Phi Kappa Theta Plans to Rebuild
As the Phi Kappa Theta members
sorted through the rubble of their burned out home Tuesday, brother Kevin
Saso reviewed the obstacles ahead. "As of right now, we are having a problem with housing," said
Saso, the fraternity's relief coordinator and president of Michigan Tech's
Interfraternity Council. "We are 22 guys without homes." The fire that took the life of undergraduate Andrew Maas left about
two dozen members of the fraternity homeless. And while no one is camped
out on the street--most are bunking at other fraternities--they feel like
a scattered family. "We're going to be rebuilding, but that will be a two-year process.
Right now, we're looking for a big house or two where the majority of
us can stay." While the fraternity house on Ruby Avenue was insured, to rebuild will
cost far more than the value of the old home, perhaps $500,000 or $600,000,
Saso said. As envisioned, the new house would have room for 22 to 26 residents
and would feature sprinklers and a fire alarm system built into the wiring
and linked directly to the area's 911 system. It will be designed in the
Victorian style to retain the character of the old house and blend into
the neighborhood. In addition to the insurance, Saso said that the fraternity hopes to
raise $200,000 to $300,000 toward the cost of rebuilding and take out
a mortgage on the balance. "We don't want everything handed to us,"
Saso said. "We want to work for it." A number of donations have
been received by Phi Kappa Theta alumni, from local chapter members and
from the national level. Two sororities have established accounts at Wells Fargo Bank and the
Michigan Tech Employees Community Credit Union, with funds to be given
to the fraternity. Saso said the money raised will be divided between a memorial scholarship
to be administered by the Maas family and the rebuilding of the fraternity
house. "The [Maas] family is very involved in what's going on,"
he said. "The final split will be up to the family." Monday's spaghetti dinner, organized by sorority Alpha Delta Alpha,
raised $4,000 toward the effort. "That was terrific," Saso said. In the meantime, they are happy to receive donations of food and water
as they work at the site; nonperishable food donations are being divided
among the brothers and taken to their temporary homes. "The support from the community is really appreciated," he
said. #### 8/21/02