SpecialEdition lEiJSTlon Epsilon of Phi Gamma Delta • the University of North Carolina June 1996 Chapel Hill, N.C. Inferno Kills Five, Destroys Vance Hall In Memoty... Mark Strickland Jojh Wearer Ben Woodruff Our once-proud Vance Hall now otando ad a memorial to thefire otudento who died therein. An early morning fire raced through Epsilon chapter on Mother's Day, Vance Hall, constructed in the late 1920s, was completely destroyed May 12, killing five students and leaving Vance Hall a smoldering shell. by the blaze. John Fennebresque '93, who was staying at the Carolina Three of the five students were brothers of Phi Gamma Delta. They were Junior Ben Woodruff from Raleigh, Senior Josh Weaver from Rocky Mount, and Senior Mark Strickland from Rocky Mount, who wouldn't believe the flames coming out of the windows and towering out of the roof," he said as he watched the Chapel Hill firefighters bring the was a lifelong friend of Weaver's. Anne Smith of Rocky Mount and Joanna Howell of Caiy were the other victims. "This is just a horrible tragedy, " said Purple Legionnaire Ed Peele, one of the first graduate brothers on the scene. "I have known each of these wonderful guys since they were pledges. They loved Epsilon, and they were loved in return. We'll miss them so much, and our hearts go out to their parents and families." The cause of the blaze was not immediately known, but by Tuesday it had been determined that it began in the basement. Parts of the first floor had collapsed during the fire, and the structural integrity of the building hampered rescue and investigative efforts. The fire was reported at 6:07 a.m. from the neighboring Carolina Inn. Several bystanders rushed to the door and windows, screaming at the occupants to get out. But the fire, fed by the blustery spring breeze and the ancient wood framing of Vance Hall, quickly drove back the wouldbe rescuers. Three students escaped the blaze by jumping out of second- and third-story windows. Junior Adam Jones of Atlanta, was listed in good condition at UNO Hospital, while Senior Ben Eubanks from New Bern, was listed as serious. Ann Glenn, of Charlotte, was said to be in critical condition. One of the survivors said he was awakened by the sound of Inn across the street, said it was the worst fire he had ever seen."You tragic blaze under control later that morning. An employee of the Carolina Inn was quoted as saying, "It had engulfed the downstairs. It was like an inferno. I was amazed at how quickly it spread. It was a tinderbox." Chapel Hill Fire Chief Jones confirmed the rapid spread of the blaze, noting that the fire grew to amazing size just between the time they arrived and the time they had finished setting up their equipment. Onlookers streamed by the awful scene as the day progressed, many of them wearing their light blue graduation gowns. Most were unaware of the tragedy unfolding on Cameron Avenue as they received their respective degrees. But their shock and sadness was clear, and shared by all of the throng in the Carolina Inn parking lot across the street from the tragic sight. After the graduation exercises were completed, UNC Chancellor Michael Hooker visited the scene to offer his condolences. "It is profoundly ironic," he said,"what should be the happiest day of the university turns out to be the saddest." Vance Hall had passed the fire marshal's inspection two months earlier. Sprinkler systems were not required by town ordinance. It is ironic to note that plans were underway for an extensive renovation of Vance Hall, including sprinklers, targeted for 2001. the smoke detectors and was able to jump to safety. A trumorialservicefor thefire victims will be held Sunday, June 2, at2p.m. at the University Baptist Church, at the corner ofFranklin and Columbia Streets in Chapel Hill. \r\nSome Thoughts on "Perg6!" By Jim Sessoms '76 We were standing in the Carolina Inn parking lot, watching the smoke roll out ofthe windows of a fire-engulfed Vance Hall, hoping to God there was no one in that blazing hell except the brave Chapel Hill firemen we saw climbing ladders and luggingyellow hoses into our house. It was a gorgeous morning, a little cool but bright and blustery, perfect for a Mother's Day graduation ... but a horrible day to see what we were seeing, and for the thoughts that some of our brothers might be in that awful inferno. Some of us sat on the wall or stood around in stunned disbelief. Some of us had tears trickling down our cheeks, and those who didn't were trying hard not to. A few had loved ones with them, undergraduates mostly, or else those who had planned to graduate that morning. The rest of us had each other, not so much for talking, but rather for the comfort of being around "family." After all, those kids lying dead in that house were our brothers. Marvin Carver and I walked around to the back yard. It was flooded with the dark, dirty water of the fire hoses, strained through the visibly charred wooden beams of the once-proud Vance Hall. As two of the graduate trustees, we had worked with all the undergraduate brothers, including Josh, Ben and Mark. The sadness was profound. I was gripped by helplessness and hopelessness, and asked Marvin,"What's the use? We that blaze. It's truly a wonder that the 10 or so undergraduates present didn't "lose it" right then and there. But maybe it's not a wonder. A/laybe they are made ofsterner stuff. We'd go up to check on Burch and George and Rob and George and the others, telling them to "hang in there." Let me tell you, they did. As they watched their college home crumble before the high-pressure hoses,you could see it in their eyes: Well come back; Epsilon won't go away; we will hang in there; Epsilon will "cany on." Then it hit me — I'd heard that phrase before. Remember