By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Pi Kappa Alpha, the fraternity involved in the alleged hazing death of Stone Foltz, has been immediately and permanently banished from the Bowling Green State University campus.
“This fraternity will never again be recognized at our university,” BGSU President Rodney Rogers said in a video message.
A criminal investigation is continuing as well as a university investigation into discipline for individual fraternity members.
Foltz, a 20-year-old sophomore business major, died March 7 from alcohol poisoning after a Big/Little event at an off-campus pledging event hosted by the fraternity known as PIKE held on March 4. At the event Foltz and other pledges were forced to drink large quantities of alcohol. Foltz was dropped off comatose at his residence. When police summoned by his roommates arrived, his heart had stopped. He was kept on life support throughout the weekend, so his organs and tissues could be donated.
The fraternity had been charged with six student conduct violations. When representatives of the chapter met with university administrators on Tuesday, they refused to sign the letter charging them with the offenses. By doing that they waived their right to a hearing.
During its investigation the university interviewed several dozen witnesses and came to the following findings:
- Members of the organization provided individual bottles of alcohol to new members and encouraged the new members to consume the entirety of the contents of the bottle.
- Stone Foltz, a new member, died following this event, and other new members were severely intoxicated to the point of vomiting.
- Members of the organization had the new members wear blindfolds and led them into a basement area while being yelled at and pushed in an effort to disorient them.
- New members were instructed multiple times prior to the event on March 4 that they would need to inform faculty members of their likely absence from classes on March 5.
- Hazing and underage possession/consumption of alcohol are against university policy and state law.
- Alcohol was provided to new members of the organization by members of the organization, and only one new member was of legal age to possess/consume alcohol.
The report by Jeremy Zilmer, associate dean of students, also stated the members of the fraternity lied to investigators about the incident.
The chapter has until April 16 to appeal the expulsion.
Rogers echoing the findings said the fraternity had “ a deep culture of deception” and was “filled with disrespect for our community.”
The current investigation prompted a new look at an alcohol-related incident in 2018 that was reported anonymously. Though the university investigated at the time, the fraternity members “in a coordinated effort … repeatedly lied,” a statement from university spokesperson Alex Solis said.
That incident was reported to the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity, which put the chapter on probation, fined it, and ordered further educational efforts, in addition to what was already required by the university of all Greek organizations.
“The chapter still knowingly and intentionally engaged in activities that were found to be unsafe, high-risk and strictly prohibited by the University and the law,” the university statement asserted.
In his statement to the community, Rogers promised further action: “Some say this happens at every university, but we at BGSU must do better.”
That includes, starting this semester, implementing “new and enhanced anti-hazing educational programs.”
The university will also put in place stronger accountability measures and Rogers promised to “immediately notify law enforcement of hazing reports.”
Rogers’ statement continued: “We will work with our students so they can personally identify hazing. We will enhance our education and improve anonymous reporting of hazing to ensure all members of our community – our students, faculty, staff, parents and families – know how to report.”
He also said the university will be more transparent and “will launch a scorecard to document past findings of hazing.”
Through their attorneys Rex Elliott and Sean Alto, of Cooper Elliot, the Foltz family issued a statement about the university’s actions. Banning the fraternity and enhancing its anti-hazing efforts, they said, “are good first steps, but they are expected.”
“We have a long way to go to reach our goal of eliminating even the most minimal act of hazing on college campuses everywhere. Stone’s death at the hands of fraternity members hazing him and other pledges was reckless and inhumane. On behalf of Stone and his family, we will not stop until there is a zero-tolerance anti-hazing policy on every college campus in this country.”
The 2018 incident happened in the same period that members of the fraternity dressed in stereotypical Mexican costumes for Halloween and posted a video mocking the idea of cultural appropriation.
The university, while decrying the display, said it fell within protected free speech.
