Thursday, April 20, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Crock, a baby crocodile, is one of the many animals living at the Sigma Nu fraternity house. Photo by Tara Kraus/KANSAN
Exotic pets find homes at Sigma Nu
Continued from page 1A
Crock, a foot-and-a-half baby crocodile, eats goldfish and lizards — but not Basengi, Winter's pet anole lizard.
Basengi now lives in a cage in Winter's room. Winter recently bought Basengi a friend — a brown anole lizard named Stu.
But Winter said Stu and Basengi were more than friends and that Stu, despite the masculine name, was most likely a girl lizard.
"They try to jump on each other a lot." Winter said.
For a lizards in a fraternity house, life has its dangers.
Conklin keeps the dog because his girlfriend can't have pets where she lives.
"Drunk people want to touch or pet the lizards." Winter said.
Spencer Taylor, Wichita freshman, is also pet sitting for a girlfriend. He takes care of Sydney, a dwarf hollandap rabbit, including taking Sydney on walks and to the park.
Despite dealing with the occasional drunk, the animals receive attention and love from most of men in the house.
But not everybody loves the bunny.
"I hate the rabbit," said Matt Taylor, Vancouver, B.C., freshman and Spencer Taylor's roommate.
The house's other rabbit is better known as Stinky, the Resume
Life is good for Dante the chow. Sleeps most of the day, likes girls and eats jalapeno peppers. Dante belongs to Blake Conklin, Topeka sophomore, and his girlfriend.
Builders drunk bunny mascot. Nathan Tyler, Topeka sophomore, denomed the pink bunny suit during the Student Senate campaigns.
Tyler owns a pet himself — Stromile the hermit crab. Tyler's roommate Josh Weisberg, Englewood, Colo., junior, said Stromile was named after Louisiana State University basketball player Stromile Swift.
Weisberg said Stromile mostly hung out with him and Tyler.
it's just me and Stromile and Nathan. Weisburg said.
Above: Leawood sophomore Brandon Winter's anole lizard is named Basengi. Basengi was saved from being eaten by a crocodile that also lives at Sigma Nu. Right: Dante, a chow, belongs to Blake Conklin, Topeka sophomore. Conklin and his girlfriend share the dog, but the dog lives at the Sigma Nu house, 1501 Sigma Nu Place. Photos by Tara Kraus/KANSAN
or inmates, other chapters and Chace Ramey, president of the Interfraternity Council, said having house pets was a decision made by each house.
Other fraternities allow pets to be part of family
Ramey said the only restriction on animals in fraternity houses had to do with animals at parties.
Although the Sigma Nu house has largest array of animals, other chapters keep pets as well.
Jared Schlicht, Fort Collins, Colo., junior and house president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said that although Jewels, a black Labrador puppy sleeps in his room, everyone living there looks out for her.
"You can't use live animals at fraternity functions without permission of the IFC," Ramey said.
"She gets more attention than I'm sure most dogs do and more than her share of treats," Schlight said.
Other chapters with pets include:
- Beta Theta Pi, 1425 Tennessee St, a dachshund named Savanna belongs to the house director.
Delta Upsilon, 1025 Emory Road, a black and white house cat is named Kenny after Kansas basketball player Kenny Gregory.
knetball player Kenny Gregory.
**Phi Gamma Delta, 1450 Louisiana St., Great Dane named Golly, belongs to the house director.**
Phi Alpha Kappa, 2000 Stewart Ave., a black and white cat named Bobby and a pug named Niko belong to chapter members.
Katrina Hull
*Phi Kappa Psi, 1602 W. lbstn, a yellow laurator named Riley belongs to a chapter member.*
Mike Ramirez attempts to answer the $100 question last night at the Kansas Union. Members of the Delta Chi fraternity put on "who wants to be a hundredaire" gameshow to raise money benefitting The American Diabetes Association. Photo by Lucas W. Krump/KANSAN.
Game show raises money for diabetes
By Jessie Meyer
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Members of Delta Chi fraternity asked who wanted to be a hundredaire last night, and not too many people answered.
Only about 30 people, 22 who were members of Delta Chi, showed up at the Kansas Ballroom for the first KU rendition of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
The mock game show, titled "Who Wants to be a Hundreddaire," was a philanthropy event benefiting the American Diabetes Association, said Matt Burton, Delta Chi philanthropy chair and coordinator of the event.
The game consisted of three rounds, each with one contestant. There was also an intermission to give away donated prizes.
"We thought this was a good cause because it's such an easily controlled disease but can get out of control so quickly," said Burton, Minnetonka, Minn., junior." And we wanted to do something exciting that would get students involved."
The first contestant, Mike Ramirez, won $32 after a series of questions. Ramirez, Dominican Republic freshman, had the opportunity to walk away at $75, but went ahead and answered the $100 question incorrectly.
He said his only goal was to support the charity.
"It really doesn't matter that I lost it," Ramirez said. "I wanted to play to the audience and go for fun rather than money."
Brian Foster, Atlantic City,
N.J., graduate student, was the
second contestant and also netted
$32.
Foster, an endurance runner who lives with diabetes, spoke about diabetes and answered questions. He will participate in an ADA marathon in
"We thought this was a good cause because it's such an easily controlled disease but can get out of control so quickly. And we wanted to do something exciting that would get students involved."
Matt Burton Delta Chi philanthropy chair
Hawaii.
"Everyday things that people take for granted that their bodies can react to, are things that diabetics have to take precautions with," said Foster. "I know that one in 20 people have diabetes and the numbers are growing."
A third contestant also took home $32.
Christy Eickhoff, Wichita district manager at ADA who also attended the event, said the disease affects many because most are unaware that they have the disease.
"Only about one-third of the population that has diabetes know they have it," Eickhoff said. "So our big focus is awareness."
Despite the minimal turnout, Delta Chi raised about $1,000 through its 13 event sponsors and about $300 from $1 raffle ticket and $2 contestant ticket sales, said Troy McClaren, Delta Chi member and Overland Park freshman.
He said the prize money — which totaled $96 — would come out of the total collected, leaving about $1,200 to be donated to ADA.
"It's still a success," McClaren said. "We just want to lend a helping hand when we can."