during pledge training, we were instructed to use that phrase "Perge!" in the bottom left- hand comer ofany correspondence to another brother? Most of us may have at first, but when's the last time you did? Who can tell me what it means, much less how to pronounce it? For the record, the word has several interpretations. Our pledge training manual says it can mean "Press Forward" or"Cany On." The founders ofthe fraternity preferred the former definition. Brothers, if there ever was a time for us to "Press Forward," that time has arrived. The outpouring of emotion, offrustration, of determination since that work so hard to help these guys, and it all comes to this — lost lives and a fire has been tremendous. Brothers have called from all over the countiy, house destroyed. Why are we doing this to ourselves?" He looked me right in the eyes."Because we love this place. Don't forget that. And we're not done with our work here." His words rang in my ears all day. I knew he was right, as usual, and it was just the right dose for a case of literally, wanting to know what to do. My pledge brother in Rome, Ga., when told that we have a huge fund-raising and rebuilding task ahead of us, said with a quiet determination,"I'm your man in Georgia." Another group in Greenville called to find out where to send contributions for a scholarship despair. Back at the parking lot, I got the feeling that it was easier for us, the older guys. After all, we had the ballast of memories ofsome of the best fund we're setting up in memoiy of all five students. And that's just two examples of the scores of calls we received in the first few days. So we'll mourn the loss of these wonderful young people, we'll hurt for times of our lives to sustain us. But imagine the horror you'd feel knowing that some of the brothers you were with just hours before were trapped in their parents and families, we'll thank God it wasn't us or our own children in that fire, and we'll cany on. We'll Press Forward. We'll raise money to rebuild Vance Hall into a first class, 21st century building, a living memorial not only to those five victims, but to all of us. We're Phi Gams. We'll not only hang in there — we'll cany on and press forward with the strength and Fire Consumes House, Spares Chain The early morning blaze that killed five students and gutted Vance Hall left a legacy of tragic sadness at 108 West Cameron Avenue. The fire, which started in the basement area, destroyed practically eveiything in its path. Eveiything, that is, except one of the most precious items in our vigor we've always shown in the tough times we've had in our 150 year history. We'll thrive in spite of our loss. We're Epsilon, and we've got a tradition of greatness to uphold. Because we love this place. Don't forget that. Perge! chapter room: The Chain. As you may recall, a link with the name of eveiy Epsilon brother is added to the Chain upon his initiation. On that Chain you'll find such names as Zebulon B. Vance and Luther J. Phipps, plus notable contemporaries such as Paul Rizzo, Ted Haigler, Mike Easley and Joe Mavretic. Once the fire was extinguished and investigators entered the charred ruins, several quick-thinking graduate brothers jumped into action. Realizing that the workmen hauling out debris would not recognize those materials used in our rituals, Ted Griffin '71 asked the agent from the State Bureau of Investigation for permission to enter the building and comb through the rubble. When the agent refused, Ted informed him that "the boss ofyour boss is Alike Easley '70, North Carolina's Attorney General, and his name is on one of the links of that Chain. I know he'd want to let us get it out of there." With that, the agent relented. They estimate that the heat from the fire reached temperatures of about 2000 degrees. How the Chain survived is a wonder. Sure, it's scorched in places, but you would think it would have melted in that hellish cauldron."Not so," says Jeffrey Arens '91, who gathered up the Chain and carried it home to clean and restore it with the help of Will Andres '93 and George T. Barnes '91. "It's in amazingly good shape," said Jeffrey,"with a little 'sweat and elbow grease,' we'll get it looking like new again." "Saving the Chain was the only bright spot in a long, dark day," said Marvin Carver '75, one of the graduate "rescuers." "It's like a sign to us: Epsilon's Chain of brothers will get through this horrible tragedy,just like the Chain did." Graduate Association President Reynolds Gratified by Support, Pledges Revival Memorial Scholarship Fund Estabushed In an emotional meeting at the Carolina Inn on Wednesday, May 15, Graduate Association President Fairfax Reynolds '75 told a packed audience of Epsilon faithful that despite their enormous sadness of the past few days, plans were in the works for a "revival of our fraternity. A crowd of over 150 grief-stricken but determined brothers gathered from all comers of the state, expressing their sympathy for the families of the five victims of the tragic May 12 fire, Mark Strickland, Josh Weaver, Ben Woodruff, Anne Smith and Joanna Howell, and pledging their support for a memorial fund honoring them and supporting a plan to bring back Phi Gamma Delta. "The primaiy goal of this meeting is to give us all a chance to grieve together," said Brother Reynolds."We're hurting over the loss of those five young people." Reynolds, along with several other graduate trustees, reported that a memorial scholarship fund has been established to honor all five of the victims. Any brothers interested in making a contribution to this should make their checks payable to "Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation - Epsilon Memorial Scholarship Fund." The address is P.O. Box -4599, Lexington, KY 40544,