The fraternities and sororities of UT came together this week to honor the four University of South Florida students who lost their lives early Feb. 9.
At around 2:12 a.m., four fraternity brothers were hit head-on by a Ford Expedition traveling southbound in the northbound lane on Interstate 275.
The terrifying crash resulted in five deaths, including the driver of the vehicle responsible for the accident.
The Interfraternity Council (IFC) and the College Panhellenic Association have joined to donate $100 per organization to help fund the funerals of the four fallen brothers of the Sigma Beta Rho fraternity.
“This is a tragic accident that happened in our Greek community,” said Joey Pawlan, the president of the IFC at UT and a junior biology major.
“When things get rough, Greeks come together to help each other out in any way,” Pawain continued.
The national president of Sigma Beta Rho, Mohsin Hussain, has set up a link on GoFundMe.com that allows people to donate money in order to support the families of the four men whose lives were lost: Jobin Kuriakose, 21; Ankeet Harshad Patel, 22; Imtiyaz Ilias, 20; and Dammie Yesudhas, 21.
The original goal of setting up the link was to raise $40,000 to support the funeral costs, which Hussain had estimated to be roughly $10,000 per person.
However, in two days, the donations far exceeded that number and the fraternity raised roughly $76,500.
“The immense support we received has made a very strong statement about the Greek community,” said Hussain. “We have seen fraternities and sororities set aside differences nationwide and donate despite rivalries, council affiliations, and even lack of exposure to our fraternity at all.”
While UT does not have a chapter of Sigma Beta Rho on campus, the loss of anyone in the Greek community at a school as close as USF is still a large concern for the brothers and sisters of the various organizations on campus.
“Obviously a loss like this to a Greek community so nearby affects everyone,” said Brent Grunig, the coordinator of fraternity and sorority life on campus. “It shows how meaningful Greek brotherhood and sisterhood is across organizational lines.”
Students involved in Greek life at UT have taken social media by storm in order to show their remorse for the tragic accident.
Various tweets and Facebook posts regarding prayers and donations being sent to the victims have shown how tight-knit the Greek community can get in times of need.
“I am saddened and sickened to hear of the tragic loss that the USF Greek community has suffered,” said Emma Carter, a junior Alpha Chi Omega member and international business and marketing major, in a Facebook post.
“The video and news report left me shaking. I can’t imagine how unspeakably upset their friends, family and brothers are. My heart goes out to the whole community.”
The main thing that Hussain wants people to take from this experience is that life is short.
“Love your family and friends, be positive, always pursue your heart’s desires, and live life to the fullest,” he said. “Cherish the people you have in your life and don’t take anything for granted. You never know when it could be your last day.”
Chance Smith can be reached at chance.smith@spartans.ut.edu