A sophomore at Bowling Green State University died after drinking “a copious amount of alcohol” at a fraternity party, his family’s attorney said. He was hospitalized early Friday and reportedly placed on life support.
Stone Foltz was a sophomore at the Ohio school, which is now investigating his death. The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity hosted the party at an off-campus location, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Yesterday, Bowling Green State University placed Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity on interim suspension for alleged hazing activity. We are working with local law enforcement, who are actively taking the lead in investigating this unfolding situation. (1/8)
— BGSU (@bgsu) March 6, 2021
“At this time we are gathering all of the facts leading to his untimely death and we have no interest in commenting on speculation,” attorney Sean Alto wrote in a statement obtained by the outlet. Bowling Green has since suspended the fraternity, reportedly saying it suspects Foltz’s death was a result of hazing. (RELATED: LSU Smacks Frat With 15-Year Ban After Pledge’s Death)
Fraternity members dropped Foltz off at his apartment after the party, the Dispatch reported. His roommates, who were not fraternity members, found him and then called 911.
A statement released by the national Pi Kappa Alpha organization described Foltz as an “unreported new member,” or pledge, of the fraternity. The organization will “pursue permanent suspension of Delta Beta Chapter as well as expulsion of all chapter members from the International Fraternity.”
At least 40 college students — many of them pledges — died in suspected hazing incidents between 2007 and 2017, according to The Economist. Some deaths led to criminal charges for fraternity members: 37 members of Pi Delta Psi at Baruch College were charged after the death of a pledge at a fraternity retreat.
The FBI investigated after the death of a pledge at Pennsylvania State University’s Beta Theta Pi chapter, eventually recovering a video showing the pledge being forced to drink alcohol. In that case, 17 fraternity members were charged.