Ohio university awards family $3M in fraternity hazing lawsuit

The family of a student who died from alcohol poisoning while pledging a fraternity will receive nearly $3 million from Bowling Green State University to settle its hazing-related lawsuit, according to an agreement announced Monday.

As part of the settlement, the family of Stone Foltz and the university both said they will work to address and eliminate hazing on college campuses.

Foltz’s parents have started a foundation focused on hazing education and have spoken to students at other universities about its dangers.

“We can continue our fight saving lives,” said Shari Foltz, whose son died in March 2021 of alcohol poisoning.

A university investigation found that the 20-yearold had attended a fraternity initiation event where there was a tradition of new members finishing or attempting to finish a bottle of alcohol, according to a university investigation.

Foltz, from Delaware, Ohio, was found unconscious after members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity dropped him off at his apartment.

He died three days after he was put on life support.

Both sides said in a joint statement issued Monday they will be forever impacted by his death.

“This resolution keeps the Foltz family and BGSU community from reliving the tragedy for years to come in the courtroom and allows us to focus on furthering our shared mission of eradicating hazing in Ohio and across the nation. Leading these efforts in our communities is the real work that honors Stone,” the statement said.

The settlement with the university is on top of more than $7 million in payouts made to the family by the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and those who had a role in the hazing, according to court documents.

Eight former fraternity members either pleaded guilty or were found guilty on various charges, including reckless homicide, hazing and giving alcohol to a minor.

Two of the eight, though, were acquitted last year of more serious charges including involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide.

Their defense attorneys had argued Foltz was not forced or required to finish the entire bottle and made that decision on his own.

In their lawsuit, Foltz’s parents accused the school of failing to stop hazing in fraternities and sororities despite being aware of it.