A student at Bowling Green State University is in critical condition after an alleged hazing incident involving alcohol, forcing a fraternity to be temporarily suspended.
Local CBS branch WBNS-TV reported that the incident reportedly took place on Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) on the Ohio school campus on Thursdays.
Family law attorney Sean Alto identified the student as sophomore Stone Foltz. The lawyer told ABC news On Saturday, Foltz will be kept alive while doctors work to donate his organs.
The fraternity’s international organization told ABC it was “shocked and outraged” by the incident, adding that the Bowling Green chapter has been placed 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 permanent suspension of the Delta Beta Chapter and the expulsion of all Chapter members from the International Fraternity,” said international organization Pi Kappa Alpha, ABC said.
The organization falsely said in its initial statement to the news outlet that Foltz had died.
“We express our deepest and sincere condolences to the student’s family and friends and all those affected by this tragic loss,” read the statement, which was later updated to remove any suggestion that Foltz had passed away.
Alto called the fraternity’s original statement that Foltz had died “insensitive and inappropriate.”
“The information is still coming out, just wait and get the facts,” Alto told ABC. “It’s a terrible thing to do this for the family. They are solely focused on their son, their brother, their grandson. “
A social media message from Foltz’s mother that Alto shared with CBS’s Toledo, Ohio, branch WTOL urged people not to promote misinformation about her son’s condition.
“Please have respect, be thoughtful and passionate,” she wrote. Please do not comment on details of what you have heard. Stone is still with us for the time we go through the process of donating his organs. Hug your kids and tell them how much you love them every day.
The university has a strict anti-hazing policy which states: “the BGSU community is unreservedly opposed to any situation that is deliberately created to cause mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, intimidation or ridicule. ”
The school defines hazing as “any act or activity that has the purpose or effect to inflict physical or mental harm, shame or fear, or is a violation of the law,” as well as “any act or threatens a student in connection with an initiation into, affiliation with, or retention of membership in an organization, club, team, or activity affiliated with the university. “
“It is not a defense against a violation of this policy that a person has consented to the alleged hazing or that the alleged hazing took place outside of university premises,” the policy added.