By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Bowling Green State University has announced that 21 students involved in the Pi Kappa Alpha event that allegedly resulted in the alcohol poisoning death of sophomore Stone Foltz are facing a variety violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
The university is not naming the students because the proceedings are confidential.
The announcement comes as the university released an executive summary of the investigatory report conducted by special counsel former U.S. Attorney David DeVillers, now of the law firm Barnes & Thornburg.
The report details what happened on the night of March 4, when Foltz, 20, consumed an entire fifth of bourbon at the encouragement of other fraternity members. Foltz, the report said, was under the impression if he didn’t finish the bottle he would not be allowed to join the fraternity, known as PIKE. The report stated not all the pledges finished the alcohol, and one did not drink at all. But also there’s was encouragement that they finish the bottles. All new members who drank reported getting sick during the event.
Foltz was dropped off at his apartment afterward, where he was found by his roommates. They called 911 while they tried to revive him. Foltz died on March 7 after being put on life support.
The Lucas County coroner listed the cause of death as fatal ethanol intoxication during hazing incident.
The report was based on extensive interviews both with fellow new members, fraternity members, and friends of Foltz who spoke with him during the initiation process as well as a review of university documents relating to previous complaints against PIKE and information from the Foltz family’s attorneys Cooper Elliott.
The 21 students face a variety of charges:
- Hazing
- Harm to others, including endangering another person
- Disrupting order and disregarding health and safety, including illegal furnishing, consumption and possession of alcohol
- Falsifying, distorting or misrepresenting information in the conduct process
- Shared responsibility for infractions, including inciting, aiding and abetting a university policy violation.
In a statement from university spokesperson Alex Solis, today’s action “is another step to ensure hazing is eradicated and that this tragedy that occurred at BGSU and similar tragedies at too many other universities never happen again.”
Those involved also face criminal charges, and the family has filed a civil suit against the local Pi Kappa Alpha chapter, the international fraternity, and 10 named individuals and a number of unknown “John Does.”
On behalf of the family, Cooper Elliott released the following statement in response to today’s action:
“The decisions made by Bowling Green State University officials to hold students accountable for their actions are commendable, yet expected. Student codes of conduct are designed to establish standards for students and organizations. Clearly, more work needs to be done at every level to ensure no other student is injured or dies from fraternity hazing. While punishment is important, far more work needs to be done by all Universities to prevent these senseless tragedies. Students and their families deserve better. We will not be satisfied until the University institutes a zero-tolerance policy.”
