More from the O.U. Post -- Tuesday, 4/15 Edition:
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.
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There is more information, and dramatic pictures in the Ohio State Lantern:
www.thelantern.com
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Words fail to describe the sadness and pain caused by a tragedy such as this one -- especially with victims so young.
I am confident that my Brother Beta Chapter Delts who live next door to the Alpha Gams, as well as the rest of the Ohio University Greek community will do whatever they can to help in this terrible time.
May God rest their young souls and, in time, bring some peace and solace to their families, friends and sisters.
DeltAlum
... 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.
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