Ohio State University revoked a fraternity's status July 23 following an incident in March where a student was hospitalized.
In a July 26 statement, Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson said the university
had revoked the registered student organization status of the Alpha Nu chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at Ohio State through 2036. The fraternity has five business days to appeal the decision.
The action follows a Student Conduct investigation that found violations including hazing, endangering behavior and alcohol. Under state and federal law, this matter has been reported to the appropriate authorities, Johnson said.
The Dispatch reported in March that the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity was under suspension following a March 25 event that hospitalized an unnamed student. It was not made clear whether the student was a member of the fraternity and to what extent they were injured.
Johnson said in the July 26 statement that in 2036, the fraternity may petition the Office of Student Life to return to campus, after demonstrating that it has taken "steps to demonstrate that it operates in a manner consistent with the Code of Student Conduct, Sorority and Fraternity Life policies, student organization guidelines, other relevant university policies and all state and federal laws."
"It is the intent of the university to uphold the Code of Student Conduct, to promote the education and development of students, and to provide a framework for future success of student organizations," Johnson said.
In 2021, Ohio passed "Collin's Law," which increased the legal penalties for hazing in Ohio. The law made Ohio the 11th U.S. state to make hazing a felony.
The law is named in honor of Collin Wiant, an 18-year-old freshman who died at Ohio University during a hazing ritual in 2018.
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OSU revokes fraternity for 10 years after student hospitalized in March
