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Written By: Phil Aiello 
“I think this house and this Fraternity will always be one of the best on UVA’s grounds.”
In December 2024, tragedy struck the Beta-Pi Chapter house as it sustained major fire damage due to a faulty basement electrical box. While no members were harmed, the brothers were forced to find new housing arrangements as Ashton Khamphavong (Virginia ’24) collaborated with alumni to begin house repair fundraising efforts.
A Brotherhood Like No Other
“What makes Beta-Pi Chapter special is how we’re always together,” Khamphavong said. He noted that despite the Fraternity’s smaller size compared to others on campus, Sigma Pi stands out among their peers as a tight-knit group, especially in their current circumstances.
Khamphavong’s Sigma Pi membership has been outlined by great memories with his brothers like the UVA tradition of “streaking the lawn” and a recent brotherhood tournament at their current satellite residence. Through his own Beta-Pi leadership experiences, he understands the value of making every member feel welcome in a comfortable house environment.
“Especially at UVA, such a smart and prestigious school, we’ve got a lot of individuals in Fraternity life. Specifically in this Fraternity, we care a lot about academics and being there for one another. It’s a supportive environment for members to prepare for their future, and every brother is there to help.”
Fire Derails the Fall Semester
Khamphavong served as Beta-Pi Chapter’s social chairman in 2024, and he enjoyed organizing the Chapter’s brotherhood Christmas event just before finals. The day after their gift exchange and holiday festivities, he arrived at the house to see brothers out on the front lawn.
“We usually do our executive meetings on Sunday, and as I pulled up for the meeting, everyone was standing outside, including all the fourth years hugging each other,” he said. “There were firefighters everywhere – they already put out the fire; when I walked in, it was a mess. They had to knock down walls because of fire inside the walls, which led to lots of extra damage.”
Not only did the fire displace Sigma Pi brothers on campus, but the undergraduates had to find new places to stay while studying hard for finals. Khamphavong mentioned the Chapter was grateful for Sage Donovan Ray (Virginia ’23) stepping up to boost morale and overcome the unforeseen challenge.
“You want to make your presidency a lasting part of the Fraternity. To have that kind of taken away from him by a fire was emotional.”
The Immediate Response
With 13 members living in the house and the majority being seniors, it’s been tough to lose the sense of comfort and familiarity the house had provided for most of their college career. Brothers looked for places to stay together, but several had to split up across campus and take six-month leases from students studying abroad.
“We suddenly had to plan stuff at apartments to try and have those nights that would usually be normal, where we’d just walk in and sit on the couch to talk to everyone. It required a lot more work, and it was tough on us.”
The Chapter’s alumni board reached out shortly after the fire to provide support so members could return to daily operations and understand the schedule for when the house may be habitable again. When Khamphavong became the Chapter’s sage, he began connecting with Beta-Pi alumni to discuss the value of the Sigma Pi experience and how they can help with house restoration efforts.
The Alumni Impact
Khamphavong praised the Beta-Pi alumni board’s ability to handle the house mortgage and other costs not covered by insurance through their emergency reserve funds. Following a discussion with the Chapter’s treasurer, he recognized an opportunity for undergraduates to network with alumni and form a separate fundraiser for much-needed recruitment funding.
“I made an impromptu website over the summer and didn’t expect too much of it. A lot of guys caught wind of it, especially when I was on a call with a few older alumni. From there, I was able to reach out to the ’80s and ’90s guys, and that’s where our fundraising efforts really started to expand.”
The alumni support has been outstanding so far, and Khamphavong is proud to see several brothers investing in the future of Beta-Pi Chapter. He particularly acknowledged Brian Roy ’94, one of the first alumni that guided him through organizing the fundraiser and connecting with alumni. Gregg Goldenberg ’89 was one of the biggest donators and helped Beta-Pi Chapter communicate their situation with the Sigma Pi Executive Office. “His work allowed me to cultivate a better relationship with the Executive Office and created the foundation for our fundraising efforts.”
The Chapter intends to recruit 20 to 25 members during UVA’s spring recruitment to ensure Sigma Pi maintains a healthy brotherhood on campus despite its recent challenges.
“With the upcoming renovations, we expect to have the house back by summer. We have a bunch of guys here who are very inspired and ready to put in the work to make sure this Fraternity stays alive here at UVA.”
You can connect with Ashton and discuss the Beta-Pi fundraisers at ashtonkham@gmail.com.