Ohio State suspends Sigma Alpha Epsilon after fire video goes viral
Two men were seen engulfed in flames in footage that prompted an interim suspension and a joint police investigation.
By Adrian Kovalenko ·
Two men were captured on video fully engulfed in flames at an Ohio State University fraternity event, prompting the immediate interim suspension of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
University spokesperson Benjamin Johnson confirmed the suspension on Sunday, stating the individuals in question are currently receiving medical care. The university has referred the matter to both campus and Columbus police departments for a full investigation.
Columbus Police Sgt. Joe Albert indicated the incident occurred on Saturday. No calls for service were received at the time, but police received a report on Sunday evening noting the video was circulating online.
The footage shows one man with sweatpants on fire lunging at a second individual. The second man's clothing also catches fire, and both roll on the ground to remove their garments while onlookers intervene.
Steve Mitchell, CEO of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, stated that behavior violating the organization's standards has no place in its ranks. The fraternity is actively investigating the circumstances in close coordination with university officials and local law enforcement.
The incident occurred at the Columbus campus, which enrolls more than 60,000 students.
