Every spring, NIU fraternities prepare for Tugs, a tug-of-war tournament to prove the strength and athleticism of each house.

As one of the most competitive fraternities on campus, the brothers of Pi Kappa Alpha (Pikes) are never too far from the trophy. Last year, however, the brothers were fighting for more than just pride after they lost one of their own, Dan Parmenter.

“It was such a sad time in all of our lives, but I never had to face anything alone,” said Nick Hess, a Pike member. “There was always someone around; with a house full of your brothers, it really is like a family.”

During their first chapter meeting back, the brothers sat around and reminisced, taking turns talking about all of the great memories they had of Parmenter. With a void being felt in the fraternity, the brothers tried to spend time together.

“Danny was such a huge figure in the house. He was a tremendous leader, athlete, student, friend … he just did it all,” Hess said. “We just tried to focus on the positives, I mean he was an actual real-life hero.”

“We had two options when this happened,” said senior business major Martin Stachnik, “One was to come together as a brotherhood, to bond and get through it, or to fall apart, but we knew that wasn’t an option.”

In the weeks following the Feb. 14 shootings, the fraternity brothers felt themselves getting stronger with the support of each other.

Soon, the Pike brothers were hitting the trenches to prepare for tugs, spending three hours a night together as they took on the grueling practice schedule.

“Dan was always in the back of our minds as we worked [practicing for tugs],” Hess said. “He was always so dedicated to the sport, and we wanted to win it for him.”

Due to the dedication and teamwork of the Pikes, they were able to win the 2008 Tugs competition last year and dedicated their win to their brother. The trophy itself also was dedicated to Parmenter when the Greek community renamed it the “Dan Parmenter Trophy.”

“We just kept saying, ‘win for Danny, win for Danny, win for Danny’ the whole way,” said Pike brother Mike Bauer. “That really helped us cope, because three hours a night we spent together fighting for that win for Danny. And we did.”

The brothers not only received the support of their teammates in the house, but what they never expected was the outreach they received from their brothers nationwide. Every year, alumni return to the house where they tug against the current brothers.

“Usually, only guys that graduated in the last four years come out, but this time we had brothers from the 1960s and ’70s,” Bauer said. “It was really amazing and showed our huge network of support.”

Nearly a year after the events of Feb. 14, the Pikes still honor the memory of Parmenter.

“Looking back on it a year later, I think it should be a celebration of Dan’s life,” Stachnik said. “I want to remember his life, remember the good things and not even think about the bad.”

The guys of Pi Kappa keep their optimistic attitudes to this day, and whether they are preparing for the next Tugs competition or just hanging around the house, they prove that those maroon and gold letters represent more than a name, but a true brotherhood.