Families of the injured are “guardedly optimistic,” a Wesleyan official says
By Abe Winter
Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska)
Copyright 2006 The Omaha World-Herald Company
The three students injured in Friday’s fire at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln continue to be listed in critical condition, but a spokesman for the school said family members are hopeful of their recovery.
“People are guardedly optimistic,” said Joe Gow, interim president at Wesleyan. “With this kind of injury, I really don’t know what lies ahead.”
Sophomore Ryan Stewart, 19, of Ord, Neb., died and three others were critically injured in Friday’s fire at the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house.
David Spittler, a junior from Elkhorn, Travis Mann, a senior from Beatrice, Neb., and Aaron McGuire, a sophomore from Sioux Falls, S.D., were taken to St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center. They are in the burn unit, a hospital spokeswoman said Sunday.
Donations already are pouring in to help the students in the fraternity.
“It’s been very impressive how generous and responsive people have been,” Gow said.
“We’ve got 35 young men who have been displaced, and they’ll need places to live next semester,” Gow said. “So there will be ongoing needs.”
News of the fire, Stewart’s death and injuries to the three have been difficult.
“It’s a very hard time for us,” Gow said. “But I think we’re a very close-knit community, and people are there for one another. People will carry on.”
The school is grateful for the support.
“I want people to know how grateful we are in regards to the rescue operation,” he said of the firefighters and rescue personnel who quickly arrived on the scene. “Without their heroic response, it could have been a lot worse.”
Gow has visited with family members daily at the hospital. He said they were particularly impressed Saturday when three members of the Lincoln Fire Department visited.
“It meant so much to meet the men who saved their sons,” Gow said.
He said there’s been a lot of visitors to the hospital.
“There’s a very steady stream of extended family and students, teachers and staff from our university,” Gow said. “It’s really something to see -- the concern of the community to these families.”
Gow said the school will raise money to install sprinkler systems in dormitories, fraternities and sororities that don’t have the devices.
“It’s the right thing to do,” he said. “Obviously, it’ll have some cost, but I know we’ll find a way to make that happen.”
Meanwhile, funeral arrangements are pending for Stewart. Ord Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.
As for the students who are hospitalized, the families told hospital spokeswoman Jan Yaussi that they preferred not to comment on the fire.
Nile and Sherri Dragoo, the parents of Travis Mann, issued a statement of thanks:
“Travis and his family want to thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.”
Want to help?
A fund has been set up to help replace belongings lost in the fraternity house fire at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Cash donations may be made to Nebraska Wesleyan University in care of the Fire Relief Fund, 5000 St. Paul Ave., Lincoln, 68504.