Ohio State fraternity suspended after viral video of fire

An Ohio State University (OSU) fraternity has been suspended after a video of two students running around while on fire went viral.

Police said they are investigating the incident for potential hazing charges, while OSU told local media the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity will be suspended while it also investigates.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s CEO said fraternity leadership “take this matter seriously and are actively investigating” the incident.

Here’s what you need to know.

Fraternities

Fraternities are social organisations for male college students.

Together with sororities, the female equivalent, they form the “Greek system” at North American universities.

Many have on-campus housing.

Most fraternities and sororities are national organisations, with the individual groups at college campuses reporting back to the leadership.

Hazing is the act of doing, or coercing students to do, harmful and risky behaviours.

Despite bans, it is not uncommon in “Greek life” initiation.

Some states also have anti-hazing laws.

Incident

A video of two OSU students from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity began circulating over the weekend.

One man is on fire, and is tackled by another man, who then also catches alight.

A large group of students watch on and try to put out the flames while the men take their clothing off.

The Columbus fire department confirmed to the local newspaper that the victims were taken to hospital with burns.

In a statement to the OSU student paper, The Lantern, Sigma Alpha Epsilon CEO Steve Mitchell said they are “investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident while working closely with university officials and local law enforcement.”

The Columbus Dispatch reported police are investigating the incident as a potential case of hazing.

OSU’s own rules also ban hazing.

Police records say the activity resulted in second and third-degree burns, according to The Dispatch.

Uni response

An OSU spokesperson told The Lantern they have suspended the fraternity following the incident.

“Ohio State has placed the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity on interim suspension pending a full investigation, and the university has made referrals to law enforcement,” the spokesperson said.

The fraternity is listed as “inactive” on the OSU website.