LEXINGTON, Ky. — Activities for new members at all University of Kentucky fraternities have been suspended following the death of a student earlier this week.
UK President Eli Capilouto announced the measure Thursday as a step the university is taking to ensure campus safety.
What You Need To Know
- The University of Kentucky has indefinitely suspended new member activities for all campus fraternities
- The measure comes days after an 18-year-old student died on campus of presumed alcohol toxicity
- All campus IFC members will also have to attend training on bystander intervention, hazing and alcohol use
In addition to suspending activities for new members of all Interfraternity Council (IFC) chapters, UK will require new training for all IFC members that cover bystander intervention, hazing prevention and alcohol use.
The activity suspension includes all social, educational and formal interactions between new and returning members of the organization or chapter. Campus officials said it also includes official or unofficial new member events hosted by a chapter.
Freshman Wildcat Thomas "Lofton" Hazelwood died after being found unresponsive Monday evening at UK's FarmHouse Fraternity, where he was a new member. On Tuesday, UK suspended all activities for the FarmHouse fraternity while investigations continued.
The coroner believes the Henderson native's cause of death was alcohol toxicity. UK has launched two investigations, one conducted by UK Police Department and another by UK's Office of Student Conduct.
The message sent out to the entire UK campus community stressed the importance of these steps in communicating and promoting campus safety and well-being.
"We will continue to communicate about these important issues as our investigations of this tragedy progress and as we continue to evaluate how best we can protect our community and hold each other accountable in upholding that responsibility," Capilouto wrote.
-
