Stone Foltz, 20, a College of Business student at the university, attended a Pi Kappa Alpha event that led to his death.
Students go to college with big dreams and the biggest worry most of them have is getting an F on a paper. However, for one student's family, his grades weren't a matter of concern. Instead, they lost their child to a suspected hazing incident involving alcohol.
Stone Foltz, 20, was a sophomore at the Bowling Green State University, and he died on March 7 after he was hazed. "The death of Stone Foltz is a tragedy. He was a beloved son, brother, and grandson," family attorney Sean Alto said. He was a student at the university's College of Business and was hospitalized on March 4 after "alleged hazing activity involving alcohol consumption" at an off-campus Pi Kappa Alpha event in Bowling Green, Ohio, the university said in a statement. He was in critical condition at the ProMedica Toledo Hospital for three days before passing away, according to ABC News.
Hazingprevention.org describes hazing as "any action taken or any situation created intentionally that causes embarrassment, harassment or ridicule and risks emotional and/or physical harm to members of a group or team, whether new or not, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate." In certain educational institutions, fraternities and sororities sometimes conduct "forced activities for new recruits to ‘prove’ their worth to join," which is what seems to have happened in Stone's case.
"At this time we are gathering all of the facts leading to his untimely death and we have no interest in commenting on speculation," the attorney said. "However, we do ask that you please show respect and consideration for Stone’s family. Despite their unbearable grief, they agreed to donate Stone’s organs so that others may have a second chance at life."
The Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity said in a statement that they were "horrified and outraged" by the incident. "We extend our deepest and sincere sympathy to the student's family and friends and all of those affected by this tragic loss," the organization said. "As more details are confirmed, we will also pursue permanent suspension of Delta Beta Chapter as well as expulsion of all chapter members from the International Fraternity," the organization said.
The Delta Beta Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha at Bowling Green State University has been placed on administrative suspension following the incident, according to the international fraternity.
Stone was from Delaware, Ohio, and his family's attorney said on March 7 that he was being kept alive so his organs could be donated and "so that others may have a second chance at life," according to the New York Times. University officials said that they are going to bring in consultants to conduct "a broader review of student organizations and activities."
A student, whose roommate attended the event where Stone was present, described what had happened there. "We have to drink a handle of any alcohol that our big gives us," the student quoted his roommate as saying, as per WTOL. "We have to finish the whole thing in the time we’re there before we leave," they added. The amount of alcohol being referred to is about 59.2 fluid ounces, more than twice the volume of a standard size bottle of liquor.
The Foltz family attorney said that Stone returned to his apartment by about 11 or 11:30 p.m. His roommate or roommates found him and called 911, he said. The fraternity that was involved in the hazing said it had "a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal activity, substance abuse, bullying and hazing of any kind," adding, "We refuse to defend or condone any behavior that creates dangerous environments or situations" for its members. The chapter members are under investigation by Toledo police currently.
References:
https://www.bgsu.edu/news/online-media-newsroom/2021/03/bgsu-statement-march-5--2021.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/07/us/stone-foltz-hazing-dead.html
Cover image source: Getty Images | Photo by Lightkey (Representational Image)
