Theta Chi remains unified despite house damage
Theta Chi members, left
with a temporarily unliveable
house after a summer fire,
find ways to remain close
By Chelsea Duncan
News Reporter
Each fall, members of the Universi
tys Theta Chi fraternity show potential
brothers around their three-story house
on 1125 E. 19th Ave. during rush week.
This year, however, members are show
ing off a damaged home
The house is undergoing repairs
this fall because of a summer fire that
destroyed its top two floors, making it
unlivable for the majority of the fra
ternity members.
"It's kind of a strange situation,"
chapter President Dustin l-unes said.
Deputy Fire Marshall Mark Thomp
son, who was the lead investigator of
the fire, concluded in August that a
plastic can, located on the sun deck
and used to extinguish cigarettes,
caught fire and ignited the wall.
Members of the fraternity, howev
er, rejected that conclusion, saying
they believed the fire was electrical
in nature and that nobody in the
house smoked.
Much of the house needs remodel
ing because of extensive smoke and
water damage. Parts of the house are
also being upgraded, and a new wing
is being added where the outdoor
porch once was. Insurance from the
fire is covering $600,000 in damage,
while Theta Chi alumni are paying for
up to $100,000 in additional up
grades to the house, Funes said. Part
of that cost will pay for a new sprin
kler system required by the Universi
ty, which must be added to all greek
houses by fall 2004.
In the meantime, about 20 mem
bers are living in the Phoenix Inn
Suites where they are sharing 10
rooms. 1 lotel expenses are covered by
the insurance, but members still have
to pay rent and utilities for the house.
Theta Chi member Jay Gentzkow,
who holds the house scholarship and
personal relations chairs, said living at
the hotel has been a great experience,
l ie said the hotel has been supportive
and helpful under the circumstances,
offering the members lower rates, free
laundry service and free breakfast
among other things.
Funes said other members live off
campus and four members still live in
the house and pay reduced rates.
Mike Wyant, alumni treasurer of
the Theta Chi House Corporation,
said the fraternity likes to have
someone live in the house for securi
ty purposes.
Funes said even though the mem
bers are split up, they still remain
united as a fraternity.
"We haven't lost touch with one an
other, but it hasn't been easy either,"
he said.
He said it has been difficult keeping
up with the daily activities they usually
hold in the house, but they still try to
have barbecues and other events as reg
ularly as possible. The members also
visit the house daily for catered meals,
which will be available until they move
back Nov. 1. They continue to hold
chapter meetings at the house.
Funes said the Phoenix Inn has a
much different atmosphere than the
members are accustomed to, and he
said he feels a little closed off from
his friends.
"It's just not as much openness as
usual," he said, adding that he's used
to being able to walk into other mem
bers' unlocked rooms in the house to
chat any time, but now he has to
knock on hotel room doors. Since
many of the members are grouped to
gether in the hotel, however, they are
not as spread out as they could have
been if they had chosen to stay in resi
dence halls on campus, Funes said.
'That's really kind of kept our unity
together," he said. "We didn't want to
split people up like that."
Still, recruitment for the fraternity
Mark McCambridge Senior Photographer
Stephen Kost and Robbie McEachem watch “Animal House" at the Phoenix Inn Suites. *
has been more of a challenge tins year,
Funes said. The house's current state did
not appeal to newly recruited freshmen
this summer, and many signed year
long leases in the residence halls.
"It does make it tough," he said.
"We like to have freshmen move in."
He added that members have
worked hard to exemplify a sense of
brotherhood, and that he expects to
recruit about 20 new members, which
would be more than usual.
Gentzkow said that although it has
been difficult showing potential
members around the house, he thinks
they all realize how nice it will look
when the construction is completed
in January.
"While it may seem like a hassle, it's
all worth it," he said.
Contact the higher education/student
life/student affairs reporter
at chelseaduncan@dailyemerald.com.
SMOKERS
continued from page 1
help," Berlin said. "These are pre
ventable deaths."
