Today marks the final days of the 2008 spring semester; all the computer library labs are full as students cram before finals. The atmosphere on campus is surprisingly serene as students continue about their everyday lives. If not for the charred Main Building looming across the campus skyline, it could be just another day.

In the wake of any disaster, the first task is to assess the damages. More than a week after the fire that destroyed parts of the “heart of the university” – insurance adjustors having come and gone – the focus is not on what was lost, but rather what remains.

Atop the charred rubble and debris of what were the third and fourth floors, a faith-invoking symbol stands, overlooking the entire campus. The statuette of the Virgin Mary remains a constant beacon of hope as the community looks to what the future holds.

 “We will restore Our Lady of the Lake University to its original grandeur that is visible and admired from friends around us and from downtown,” President Tessa Martinez Pollack, Ph.D., said during the prayer service held the day after the tragedy. “The proud, historic beacon of hope we lost last night belongs not only to the University; it belongs to the entire community far and near.”

As the flames died and the dust settled, what remains of Main Building becomes apparent. Theresian Hall, first thought to be completely destroyed, suffered minimal damage, mostly due to smoke and water affecting the rooms closest to the main staircase.

Friday, May 9: Theresian Hall residents returned to their rooms for the first time since the fire. Residents were allowed 15 minutes to gather their belongings.

For residents who had at first heard their rooms and belongings had been destroyed, this was an emotional trip.

University personnel with offices on the first and second floors of Main Building were allowed to box up their belongings.

Limited access to the third and fourth floors has left professors without the items needed to conduct class. “I have lost all of my notes from 35 years of teaching, momentos from students, and the final,” history professor Sister Janet Griffin, CDP, said.

Thursday, May 8: Students from Providence Hall entered their building. The only indication that a fire had been roaring one building over was the acrid smell of smoke wafting through the open breezeway. 

Wednesday, May 7: Paintings, furniture and other antiques were removed from the Renaissance Parlors throughout the morning. Many of the artifacts were in pristine condition despite the thousands of gallons of water which flowed through the Main Building.

Tuesday, May 6: At approximately 7:44 p.m., a call was made to the San Antonio Fire Department, according to Fire Chief Charles Hood, from a campus police officer reporting heavy smoke on the fourth floor of Main Building.

More than 100 firefighters from the San Antonio Fire Department eventually were on the scene. Chief Hood called the fire “stubborn.”

There was talk about the fire being arson, but after a thorough investigation, the fire was deemed accidental. An electrical shortage is considered as a possibility to the incident that began in the attic. No one was injured.

The West side community gathered with a heavy heart next to students, faculty and staff watching a historical building burn. The hope of a stronger unity is what keeps the Lake community looking forward to a better future.

 “We’re very hopeful. We know that God is always with us and we certainly know that our lady is with us. It is a miracle how she stood through all that fire and I think to her family said ‘I’m here; I’m taking care of this whole university; I’ll always be here for you,’ ” said Sister Ann Petrus, CDP.