Overview
- A video circulating online appears to show two young men with their clothing on fire while bystanders try to extinguish the flames.
- Ohio State placed the local Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter on interim suspension and opened a university disciplinary review in response to the footage.
- Columbus Police said they were alerted after the video circulated and are working with Ohio State and the Columbus Division of Fire’s Arson Unit to determine if criminal acts took place.
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s national office and CEO Steve Mitchell said the fraternity is actively investigating and cooperating with authorities, and no criminal charges have been reported so far.
- The episode revives long-standing safety concerns about the fraternity, which eliminated formal pledging in 2014 after past hazing incidents and deaths and faces scrutiny as officials complete their inquiries.