While Delta Upsilon fraternity member Nick Principi is down, his fraternity brothers are coming together to lift up his spirits.
Just a few weeks ago, the junior mechanical engineering major was unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer.
The news came as a shock to his entire chapter. According to junior and fellow DU executive board member Matthew Dunlap, Principi plays a vital role in DU’s success on their executive board.
“He headed several major projects to improve DU and has always been the first to respond,” Dunlap said. “He [is] also very involved in philanthropy for St. Jude and always [pushes] everyone else to be involved in charity and community service.”
Due to the severity of his condition, Principi was immediately checked into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), leaving his friends and fraternity brothers without updates or information for a period of time. Dunlap said Prinicipi’s stay in the ICU was difficult for everyone.
“When the chapter first found out, there was absolute silence in the house,” Dunlap said. “It felt like the house was depressed and nobody wanted to talk about it. We were all hoping for the best, but fearing the worst.”
Despite the bad news and Principi’s absence, however, DU has decided to take action and raise money for Principi and his family. Members will be shaving their heads and having a grill out on Olin Quad Saturday.
From 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Sports Clips will cut hair for $10 per person while DU members sell burgers and hot dogs. Sports Clips has agreed to contribute labor and supplies for the event, according to Dunlap.
“All of the proceeds from the food and hair cutting will go to Nick and his family, and they can use it to help cover some expenses,” Dunlap said.
Principi is improving, according to Dunlap, but there is still progress to be made.
“We decided to shave our heads just because it is a visible way to show our support for Nick [since he] just lost his hair from the chemo,” Dunlap said. “He has been going through chemo for the last couple weeks, and it has been extremely successful.”
The event is being heavily publicized through Facebook, and DU brothers are speaking to student organizations and greek chapters.
“We are hoping that a large portion of the campus comes out to help out and have a fun time on Saturday,” Dunlap said.
His biggest words of encouragement for his fraternity brother and classmate would be that the campus needs someone as “innovative, caring, funny and determined” as Principi is.
“We want him to know that we always have his back, and if he ever needs help, we are there,” Dunlap said. “The main goal for this event is to show Nick that he is missed and to give him that extra little fight to get well soon and get back to his normal life at Bradley.”
For more information, visit the “Clippy for Cipi” Facebook event.
