4
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 1987/University Daily Kansan
Fraternity resumes after fire
By MICHAEL HORAK Staff write.r
Seventy-two members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity will be spending Country Club Week in a motel this year, but fraternity offers hope their stay at the Hallmark Inn will be short.
If construction proceeds as scheduled, members will move back into their house Saturday for the first time since an April electrical fire caused extensive damage to the sec-
and floor of the fraternity, at 1645 Tennessee St.
Sigma Phi Epsilon officials expect repairs to the fire-damaged rooms, construction of a new pitched roof and remodeling of the interior of the building to be completed by Labor Day. Construction workers will have just a few finishing touches to complete when fraternity members move back into the house.
"We could have moved into our rooms last weekend, but we wanted
Dan Ruettimann/KANSAN
Building supplies sit inside the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Renovation will be completed by Labor Day.
to let them (the construction workers) get just about everything done without us being in the way," said Jarret Rubrit, Leawood junior.
Rubis said the inside of the 37-year-old house had been essentially stripped after the April 26 fire, and construction crews went through and refurbished and recarpeted all of the rooms.
Steve Segebrecht, a Lawrence physician and member of the fraternity's alumni board, said, "It's basically the same floor plan, but everything inside is new."
The second floor living quarters are the same size; however, cement bricks have replaced plasterboard walls and smoke detectors and an extensive fire alarm system have been added to the house.
"We made sure that we had a sophisticated smoke detector system and a construction design that used less combustible materials." Segbecht said.
The fraternity sustained a little over $300,000 in damage from the fire Siegebrecht said.
Dale Seuflering, a Lawrence resident and chapter alumni adviser, said no final insurance settlement on the house had been reached. He expected the fraternity to come to terms with its insurance company sometime next month.
The value of student property lost in the fire has not been estimated. Seufering said all but two students in the house had insurance protection through their parents' policies. The two students not covered had combined losses between $4,000 and $5,000.
Fire officials determined that the fraternity fire started when electrical wiring overheated in a room refrigerator. No one was injured.
Segebrecht said insurance covered only the cost of restoring the fraternity to its previous level. But the alumni board opted to add a pitched roof and remodel the entire house at the same time the fire repairs were made.
The additional remodeling will cost from $150,000 to $175,000. The fraternity's alumni association will raise money this fall to pay for the project.
"We had plans drawn up last fall to do additional work to the house . . . the fire just made us move up our plans." Seebecht said.
Rau Construction Co. of Overland Park has been working to rebuild the fraternity since early May. During the summer, as many as 24 men worked on the house to complete building before school started.
See HOUSE, p. 12, col. 5
BORDER BANDIDO
ALL YOU CAN EAT
TACO & SALAD BAR!!
Take a look at our taco salad bar which includes the finest ingredients: avocados, cheddar cheese, crisp flour tortillas, Spanish rice, taco meat, refried beans, sour cream, & green onions.
1820 W. 6th
749-2770
1528 W. 23rd
Across from post office 842-8861
(Delivery number)
WELCOMES STUDENTS & FACULTY
TEAK & OAK BOOKCASES
31½' x10' x73'H
NOW 3 FOR $199
$79 each Reg. $155
REG. 461 NOW $299
TEAK TRUNDLE BED
1016 MASSACHUSETTS LAWRENCE, KS. (913)842-1016
THE COMPLETE ROOM white
Bed with storage drawers, 4 and 6 drawer chest, desk.
INDIVIDUALLY PRICED UNITS IN WHITE
• Bed w/Headboard and
Drawers (mattress not included)
• 6 Drawer Chest Reg. '162 NOW '129
• 4 Drawer Chest Reg. '119 NOW '89
• Student Desk Reg. '149 NOW '119
Complete as shown Reg. 771 NOW 499
Also Available in Teak Laminate Now $599
WE ALSO HAVE A LARGE SELECTION IN COMPUTER DESKS, WALL UNITS, QUEEN & TWIN BEDS, BARSTOOLS, HI-FI UNITS, ETC.
SCANDINAVIAN FURNITURE—THE BEST FOR LESS
5 PIECE TEAK DINING SET
DINING TABLE
In teak w/ Dutch Extension
47½" x 33½" Ext. to 87"
DINING CHAIRS
w/Solid Teak Frame
Covered w/Baige Fabric
Reg. $663 NOW $399
WHITE BOOKCASES
29" X 1/9" x 69" H
NOW 3 OR $149
$59 each Reg. $79
HOURS: THURS. 10-8
TUES., WED., FRI. & SAT. 10-5:30
SUNDAY CLOSED
(EXCEPT AUG. 23 & 30
OPEN NOON-5)