By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
A sorority has been expelled from Bowling Green State University for hazing, including striking prospective members in the face and forcing them to strike themselves to the point of causing bruising.
A statement from Alex Solis, spokesperson for the university, said for Sigma Gamma Rho sorority was guilty of “severe hazing activity that includes six policy violations of the Code of Student Conduct, which jeopardized the health and safety of students and our community and caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to those involved.”
The university “also discovered a history of deception in this chapter, with many steps taken to actively hide the hazing and threats made to maintain the secrecy of the acts.”
Those acts included: taking prospective members’ phones to erase evidence of the hazing; striking prospective members in the face; encouraging the consumption of alcohol to the point of nausea; requiring them to strike themselves to the point of bruising; and ordering them to acquire items for members from stores and if they didn’t have the money, the prospective members were told, they should steal the items.
They were also threatened with being “jumped” if they reported any of these activities.
These acts occurred throughout fall 2020 and spring 2021. The sorority was suspended in November when this was reported.
An investigation by the Dean of Students office was conducted and hearings were held earlier this year.
In its statement, the university acknowledged: “the seriousness and impact of expelling a historically Black sorority. However, after community reports in late 2021, a thorough and fair investigation, and careful consideration of the evidence presented during the conduct hearing, BGSU cannot and will not support any group that has caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to members of the campus community from hazing. Even with clearly communicated anti-hazing policies and education in place, the chapter knowingly and intentionally engaged in activities that were unsafe, high-risk and strictly prohibited by the University and the law.”
BGSU has intensified its efforts to crack down on hazing following the death last of Stone Foltz from alcohol poisoning following a fraternity event.
Earlier this year, two fraternities that had already been sanctioned were suspended following further violations.
Those involved in the hazing of Stone Foltz continue to face criminal and civil charges. A trial date for the six defendants has been set for May 16 in Wood County Common Pleas Court.
The fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha, PIKE, was expelled from campus.
BGSU will host a hazing summit Aug. 2.
However, the attorneys representing the Foltz family questioned whether enough was being done.
Rex Elliott of Cooper Elliott issued a statement that reads: “The latest serious acts of hazing at Bowling Green State University demonstrate that the University is not doing enough to stop hazing on its campus. BGSU claims to have policies prohibiting hazing, but the continued acts of hazing on this campus demonstrate that they are not actively enforcing their policies. Until BGSU does more, serious acts of hazing will continue on this campus and student safety will be in jeopardy.”
