Pi Beta Phi House Burned (U. of Idaho)

exlurker · #1 08-02-2007, 11:39 AM

No injuries, but a newspaper in the region reports that the Pi Beta Phi house at the U. of Idaho has burned. Reportedly, Pi Phi is looking for housing:

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/break...y.asp?ID=10913

My sympathy to the chapter and alumnae in the area.

A couple of TV stations have short reports on their sites:
http://www.khq.com/Global/story.asp?...&nav=menu438_2
http://www.kxly.com/news/?sect_rank=...story_id=13322

AlwaysSAI · #2 08-02-2007, 11:46 AM

That's too bad.

At least no one was hurt.

AlexMack · #3 08-02-2007, 11:58 AM

Wait is this the same school that had its AXO house blown apart by a tornado?

I feel so bad for the PiPhis, if that had been my chapter house I would have been devastated.

NutBrnHair · #4 08-02-2007, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porkfriedrice

Wait is this the same school that had its AXO house blown apart by a tornado?

No, that was Univ. of Iowa.

ForeverRoses · #5 08-02-2007, 12:18 PM

Here is a picture of the house (before the fire obviously). I'm glad no one was hurt.

AlexMack · #6 08-02-2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

No, that was Univ. of Iowa.

Ah, I knew it began with an I. Poor I states with disasters like these

exlurker · #7 08-02-2007, 03:00 PM

From the message posted on the Pi Phi IHQ site:

"On Wednesday, August 1, 2007, the . . . chapter house at the University of Idaho in Moscow, ID sustained significant damage due to fire. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Members are scheduled to return to campus this weekend to prepare for recruitment. House Corporation and local advisers are working with the university to investigate alternative housing options for those members who were to live in the chapter house. Alternative arrangements are also being made for hosting of upcoming recruitment events. The Fraternity and Collegiate Regional team will be supporting the chapter with on-site assistance starting this weekend. . . ."

The message goes on to list people at their HQ who can be contacted with specific kinds of questions.

TSteven · #8 08-02-2007, 03:21 PM

Is there a NPC rule that would keep Pi Phi from recruiting out of a fraternity house?

And a few years back, wasn't there a sorority (Alpha Chi Omega?) at San Diego State that had a fire at their house right before recruitment? And they ended up recruiting elsewhere? As I recall, they had a rather successful recruitment.

AGDee · #9 08-02-2007, 04:28 PM

As long as the men aren't hanging out at recruitment events, it would be OK. There are many campuses where non-housed sororities hold their events at a fraternity house.

Poor Pi Phi's, that's a really difficult situation. Our own VandalSquirrel is in that area and might be able to tell us more from the local front...

SigKapCoug · #10 08-02-2007, 07:23 PM

Oh no, that's so sad.

Hopefully the Pi Phis over here at WSU can offer them some assistance.

VandalSquirrel · #11 08-02-2007, 09:50 PM

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.

honeychile · #12 08-02-2007, 10:30 PM

I feel awful, just reading about this! Thank heavens no one was hurt - that's the most important thing. Such a beautiful house, too.

I hope the PiPhis can find a great place for rush, and take some new members who like the idea of working on a new house. Best of luck to the chapter!

VS, love the trivia - too bad that house isn't available!

VandalSquirrel · #13 08-02-2007, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeychile

I feel awful, just reading about this! Thank heavens no one was hurt - that's the most important thing. Such a beautiful house, too.

I hope the PiPhis can find a great place for rush, and take some new members who like the idea of working on a new house. Best of luck to the chapter!

VS, love the trivia - too bad that house isn't available!

There's been quite a bit of musical houses. Off the top of my head the current Delta Sigma Phi house was the first Kappa Alpha Theta house, and Kappa Delta is living in the second Theta house, it is shaped like a kite. The Theta's built a new house that opened in 2003, and the Alpha Kappa Lambdas live in the former Alpha Chi Omega house (they are no longer on campus), and every year there is a rumor a particular fraternity is moving into the former Tau Kappa Epsilon house, they closed in spring 2003. If I remember right the Theta Chis had a different house before their current one, and it was the Scholar's Hall, and I believe that the new Theta house is on top of the former site. As I said, the Phi Kappa Tau chapter closed, and the women's co-operative (Steele House) moved in as their building closed this past spring. I call it either Phi Kappa Steele or Steele Tau

BadSquirrelBeta is before my time, and she'd be able to tell you more.

alrphimu · #14 08-02-2007, 11:49 PM

I hope they find a house! I remember reading through our housing contract last year and realizing it was stated that if our house was destroyed by anything, our housing corp wasn't responsible for finding us a place to live -- now, I'd imagine they wouldn't leave us high and dry, and I'm glad Pi Phi is finding a place to live (and recruit!)

AGDLynn · #15 08-03-2007, 07:34 AM

Funny that you should make that comment.

I was talking to the chapter a couple of weeks ago and asked who lived in an apt. Almost all raised their hands (it's still summer, lol.) When I asked who had renter's insurances, only 1 or 2 did. A couple of people asked what that was.

I strongly suggested that they consider it.

The next day, I sent an email to the chapter and advisors letting them know that if the members' stuff burned in the dorms, the school and Alpha Gam wasn't liable.

It will be interesting to see if I ask that same question in the fall, how many will have insurance.