Bowling Green permanently bans PIKE fraternity
The Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity at Bowling Green State University has been permanently banned from campus, the university announced Friday.
“From a thorough and fair investigation to seek the truth and facts, and hold those accountable who are responsible for this tragedy, the findings against the organization are clear,” said Alex Solis, BGSU'S deputy chief of staff and university spokesperson, in a statement.
“The University has decided to immediately expel Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. This is permanent loss of recognition – the fraternity will never again be recognized at BGSU in the future.”
The fraternity, better known as PIKE on campus, was found responsible for all six previously charged policy violations of the university's Code of Student Conduct.
The Pi Kappa Alpha International fraternity said in a statement that its Supreme Council voted to suspend the charter of Delta Beta Chapter at BGSU, that its charter be revoked and all current undergraduate members of the chapter be expelled.
“The Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity continues to extend its full support and deepest sympathies to Stone Foltz's family, friends, and all those affected by this senseless tragedy,” the statement said.
“Suspension means the chapter may no longer operate in the name of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity or use the Fraternity's name or symbols. The Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity has a zero-tolerance policy toward hazing, illegal activity, substance abuse, and bullying. Any member of Pi Kappa Alpha should immediately and confidentially report any hazing or potential hazing or other harmful activity to their chapter consultant, director of service, or the International Fraternity here.”
BGSU detailed the ways fraternity members violated university's Code of Student Conduct in a letter released April 2.
In that letter, BGSU Associate Dean of Students Jeremy Zilmer laid out six conduct charges against the fraternity. They include four counts of hazing, one count of harm to other and one alcohol violation.
Each of the hazing charges reflects a different aspect of the code of conduct that the school says fraternity members broke March 4 during an initiation ritual that led to the death of 20-yearold sophomore Stone Foltz.
The letter sheds light on the activities that took place the night that Foltz was hospitalized and what he and other pledges were forced to do. It said fraternity members “provided individual bottles of alcohol to new members and encouraged the new members to consume the entirety of the contents of the bottle” and that active members “had the new members wear blindfolds and
led them into a basement area while being yelled at and pushed in an effort to disorient them.”
“This expulsion is because of hazing, which is absolutely intolerable. The University's investigation found the fraternity to be reckless with a disregard for the health and safety of our community,” Solis said.
The investigation “also revealed a deep culture of deception rooted in the organization, filled with dishonesty and disrespect for our community,” Solis said.
This most recent investigation following Foltz's death shed new light on a previous incident involving alcohol and PIKE in 2018, Solis said. Although the university investigated those claims then, Solis said “it is now clear that in a coordinated effort, members of this organization repeatedly lied.”
Despite hazing accountability measures, Solis said BGSU'S PIKE chapter “still knowingly and intentionally engaged in activities that were found to be unsafe, high-risk and strictly prohibited by the University and the law.”
A criminal investigation and individual student conduct investigations are ongoing.
Foltz, 20, a 2019 graduate of Buckeye Valley High School in Delaware County's Troy Township, was hospitalized March 5 after he consumed what his family's attorney said was “a copious amount of alcohol.”
On the night of March 4, BGSU'S chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity held its traditional “Big Brother Night.” The event, common in fraternities around this time of year, involves pledges being introduced to the active fraternity member who will serve as their mentor or “big brother.”
It was at that event that Foltz and other pledges were forced to drink a handle of hard liquor, equivalent to about 40 shots, as part of an initiation into the fraternity.
Foltz was dropped off that night at his apartment by members of the fraternity. His roommate found him half an hour later unconscious and called 911.
Lucas County Coroner Diane Scalabarnett ruled Wednesday that Foltz's death was caused by fatal alcohol intoxication during a hazing ritual. shendrix@dispatch.com @sheridan120