have any ribbon; but I will wear a black dress and my Badge tomorrow in their memory.

Just a thought.

The loss of three sisters
 

This news is absolutely devastating.

This is the latest off the university's newspaper website - The Post Online


Alpha Gamma Delta mourns the death of three

by Michelle Simakis
Staff Writer
michelle.simakis@ohiou.edu


Locking arms and wearing sunglasses to hide tears, members of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority openly mourned yesterday, gathering on College Green to listen to the announcement that three of their sorority sisters died in a fire near the Ohio State University campus early Sunday morning.

Ohio University officials announced the names of the three OU women killed by the fire during a news conference outside of Templeton Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. Later, Franklin County Coroner Bradley J. Lewis confirmed that OU students Erin M. DeMarco, 19, of suburban Canton; Andrea K. Dennis, 20, of Madeira; and Christine M. Wilson, 19, of Dublin were three of the five killed in the fire.

The women were OU sophomores. DeMarco was a marketing major; Dennis was a journalism major focusing on advertising management; and Wilson was a retail merchandising major.

Lewis said he has not yet confirmed the identities of the two others in the fire because he is waiting on dental records. But the Associated Press identified them as OSU students Alan Schlessman, 21, of Perkins Township near Sandusky; and Kyle Raulin, 20, of West Chester near Cincinnati.

The fire started at 4:05 a.m. Sunday near the front door of a house on 64 E. 17th Ave. in Columbus, said Chief Mike Fultz of the Columbus Fire Battalion.

Police still have not received confirmation from the fire department regarding the cause of the fire or the possibility of arson, said Sherry Mercurio, public information officer for the Columbus Police Department. The cause of the fire should be verified within the next few days.

The university will help organize a memorial service at an appropriate time to commemorate the deaths of the three women, Dean of Students Terry Hogan said.

“We are offering counseling to students,” Hogan said. “It has had a tremendous impact on the campus, but nothing like the impact it has on the families.”

Members of Alpha Gamma Delta had celebrated Founders Day on Saturday, said Susan Chiki, the sorority’s alumnae adviser who spoke at the conference.

“We were all together Saturday celebrating as a chapter,” Chiki said. “It was a joyous day.”

After the celebration ended, several sorority members evidently drove to Columbus to attend a 21st birthday party, Chiki said.

OU students Jullian Gardner and Jennifer Lehren, also members of Alpha Gamma Delta, were treated at Ohio State University Medical Center after the fire and were released Sunday, Chiki said.

Tonight on the news I saw my fallen sisters' faces for the first time. While watching the news with my mom, she asked why I was crying. I explained to her that these girls were my sisters.

I had the unfortunate task to inform my collegiate sisters at their chapter meeting tonight, and I can tell that all were devastated to hear about Andrea, Christine, and Erin.

I think we all should take Maria's idea into consideration and wear our Badges as a sign of respect and mourning for our sisters.

To my dearest AGD sisters.

omg, I am blinking back tears as I read about this tragic loss of 5 precious lives, including 3 of our beloved AGD sisters :(

My heart aches for our Zeta chapter, their loved ones and the OU Greek community ... my thoughts and prayers are with them, as are those of AGDs & Greeks all across the continent. May they all be in a better place in Chapter Grand.

liEP,
Jen

For those sisters who haven't gone to the main forum yet, I am sorry to have to update you on the trying event of the last few days. The Columbus Fire Department has ruled the house fire to be arson.

I am trying my hardest not to sob at my workstation right now. I can't imagine why anyone would purposely want to burn a building down, knowing people are inside.

I am heartbroken for our sisters.

What can we do? What can we do to try to make this better?

The Ohio University website also has more information.

http://www.ohiou.edu/news/02-03/248b.htmlx

I cannot even imagine what our sisters, families and friends are going through. May peace be with them.

My heart grieves for the families, chapter members and friends of my sisters. Looking at their beautiful faces and the chapter's descriptions, it's easy to picture them in just about any sorority. I am soo glad that they chose to be Alpha Gamma Deltas.

Loyally,
Lynn

I just stumbled upon this board today while I was searching for information about our OU sisters. I am and Alpha Gam at OSU and I just wanted to say that I was devastated to hear the news. I was at a Greek Leadership Camp when they called to tell us that there was a fire and that 5 had died. They told us that no Greeks were involved and I was relieved. Come to find out, it was not any of my OSU sisters, but my OU ones. I pray for family, friends, and sisters of these women. May God be with them.