For Brian McHale, this week has been hectic, to say the least. But the fire that brought his house down could not bring his spirits down, especially not last night.
"Without those two heroes, there wouldn't be a celebration tonight at all," McHale (senior-supply chain management) said.
Those two heroes are Matt Emmerling and Kevin Mahoney, who saved the lives of several of the students whose house burned down in a fire last weekend.
But Emmerling (senior-communications) said he wanted the night to be about the 10 roommates.
"They are such good guys, and I'm just happy for them that they can come here and have an opportunity to relax and have a good time," he said.
Penn State community members gathered last night at Café 210 West, 210 W. College Ave., for a benefit to raise money for the students.
Everyone, from students to professors, friends to strangers, crowded the bar in a lighthearted mood as they joined together to support the victims. Deanna Figurito (senior-public relations), a bar tender at the Café and a close friend of the students, organized the event.
"This totally exceeded my expectations," George Matz, bar manager at the Café, said. "It's a night where people can show the guys they are definitely not alone."
Matz said that about half of the $4 cover charge would go directly to the victims. All the proceeds from the raffle, which included shirts, mugs and hats, would also go to help the men. He estimated that the benefit raised at least $1,200.
On early Sunday morning, a fire destroyed the 700 W. College Ave. home of the 10 students. Several residents were inside the house during the fire when two people walking by noticed smoke and a burning couch on the porch. They ran inside and were able to get everyone out safely.
Centre Region Code Administration Senior Fire and Housing Inspector Tim Knisely said yesterday that the cause of the fire is still under investigation by Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Jeff Wharran.
Janice McElroy, the mother of Bill McElroy, who lived in the house, drove up from Philadelphia earlier last night to be at the benefit with close family friend Lynne Kelleher.
Kelleher said she was overwhelmed by all the support from the Penn State community.
"People say they bleed blue and white," Kelleher said. "It's hard to really understand until something like that happens; then you understand why people are so crazy about this place."
For three of the students, the house will always be a part of them -- literally. Yesterday, they got matching tattoos of their house.
Eric Keck (junior-recreation and park management) said it was the perfect way to commemorate the house they all loved.
"I loved the house, I love my roommates, and I just wanted something to remember it all," Keck said.
Mike Weinstein (junior-information sciences and technology) said his tattoo was his way to celebrate all the good times he and his roommates had. More than anything else, Weinstein said he would miss his yard.
"The yard was the best part of the house," Weinstein said. "We were like a bunch of grade school kids out there, always playing whiffle ball."
Many of the students are lifelong friends, and for them, staying together through the entire ordeal is what is most important. They are now living together in supplemental housing provided by the university.
Despite all that has happened, the students remain optimistic.
"It's like being in summer camp -- we'll be about to go to sleep and someone will crack jokes, and we'll go at it again," McHale said of living with his friends on campus. "We're making the best of it."
