University to All Frats: Stop Everything. Now.

Ohio University issues suspension amid widespread allegations
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 5, 2019 11:00 AM CDT
University to All Frats: Stop Everything. Now.
Side of Manasseh Cutler Hall, the oldest building on the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.   (Wikimedia Commons)

Ohio University didn't just suspend one or two fraternities—it suspended all of them, Fox News reports. The university announced the move against 15 fraternities Thursday amid widespread claims of frat hazing. "These troubling allegations, which will be thoroughly investigated, indicate a potentially escalating systemic culture within our IFC organizations, and Ohio University will not put at risk the health and safety of our students," wrote Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones in a letter to chapter presidents of the Intrafraternity Council. The move follows a school cease-and-desist order against two campus frats earlier this week over hazing allegations, per the Post. When allegations came in against five more chapters, that did it.

There was also the tragedy of 18-year-old Collin Wiant, an Ohio University student who died in November. His family says was killed by inhaling nitrous oxide that Sigma Pi frat members forced on him, while the fraternity says he wasn't a pledge at the time—but Sigma Pi was expelled from the university in May over multiple code violations. As for the suspension, chapters won't be allowed to hold chapter or council meetings, retreats, socials, new member events, or intramurals for an indefinite time. Students on campus give the ban mixed reviews, but one senior put it this way: "I mean joke hazing, that's alright but hazing where people's lives are literally at risk? And we've lost people here because of it? It's not cool," she said, per ABC6. (More hazing stories.)

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