Sigma Pi remembers former brother

Hundreds of students gathered under a bright blue sky Saturday morning in front of Sigma Pi Fraternity, and around a bench dedicated to the memory of sophomore Nicolas Habicht.\nJuniors Jacob Surface and Joseph Alexander also died in the off-campus house fire that claimed Habicht's life in late May. Their friend, senior Paul Dayment, survived the blaze.\n"He loved IU and he loved Sigma Pi," Habicht's mother Mary Habicht said before the memorial service began Saturday. "He was a good kid who made the right choices in life."\nSigma Pi president, junior Josh Robb addressed the respectfully silent crowd that gathered on the house's front yard, remembering Habicht, who always asked Robb to tuck in his shirt, and applauding the Bloomington Fire Department for trying to save the men.\n"Nic will be in our hearts forever," Robb said. "He will be in our memories. Hopefully now we can begin to heal a little bit."\nAndy Hahn, the fraternity's chapter director, said he couldn't begin to describe what Habicht meant to the chapter.\n"Thank you for sharing Nic with all of us," Hahn said to Habicht's parents. \nHahn said Sigma Pi is starting an initiative on Habicht's behalf, dedicated to remembering those students who have died. The initiative, called In Remembrance, will occur every year at Sigma Pi on the second Saturday in September and will provide an opportunity to share the memory of students who have died.\n"It's a chance to show that the greek community is strong and caring and can create a positive impact," Hahn said.\nWith tears in her eyes, Mary Habicht spoke to the group surrounding her son's memorial bench.\n"I had no idea this many people would come," she said. "If it wasn't for all of our friends and community support, it would have been a lot worse than it was."\nBill Kershner, a representative from the Christian Fellowship House, said a prayer on behalf of Habicht, Surface and Alexander.\n"As people walk by Nic's bench, hopefully they will read the words inscribed on it and remember Nic and remember life," he said. "Never take this life for granted."\nHabicht's sister, Malia Casper, chose to remember Habicht by releasing three boxes of Monarch butterflies.\n"If Nic were here," she said, "he'd say 'you guys go on and have fun.'"\nThe crowd watched in silence as the butterflies flew up into the cloudless sky. A single butterfly rested on Habicht's bench next to the inscription that said "Nic Habicht, our brother forever. Pin 1711." \n-- Contact senior writer Kathleen Quilligan at kquillig@indiana.edu.