R.I.P 619 E University (2004-2011)

Some time has passed since the tragedy of the mansion’s death, and I think it’s about time we properly commemorate that wonderful pile of junk and mold. While the house could’ve fallen apart any day and all the black mold was horrible for our health, that house was ours. With all of the fire and desired literally directed at the wall, I’m fairly certain that the wall had to have absorbed some of it, and honestly that’s the only explanation I can think of for how it kept standing for as long as it did. I loved that piece of junk, because every hole in the wall and every broken step was a suttle reminder of all the good times had by zards within its walls. It was a symbol of the tradition we carried on. It was an affront to the school, inches from its campus yet so far apart from its ideals. Most of all, I loved the Zard Mansion because it was fun to party in.

So goodbye, 619. You will be missed. Now here’s what some mourning bros had to say about the Mansion:

“You know that part in star wars when obi wan describes mos eyesly space station as ‘a wretched hive of scum and villainy’? That’s how I’ll always remember the zard mansion, but in a good way. Lots good memories there. Plenty of unbreakable pledge chains forged in the crucible of the basement.”
-Robert Ippolito

“It’s tragic.”
-Adam Heurich

“I scratched my name into your wall
with red candle stick
meant to drip
on the shoulders of future brothers.
though the wall has disappeared
my flesh remains seared.
4
4
4
4″
-Sir Gawain

619 treated us well. For myself, a large part of the reason I began to care so much about the house was that it was in such a torrid condition that, during its last year or so, it motivated the fraternity to be more proactive and take on more projects than I had yet seen in my time as an active. The success of those endeavors helped the brothers and myself realize that if we all put our heads together and rolled up our sleeves, we could make some amazing things happen other than just parties and miracle cram sessions around finals time. Sadly, the realization of this capability came to a peak right at the end of the Mansion’s life, shortly after we converted the downstairs into a bonified party palace on a near club-level status. It was depressing to have all our work destroyed, but I’m excited by what I see in this fraternity. Omega is still the same “wretched hive of scum and villainy” (in a good way). Yet, now we’re a wretched hive of scum and villainy that has built one Deathstar only to have it destroyed, and now we are even more determined to build a new one, bigger and better.

Donations are always welcome. You can contact us at donations@phiomegasigma.org for more information on how to make donations.

Tags: 4444, featured, house, memorial, zard mansion

Category: Alumni Corner, Zard News