Ben Vosmek

Our Mascot Was a Fire Truck: A Memoir of Brotherhood, Pranks, and Engineers Ben Vosmek

A college experience like no other, with maids, fire trucks and a few near death experiences. Join the author on his journey through life at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, America's #1 Undergraduate Engineering School, where he learned more than just physics and equations. During his time at school he became a member of one of the largest college fraternities, Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike), whose (un)official mascot was a fire truck. Life at Rose-Hulman is unique, even without the fraternity experience. The campus is secluded from the city and when you are there it feels like you've entered another place all together. There are maids that change the sheets and tidy up rooms, Sophomore Advisors that guide new freshman and are their big brothers/sisters, and the campus is so safe that no one locks their doors. The college is also highly tolerant of pranks, including allowing the author to fill his RA's car with taco sauce packets. The fraternity experience only added to the adventure and education for the author. The Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity at Rose-Hulman is located on a private twenty-five acre complex with nine buildings, including a storage barn for the fire truck. Most importantly, the fraternity is made up of men who strive to improve themselves and the community. You won't read about scandals or hazing. Instead you'll learn how a group of men build one another up and have some fun along the way. Some of the adventures you'll read about include: building a home-made jet engine, burning two different abandoned cars, an organized foot chase through town at night dressed as a gorilla, and running over a car on accident with a fire truck.