By
Maya Schechter
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Kappa Sigma donates a tree in memory of FIJI freshman who died during Spring Break
A death in the UA greek community has become a reason for two fraternities to build bridges between one another, a chapter president said.
The Phi Gamma Delta fraternity lost one of its members during spring break, when Ross Hunter White died in a car accident in Puerto Pe–asco, Mexico.
Yesterday evening, more than 100 greeks gathered outside the FIJI house, 1801 E. First St., when Kappa Sigma members donated a tree to the FIJI members in memory of their lost brother.
"One of our brothers committed suicide my freshman year so we know what it's like to lose someone," said Kappa Sigma President Tyler Buck. "We decided it would be a nice gesture to FIJI."
Buck said White's death affected the entire UA greek community and his fraternity wanted to show FIJI that this is a time for greek members to pull together.
White, a 19-year-old freshman known affectionately to his friends as "Hunter," was riding in the passenger seat of a 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe when the driver lost control, causing the truck to roll about 90 feet. White died on the scene, while the driver Derek Skarecky - an ASU freshman and childhood friend - died the next day after being air-lifted to University Medical Center.
White's fraternity brothers held a memorial service in their house after Spring Break and donated $1,000 to his charitable fund, said chapter president Dan Forde.
He added that Kappa Sigma's effort means a lot to him and his fellow fraternity members.
"It shows us that the greek community is acting as one - we know that we have people to turn to outside of our fraternity in times of trouble," he said.
"The tree is something that our house will always have to remember Hunter - his memory can live on after we graduate."
The idea of giving a tree to FIJI came from Kappa Sigma member John Ballis, a communication junior. He said he transferred from a Kappa Sigma chapter in Texas, where one of his fraternity brothers died, and many other fraternities donated money to their memorial fund.
"The U of A greek community isn't as close as it was for me in Texas - I thought it would be nice to use this situation to bring the two fraternities close in memory (of White)," Ballis said.
"We are building bridges in the greek community," Forde added. "This is one of the reasons why I joined a fraternity - to always have people to turn to."
The tree - a minneola tangelo that will fully blossom to about 15 feet - will remain outside the FIJI house in its original pot until members move into their new house next December. The tree will be taken to the new house and planted outside after members move in, Forde said.
A plaque at the foot of the tree's pot reads, "'Because I have loved life I shall have no sorrow in death' - planted in loving memory of Ross Hunter White."
