COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Multiple agencies are involved in investigations after a video circulated over the weekend showing two men lit on fire at what appears to be an Ohio State University fraternity event.
Ohio State released a statement announcing that the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity was on an interim suspension pending a full investigation over an “extremely concerning incident”:
The university is aware of this extremely concerning incident, and the individuals in question are receiving needed medical care. Ohio State has placed the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity on interim suspension pending a full investigation. The university has made referrals to university police and Columbus police, and city law enforcement is investigating. Ohio State is committed to a safe and healthy environment and expects students and student organizations to uphold that commitment and the university’s values.
The Columbus Division of Police confirmed that it was alerted to the video circulating online. CPD said the video appears to have been filmed on Saturday in the 1900 block of Indianola Avenue; the same street where the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house is located.
OSU student Nathan Elias said he’s not in a fraternity, but said he’s seen the video circulaing on social media,
“It’s a very bad look for the university,” said Elias, whose friend, Aloniyas Goitom, shared the sentiment.
“It was sad,” Goitom said. “It was just a wrong thing to do.”
A police spokesman said CPD did not receive any calls about the fire on the day of the incident, but added that it did get a call on Sunday to alert the agency of the video’s circulation.
CPD also said it will work with OSU as well as the Columbus Division of Fire’s Arson unit to determine if any criminal acts have occurred.
A CFD spokesperson said the men in the video were rushed to a local hospital in a private vehicle and remain in stable condition despite their burns.
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon national CEO Steve Mitchell released a statement to ABC6 as well:
Sigma Alpha Epsilon is aware of a concerning video involving an incident at The Ohio State University. We take this matter seriously and are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident while working closely with university officials and local law enforcement. Sigma Alpha Epsilon holds its collegiate members to high standards of conduct and accountability. Behavior that violates these standards has no place in our organization. We are committed to holding those responsible accountable and will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation.
Despite commitments from different agencies to hold the responsible parties accountable, some students on the OSU campus said they feel like the disturbing scene could easily happen again.
“All the frats are on a rotating basis of being suspended and not suspended,” Ted Busch said. “You know, once they get unbanned, it’s just going to be a matter of time for something like this happens again.”