2008 Woodie Awards
TKE members look to move forward after fraternity fire
Sarah Kloepping
Issue date: 11/20/07 Section: News
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Jared Stange, member of TKE, said the alumni board immediately began searching for housing for those who were living in the house.
"The housing [process] went really smooth," Stange said. "They wanted to make sure we were safe and still going to class, so they took care of everything for us. We should be pretty good to go for semester."
The Nov. 12 fire at 1238 W. Main St. began at approximately 2:50 a.m. Everyone inside the house escaped and TKE?member Josh Drew was treated for smoke inhalation and a cut to the hand. No official cause has been determined.
TKE has plans to rebuild the house after it is gutted, Korey Smith, member of TKE said.
"Even the stuff we thought could be saved, couldn't be," he said. "The walls are black, and the ceilings are curving down because of all the water."
Organizations across campus have been making efforts to help out the TKE members.
The Alpha Sigma sorority began selling T-shirts and ribbons directly after the fire. So far, about 200 shirts have been ordered from students both on and off campus.
"The TKE chapters from other schools like Illinois State and Carthage are also purchasing shirts in big numbers like 25 to 30, and those are not yet counted into the purchase," Nicole Hamm, education chair of Alpha Sigma, said.
Hamm said Alpha Sigma sold more than 100 ribbons at $1 each in the first day. All of the proceeds are going to TKE.
"They are genuinely great guys and are a very important part of our Greek community," Hamm said. "I do not want to see them struggle to get back on their feet, and I know that if it had happened to any other chapter … they would do the same for us."
All of the members living in the house have said how thankful they are for the continuing support from everyone on campus, but despite the aid, TKE members are still working through the aftermath of the fire.
"More people keep coming out of everywhere to try and help us," Smith said. "But right now we have a roof over our heads and the money in our pockets."
A few of the TKE members in the house, including Smith, didn't have renter's insurance.
"I have to completely start from scratch," Smith said. "And hopefully that was a blessing in disguise, maybe I needed to start over."
Josh Drew and Jaymes Masik were also in the house the night of the fire. Other TKE members that were living in the house this semester include John Roeder, Steve Klotka, Mike Hoffman, Jeremy Harnack and Matt Kobylinksi.
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