BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Bowling Green State University issued six violations of student conduct to a suspended fraternity for having an alleged role in a student's death.
Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) received four violations of "Offenses Against Persons" for hazing, one violation for harm to others, and another for alcohol use.
The violations stem from the death of Stone Foltz, 20, a sophomore who passed away March 7. School officials said they believe his death was caused by hazing at an event on March 4. He was hospitalized March 5 after being "given a copious amount of alcohol," according to the family's attorney Sean Alto.
"The university worked with special counsel David DeVillers, a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio at the firm of Barnes & Thornburg, to pursue a thorough and fair investigation to seek the truth and facts regarding the alleged hazing activity on March 4," according to a release from a university spokesperson.
The case is expected to be adjudicated by the university by April 13.
Since Foltz's death, lawmakers and school officials have been pushing for anti-hazing legislation. On March 10, Sen. Stefanie Kunze and Sen. Theresa Gavarone introduced new legislation that would strengthen the penalties surrounding hazing, making it a second-degree misdemeanor. If the act involved drugs, it would be a third-degree misdemeanor. It's currently a fourth-degree misdemeanor in Ohio.
The new bill stems from an attempt to pass similar legislation in 2019, otherwise known as "Collin's Law." The bill was named after Collin Wiant, a Ohio University student who died from hazing in 2018. The law passed the Ohio House in November 2020. It was then sent to the Senate Education Committee, but didn't make it past the General Assembly before the end of the term.
“It really emphasizes the need to change culture on college campuses, and it’s not limited to Greek life,” Gavarone said. “Hazing goes on in other activities as well.”
This week, Ohio University launched a campaign for students to write letters to senators to push for anti-hazing legislation. Eighteen Ohio schools are involved in the campaign.