BYU Dorm Demo Creates the "Orange Brick" Program

PROVO--With the ongoing renovation of BYU's housing programs, school leadership has announced the creation of the "Orange Brick Club" as their latest school fundraiser. The scheduled demolition of the BYU's Deseret Towers will provide the school with over one million orange bricks, which were popular in the campus construction of building from the 1960s to buildings even constructed in the last few years. "We estimate there are over one million bricks in the building," said LaDell Romney of BYU's Facilties Management.

"We were contemplating what to do with all of these orange bricks once the towers are down," commented LeVar Jameson of the BYU facilities management department. "Do we just dump them in a river at night or take them to the landfill? Then it dawned on me, these orange bricks are like gold, gold I tell ya. Let's sell them back to the former students as a piece of history!"

The Alumni Association is offering the orange bricks for $100 each with funding going towards thier scholarship foundation. Students and alumni are already signing up to purchase a brick by logging onto http://www.orangebrickclub.byu.edu/donations.scholarshipfunds.iwannabuyone./

The school estimates being to sell all one-million bricks once the building is down. That should generate upwards of $100 million towards the scholarship fund. Many alumni are excited for the football prospects once that revenue is in place. "Can you say 1984 again?" said Mike Tucker who regularly blogs on Cougarboard.com. "Who's that guy that said Bronco won't ever call a time out right before the opposition kicks a field goal? That guy has no credibility...."

Initially, the school wanted to implode the building. "We've had several former students wanting to detonate the building and push the button," commented LaVar Wilson of BYU's engineering department. However, Provo City would not allow the school to do that because of dust concerns and scaring the elderly residents who live in the nearby neighborhoods. "We have enough of our senior citizens who go crazy during the Stadium of Fire during the Fourth of July. We don't need them going nuts when we destroy the dorms," responded LaDean Whitmer with Provo City. "They tend to run away with the loud noises until family members track them down." That has lead BYU to consider options to take down the old buildings. "What the heck do they expect us to do, take the dorms apart brick by brick?" asked Romney with the BYU.

That is exactly the approact the university is taking to dismantle the buildings. BYU wards, local scout troups, business organizations and other volunteer groups are being asked to donate time to the project in taking the bricks down. "We must keep the bricks in great condition," said LaMar Jensen who works for BYU in their animal science lab but makes bricks in his free time. "If we chip a brick, it devalues the worth of it. It's just like taking a $100 bill and tearing it."

Bryan Bryner, BYU Law School alumni has already signed up to purchase a brick. "I'm going to display it on my desk at work." His niece Anna Bryner has logged on to purchase five bricks, one for each sibling. "I'm not sure how I'm going to pay for it, but I can sell lemonade and I'm going to start charging for my services, such as reading to the twins, teaching James to read, and my parents for my gentle, good-hearted nature," she commented.

"I'd probably buy one if I graduated there," said Garth Bryner, "but since I didn't they won't want my money."

"That's not true," commented LaPhil Marriott of BYU's public relations department. "We will gladly sell a brick to anyone who will shell out, ehhh I mean, would like a great piece of BYU history, regardless of their school affiliation."