University of South Carolina Scholar Commons October 2007 10-30-2007 The aiD ly Gamecock, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2007 University of South Carolina, Office oftude S nt Media Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2007_oct Recommended Citation University of South Carolina, Office of Student Media, "The aiD ly Gamecock, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2007" (2007). October. 1. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2007_oct/1 This Newspaper is brought to you by the 2007 at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in October by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. dailygamecock.com THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2007 VOL. 101, NO. 44 ● SINCE 1908 Investigators make progress at beach house Ocean Isle mayor says fi re likely accidental Estes Thomspon Th e Associated Press OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C. - For the group of college buddies spending a late-season weekend at a friend’s beach house, the deck overlooking a canal was the center of their good times. It was where they talked, listened to music and danced late into the night. But investigators fear the deck just two blocks from the beach may also have been the starting point of a fast-moving fire that killed seven The Associated Press / people, including a group of high school friends who went off to college together. The storm of fi re and smoke — so daunting that fi refi ghters radioed for backup before they even arrived at the scene — enveloped the home early Mary Ann Chastain Sunday, killing six students from USC ABOVE: Six and one from Clemson University. Six other USC students in the house garnet wreaths survived. REMEMBERING and one purple Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie wreath stand Smith said Monday that investigators in the center of believe the fi re was likely accidental FRIENDS Greene Street in and started in the rear of the house, memory of the either on or near the deck facing the seven students canal on the west side of the house. lost in the house That side of the residence appeared to Students gather to honor memory of sisters, fi re in North be the most heavily damaged. Carolina. Investigators should be able to brothers, loved ones from USC, Clemson INSET: Two Delta determine where the fi re started, but Delta Delta may have trouble finding a specific Travis Frayard President Andrew Sorensen, as cause, said Dr. Rolin Barrett, a STAFF WRITER he spoke during the service. sorority sisters consulting engineer with Raleigh- Six USC students and one embrace during based Barrett Engineering who has The members of Delta Delta Clemson student died Sunday the candlelight been involved in almost 1,000 fire Delta and Sigma Alpha Epsilon after a fire burned a North Lizzie Wilson / THE DAILY GAMECOCK vigil. investigations. solemnly filed into the Russell Carolina beach house. “So many things are consumed House Ballroom on Monday As Sorensen spoke, stifled in fire that you can’t tell what they night, followed by the families of sobs could be heard around the were like beforehand,” he said. “If a the six USC students who died ballroom as students in mourning cigarette did it, then the cigarette was Sunday. tried to remain quiet. probably consumed.” The families sat in the front Sorensen told students that Investigators quizzed dozens of row for the service, while Tri- this tragedy does not simply college students who filled several Delt sisters fi lled in behind them, affect the Gamecock nation, but homes near the site of the disaster. taking up nearly a quarter of the the Clemson nation, and other Rebecca Wood, the president of the ballroom as they sat together in universities around the country. Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity at their sorority shirts. Jay Laura, SAE president, said the University of North Carolina, said To their right, SAE brothers what happened was a “unique police wanted to know if the college fi lled the seats on the other side and unfortunate” event that students were using a grill or a small of the hall. All were dressed in brought out the best in the Greek outdoor fi replace called a chiminea. coat and tie; all were moved by community and the student body She told investigators she didn’t see the loss of their friends. as a whole. anyone using the chiminea, and all the “This is not just a garnet Lauren Hodge, Tri-Delt THE DAILY GAMECOCK grilling was done far from the house. and black tragedy, but also a Lizzy Sheppard / Nathan Harper shows his concern for the deceased students by Police in the beachfront community, purple and orange tragedy,” said FRIENDS ● 2 pinning on a black ribbon handed out by Greek members. which has only about 500 full-time residents, are working with the State Bureau of Investigation and federal offi cials. Autopsies will take place at the state medical examiner’s offi ce in Chapel Hill. Facebook provides support system “It may be a few days,” spokeswoman Sharon Artis said. “We have not his support. “If you’re In some groups students share identifi ed any of them yet.” Popular social networking site “I hate to see in college it some of their best memories of Bob Alexander, who lives directly this happen. affects you. If their friends, whom The Daily across the canal from the burned used as outlet for reactions, I guess we all you’re a student Gamecock is not naming yet home, said the students were out on emotions, memories of victims think things it affects you. because their identities have not the deck Saturday, getting ready to like this happen If you are in been confi rmed. watch South Carolina’s football game to other people, but not us. I guess a fraternity or sorority it affects One student described a victim Brad Maxwell at Tennessee. STAFF WRITER we were wrong. Friends, family you,” Goyer said. as “the most caring and smiley, Alexander remembered seeing two members and students stay strong,” She said she didn’t anticipate the smart person you would ever meet. people — a college-aged man and Killian said on the group wall. amount of support that was shown She was always fun to be around As students heard about one young woman — dancing on the More than 3,700 people have on the Web site. because she was always right there Sunday’s fi re, they turned online deck around 11 p.m. A short time joined the group, not just from “I’m blown away. Its hard to with you.” to share support and memories of later, USC’s loss to the Volunteers USC, but also from across the understand that we really are all The Clemson student that was the friends they had lost. was over, and the Gamecocks had country. connected,” Goyer said. “And killed in the fi re was described by Facebook.com quickly became the neighboring Tar Heels over to Amanda Goyer, a third-year Facebook in particular shows that one student as “probably the most an outlet for students to express commiserate. Wood and a few others psychology student at Rhodes we all deal with life and death vibrant, hilarious person I have their reactions to the deaths of six from UNC stayed up late dancing and College, spent two years at USC situations…all we can do is support ever met. She lit up a room.” USC students at a North Carolina munching on leftover football snacks and is a member of the Delta Delta one another.” Another student remembered a beach house. with their new friends. Delta sorority. She said she would also be victim and tried to make sense of “By talking with friends and Wood left around 1:30 a.m., but “I’m so far away, and everyone passing around cards for Tri-Delta his death. communicating, I’m realizing Alexander said the lights were still on there is coming together as a and SAE from Rhodes College to “You will be truly missed by I’m not in this alone,” said Travis at the doomed beach house as late as community…I felt I couldn’t do sign in a show of support for their many. You are a wonderful person Killian, a first-year undecided 2:30 a.m. He awoke to the sound of anything,” Goyer said. cross-campus families. and sometimes things happen student who was a friend of one of sirens a few minutes after 7 a.m. Goyer created a facebook Online, students and others for a reason. God has a plan for the victims. “Flames were halfway across the group, “Pray for the victims and continue to show their support for everyone.” Killian created a facebook group, channel,” Alexander said. “The fire friends and family of the Ocean the victims in more than 10 groups “RIP students who perished on was roaring and cracking. You could Isle fi re,” that has more than 2,200 that memorialize the students and Comments on this story? E-mail Oct. 28, 2007,” in an effort to show already see inside the house.” members. the fi re that killed them. [email protected] Sports Mix Local News..............2 TODAY Wednesday Opinion.................. 5 After Saturday night’s near comeback, Making a Halloween costume — even at Puzzles....................7 can the Gamecocks offense keep the the last minute — can be easy and fun if Comics.....................7 Horoscopes...............7 ball rolling? See page 8 you pay attention to detail. See page 6 Classifi ed................10 70 48 74 58 PAGE 2 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2007 Library exhibits USC ties to WWI USC that acted in World ‘Forward Together’ War I, 82 were killed in highlights contribution to action, according to a display of notes.