Pi Beta Phi House Burned (U. of Idaho)

[VandalSquirrel]

I live a block from the fire station and hear every time they go on a call, and high enough on a hill that I could see a glow, but I had no idea it was the Pi Phi house until this morning. I'm maybe a five minute walk from there, and there were news vehicles all over the parking lot next to the house. I had business on their block twice today, and yes, most of the roof is gone. Lots of students store things in their chapter houses or dorms over the summer, plus all of their personal chapter items, and I can't imagine how horrible it is to lose things to smoke and water damage.

I have to say that I am extremely saddened that they have lost their home, but thankful no one was living in it at the time. Most women are returning to their chapter houses Sunday, and if this happened a few days later things may have been different. I also cannot stress to all of you alumni and alumnae who serve on House Corporation Boards, the importance of sprinklers when considering a remodel. These women have a wonderful local chapter, International organization, and a supportive University and I am positive they will have a great recruitment and thrive through this tragedy. I know other organizations on campus are offering their support, as well as the University, and we really do take care of our own.

As for Recruitment, UI has some lovely buildings that I imagine could be used for Recruitment events, and on a positive note some are air conditioned. In my opinion I doubt a fraternity house would be used, as men also have recruitment, and there are building options since school hasn't started yet. The Phi Kappa Tau chapter closed last spring, and their house had been vacant, but the women's co-operative has taken up residence there, so it is unavailable, and the former Tau Kappa Epsilon house needs a lot of work so more than likely the chapter will temporarily live in a residence hall. There has also been a lot of apartments built in the past year, and some fraternities have lived in apartments during their remodels.

On the trivia front, their former house is across the street, and is currently occupied by Alpha Gamma Rho. Before AGR lived there, Lambda Chi Alpha occupied it. The fireplace still has the Pi Beta Phi lozenge in stone on the mantle.