Fraternity raises funds for equipment, facilities for disabled

In fact, the University of Arizona chapter of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity is hosting a 72-hour "Scaffold Sit" to help raise money for people with disabilities.

The fund-raising event, which began at 7 a.m. Monday and will continue to 7 a.m. tomorrow, requires Pi Kappa Phi members to be situated on or around a three-story scaffold across from the Memorial Student Union for the entire time.

Some members even slept on the scaffold the past two nights.

"It was the best night of sleep I've gotten in a long time," said music education freshman Jared Salvati, who slept on the structure Monday night.

Some altruistic insomniacs even stopped by and donated money at 2 a.m., he said.

History junior Pete Burleigh said the Scaffold Sit is part of a national fund-raising effort to design and build special equipment and facilities for the disabled. The equipment helps disabled people enjoy sports and recreational activities many non-disabled people take for granted.

The campaign, called "PUSH America," helps build special playgrounds for kids and provides equipment such as specially-designed bicycles and computers, Burleigh said.

The members have been working in shifts, explaining their cause to passers-by and asking for donations, he said.

The UA chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, which earned its charter in 1996, held a similar scaffold fund-raiser the same year, raising more than $800.

Visual communications senior Dylan Boswell said most people who approach the scaffold are supportive - but not everyone.

"A few individuals have been hostile," he said. "There's just some really nasty people around here."

Management information systems junior Tj Quintana said a "slightly inebriated" man walked up to the scaffold yesterday and called him and his fellow members "a bunch of rich frat boys."

Despite such heckling, Quintana said the fund-raiser has been successful so far, raising more than $200 in the first 30 hours.