Overview
- A social-media video that circulated over the weekend appears to show two people with their clothing on fire during a party in the 1900 block of Indianola Avenue, the block where the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house is located.
- Ohio State placed the fraternity’s Ohio Theta chapter on interim suspension, blocking the group from registered student-organization activities and new-member events while the university conducts a full inquiry and refers findings to law enforcement.
- The university said the individuals shown in the video are receiving medical care but it has not released details on their conditions.
- Columbus police said they were not called to the scene on Saturday and were first alerted after the video spread online, and they will coordinate with Ohio State and the Columbus Division of Fire’s Arson Unit to assess whether crimes were committed; no arrests or charges have been announced.
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s national office says it is cooperating and investigating, and the chapter’s prior university sanctions in 2017 and 2019 for hazing and alcohol violations frame heightened scrutiny and possible further disciplinary action.