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Goldstein: 2.3Tone: -4.6
An Ohio State University fraternity is under temporary suspension as police investigate a viral video showing two people catching fire during an incident near campus.
The university placed its Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter on interim suspension Sunday night. The decision came after officials reviewed footage of the incident, which reportedly happened Saturday in the 1900 block of Indianola Avenue.
The video shows two individuals wrestling outside before flames spread to both of their pants. One person appears to be on fire first before lunging at the second individual, whose clothing also catches fire.
A bystander attempts to use a fire extinguisher but struggles to put out the flames. Several others eventually step in, stomping out the fire and helping remove the burning clothing.
Both individuals suffered burn injuries and were taken to a hospital in a private vehicle. They were in stable condition, according to a Columbus fire spokesperson who spoke with WSYX ABC 6. The university also confirmed they were receiving medical care.
Ohio State referred the matter to university police and Columbus police. Columbus police said they received no calls about the incident Saturday. Officers were alerted Sunday after the video began circulating online.
Police are working with the university and the Columbus Division of Fire’s Arson Unit to determine if any criminal activity occurred.
The university has not confirmed if the incident involved hazing. It also has not announced any charges.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s national organization is conducting its own investigation. National CEO Steve Mitchell said the fraternity is working with university officials and local law enforcement.
The organization said members are expected to meet its standards for conduct and accountability. It also pledged to take appropriate action once the investigation is complete.
Ohio State’s Interfraternity Council also addressed the incident. The student-led organization said it plans to review its risk management practices and safety education requirements.
The council encouraged students to report concerning behavior, including suspected hazing. It also pointed students toward university counseling and mental health resources.
Ohio State has not released additional details about what led to the incident as the investigation continues.
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Ohio State Suspends Fraternity After Two People Catch Fire was originally published on mycolumbusmagic.com
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An Ohio State University fraternity is being investigated after video of two young men seemingly on fire circulated online over the weekend.
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity was placed on “interim suspension” pending a full investigation, according to a statement Sunday from OSU. The administration described it as an “extremely concerning incident” and noted that it referred the matter to law enforcement.
“Ohio State is committed to a safe and healthy environment and expects students and student organizations to uphold that commitment and the university’s values,” the statement said.
The video posted online starts with someone in a sweatsuit on the ground with his pants engulfed in flames. That person gets up and tackles another person in a matching sweatsuit, resulting in the second person’s clothing being ignited.
Both of the men then run around and attempt to shed their clothing while others come in to help them stamp out the flames, according to the video.
A second video shot from a different angle appears to show that the second person’s pant leg was already on fire when he was tackled. It also showed a bystander seeming to struggle to use a fire extinguisher as others tried to help snuff out the flames.
The incident appeared to occur Saturday on a block near the university, according to a statement from the Columbus Police Department. There were no initial calls about the matter Saturday, but the department was alerted Sunday about the video that was circulating online.
“We will be working with the Ohio State University, as well as the Columbus Division of Fire’s Arson Unit to determine if any criminal acts occurred,” police said.
Ohio State’s Buckeyes hosted the Oregon Ducks on Saturday as two of the NCAA’s top Division I football teams faced off. Many of the bystanders in the videos appeared to be wearing Ohio State football jerseys.
The fraternity’s national headquarters is also aware of the video, Steve Mitchell, CEO of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said in a statement to NBC News on Monday. Mitchell said that the fraternity is actively investigating the circumstances and working closely with the relevant authorities.
“Sigma Alpha Epsilon holds its collegiate members to high standards of conduct and accountability,” Mitchell said. “Behavior that violates these standards has no place in our organization. We are committed to holding those responsible accountable and will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation.”
Sigma Alpha Epsilon was founded March 9, 1856, at the University of Alabama. A number of notable figures have been members, such as former President William McKinley, author William Faulkner, actor Sam Elliott and NFL coach Pete Carroll.
It has also had a concerning history of incidents over the last 20 years, culminating in a number of deaths, according to a 2013 Bloomberg report that dubbed it the “deadliest frat.”
The report from Bloomberg noted that there were nine deaths related to drinking, drugs and hazing between 2006 and 2013, which it said was more than any other Greek organization. It added that more than 100 universities had disciplined Sigma Alpha Epsilon and 15 chapters had been shuttered.
The national headquarters responded in 2014 by eliminating the pledge system, stating at the time that deaths and other incidents had resulted in “consequences that have never been consistent with our membership experience.”
It replaced pledging with what it dubbed the “True Gentleman Experience,” referencing one of the organization’s guiding principles. The fraternity boasts that a true gentleman is defined in part by a man “whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety.”
There was an incident at a “talent show” held by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter at the University of New Hampshire in 2022 that resulted in 46 members being charged with hazing . While dozens chose to engage in diversion programs, three people were acquitted of the charges at trial, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader.
The newspaper reported that the judge ruled that because the incident was not related to pledging or continued membership, it did not meet the requirement for a hazing charge under the law.
I am a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital, covering a range of news-of-the-day topics. My job is to report in a timely manner on crime, mass shootings, war coverage, domestic and international affairs, pop culture and more.
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