The study breaks new ground in
comprehensively assessing women's
smoking-related health conditions
and the policies that have proved ef
fective in reducing smoking, accord
ing to the study's authors.
It grades and ranks each state
based on 11 health statute indicators
and evaluates the strength of state to
bacco control policies through 10
policy indicators.
Oregon was one of 38 states to re
ceive a failing grade, tying with Vir
ginia for 20th place in the nation.
The report also found that Oregon
fares worse than the national average
when it comes to the number of preg
nant women who smoke. The national
goal for the number of pregnant
women smoking is less than 1 percent,
but 25 percent of pregnant women age
15 to 19 smoke Overall, in Oregon, 13
percent of pregnant women smoke
"The rates of smoking among
teenagers and young women,
whether pregnant or not, is extremely
discouraging," Berlin said.
Williams admitted that she was in
high school when she first picked up
smoking and said she has tried to quit
in the past but couldn't. According to
the survey, 53 percent of female smok
ers in Oregon are trying to quit.
Health educator Annie Dochnahl
said that at the University, 82 percent
of smokers have considered quitting
and 61 percent have tried.
Dochnahl said that it typically takes
approximately five quit-attempts be
fore a person is successful. She said stu
dents should consider their first at
tempts as building blocks to quitting.
"Students shouldn't be discour
aged the first, second or third time,"
she said. "It's about learning what
works and what doesn't."
The health center offers free nico
tine replacement therapy for students
in both patch and gum form. The re
placement therapy is available at the
health center pharmacy, as well as the
Peer Health Education Office.
Berlin said the most successful way
to reach the national goals for
women and smoking is to keep
women from ever picking up a ciga
rette in the first place.
"The best advice for women is to
never start," she said. "If you smoke,
you need to stop as soon as possible"
Contact the crime/health/
safety reporter
at alishaughnessy@dailyemeraid.com.
Oregon Daily Emerald. A campus tradition — over 100 years of publication.
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Horoscope by Linda C. Black
TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 8). Finish
up all those projects that you started
and only got halfway through. The
more work you complete this year,
the more attractive you'll become.
To get the advantage, check the day's
rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the
most challenging.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) _ Today is
a 6 _ Continue to follow through on
promises you've made. Don't start
new projects yet. Take care of the
cleanup work first.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) _ Today is
a 6 _ A friend in need may be threat
ening to talk your ear off. Don't offer
your savings to bail out this person.
Your tough love is a better gift.
GEMINI (May 21 -June 21) _ Today is
an 8 _ It's getting closer to the time
when your secret can be revealed.
Start thinking about the conse
quences. No need to show too much
too soon.
CANCER (June 22-July 22) _ Today
is a 7 _ As things get more unsettled,
the tension could rise. If you end up
with home improvements, the whole
thing will be worthwhile Keep that in
mind.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) _ Today is an
8 _ Finish figuring out the costs so
that you can take action. You're get
ting tired of talking. Get suited up tor
the doing.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) _ Today is
a 5 - Changes, many of which seem
to be way beyond your control, create
anxiety and expenses. Luckily, your
creativity may be able to help you
dodge these problems.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) _ Today is
a 7 _ You may have been working too
hard for too little, but that's about to
change. The money should increase
steadily over the next few weeks, and
not a moment too soon.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) _ Today
is an 8 _ You'll be most effective if
you stick with the rules you've set. A
confrontation could lead to a great
breakthrough.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec 21) _
Today is a 7 _ A person who dis
agrees with you may have a good
point. Don't dismiss him or her too
quickly. Hear what hasn't been said.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) _
Today is a 7 _ An older person could
be threatening to talk your ear off.
Don't complain. You'll eventually be
rewarded for your patience.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) _ Today
is a 7 _ You know that any dilemma
can be resolved with a little research.
Some jobs take longer than others.
Keep at it; you'll find what you seek.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) _ Today
is a 6 _ After you stop being embar
rassed for having made mistakes,
you can get down to business. That
should happen soon.
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Nov. 6,11,13,18,20,25
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For mere information contact,, XIS," 08 I’LC, 346 3226,
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Learning
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