A student at Bowling Green State University is in critical condition following an alleged alcohol hazing incident, prompting a fraternity to be placed on temporary suspension.
Local CBS affiliate WBNS-TV reported that the incident allegedly occurred in Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) off the Ohio school campus on Thursday.
Family lawyer Sean Alto identified the student as a second-year Stone Foltz. The lawyer said ABC news Saturday Foltz is being kept alive as doctors work to donate his organs.
The fraternity’s international organization told ABC that it was “horrified and outraged” by the incident, adding that the Bowling Green chapter was put on administrative suspension.
University leaders said they will meet with students to determine the long-term future of fraternities and sororities on campus.
“As more details are confirmed, we will also seek the permanent suspension of the Delta Beta Chapter, as well as the expulsion of all members of the International Brotherhood chapter,” said international organization Pi Kappa Alpha, according to ABC.
The organization, in its initial statement to the media, incorrectly said that Foltz had died.
“We extend our deepest and most sincere condolences to the student’s family and friends and to everyone affected by this tragic loss,” said the statement, which was later updated to remove any suggestion that Foltz died.
Alto called the fraternity’s initial statement saying that Foltz had died of “insensitive and improper”.
“The information is still coming out, just wait and gather the facts,” Alto told ABC. “It is horrible to do this before the family. They are exclusively focused on their son, their brother, their grandson. “
A social media post from Foltz’s mother that Alto shared with the CBS affiliate in Toledo, Ohio WTOL he urged people not to promote misinformation about their son’s condition.
“Please have respect, be considerate and passionate,” she wrote. “Please do not post comments on details of what you have heard. Stone is still with us as we go through the process of donating her organs. Hug your children and tell them every day how much you love them. “
The university has a strict anti-hazing policy that states, “the BGSU community is unconditionally opposed to any situation created intentionally to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. ”
The school defines hoax as “any action or activity that has the purpose or effect of inflicting physical or mental harm, embarrassment or anxiety or that is a violation of the law”, as well as “any action or situation that, intentionally or unintentionally, puts in danger to a student in connection with an initiation, an affiliation or maintenance of the association in any organization, club, team or activity that is affiliated with the University ”.
“It is not a defense against a violation of this Policy that an individual has consented to the alleged hazing activity or that the alleged hazing activity has taken place outside the premises of the University,” adds the policy.