Book Burning ... A Cautionary Tale

Some burn books because they want to keep others from reading them.  Some, like these fraternity brothers, burn books for another reason altogether.  Regardless of the reasons for it, book burning is serious business.  Check out this article from the June 22, 2012, issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education.

"Fraternity Brothers Not So Joyous After Book-Burning Celebration Torches House"

Some students celebrate their college graduations by lighting the candles on a cake. Others, like one recent group of Louisiana Tech University fraternity brothers, opt for a bigger bash—and learn hard lessons to boot.

The fraternity brothers in question reportedly celebrated the end of the year by lighting their textbooks on fire, and officials with the Ruston Police Department believe the flames sparked a blaze that burned down their house…and the apartment building next door.

John Chestnut, president of the university’s Pi Kappa Alpha chapter, told WAFB his fraternity brothers were “maybe doing an end of year celebration and burning some books or whatever, so we’ll look into that.”

Five students were in the house at the time of the fire, and all escaped unharmed. The firefighters weren’t so lucky: one suffered a broken pelvis jumping to safety, and another injured his knee. Both buildings were destroyed.