BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — A 20-year-old student at Bowling Green State University died Sunday following a suspected hazing incident during an event for a fraternity.
The lawyer for the family of Stone Foltz confirmed Foltz’s death on Sunday, according to multiple reports. Foltz was from Delaware County, Ohio, near Columbus, and was a graduate of the Buckeye Valley Local School District.
“The death of Stone Foltz is a tragedy,” the statement says, WTOL Channel 11 reports. “He was a beloved son, brother, and grandson.
“At this time we are gathering all of the facts leading to his untimely death and we have no interest in commenting on speculation. 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.”
ABC 6 reports that the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity has been placed on interim suspension by BGSU and by its international leadership. A statement from the fraternity’s international organization acknowledges there was an “alleged incident of alcohol-related hazing, WTVG Channel 13 reports.
“The International Fraternity is horrified and outraged by this incident,” the statement says, according to WTVG. “The Fraternity has a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal activity, substance abuse, bullying, and hazing of any kind.
“Let us reiterate in the strongest terms: We refuse to defend or condone any behavior that creates dangerous environments or situations for our members or the larger campus community at any of our 200+ chapters in the United States and abroad.”
Foltz attended a fraternity event Thursday night at an off-campus location, ABC 6 reports. WTOL reports a BGSU student says anyone pledging the fraternity had to drink a “handle” of liquor, which is about 40 1.5 ounce shots.
WTVG reports Foltz was taken back to his house after the event and his roommates found him the following morning. He was first taken to Wood County Hospital in Bowling Green, then flown to ProMedica Toledo Hospital.
The incident is being investigated by police, and officials with the university and fraternity say they are cooperating, according to reports. No arrests have been made.
“The hazing thing is terrible,” Mason Ross, who is a friend of Foltz, tells WTVG. “If they want people to be in their frat or whatever they should take that person in under their wing like a brother and not make them do things they don’t want to do. Those games they played cost me my friend, it cost me my brother, a good friend that I’ve known for 15 years. I would love to see them go to jail.”