Ohio State Suspends Sigma Alpha Epsilon After Video Shows Two People on Fire

Ohio State University has placed its Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity on interim suspension while it investigates an incident in which two people were apparently set on fire over the weekend.

The university acted after a video circulated on social media showing people on fire. In a statement to The Columbus Dispatch, university spokesperson Ben Johnson called it an “extremely concerning incident” and said the two people in the video were receiving medical care. “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,” Johnson said.

Columbus police said they are investigating the incident, which they said appears to have occurred on Saturday, Nov. 7. Police said they did not receive a call about it until Nov. 8, when someone tipped them off to the video circulating online.

What the video shows

The video, posted on X at about 8:30 p.m., shows a person on the ground with his sweatpants on fire while another person tries to spray the flames with a fire extinguisher, according to USA Today. The person on fire then lunges at a second person, whose clothing also catches fire. Both fall to the ground and roll while removing their burning clothing as onlookers step in to help.

The video appears to have been filmed at 1980 Indianola Ave., about six minutes from the fraternity’s main house. The property owner did not answer calls from the USA Today Network. It is unclear what led to the fire, what injuries the two people received, or whether charges have been filed. The university said Monday afternoon that it had no medical update on the two people.

National fraternity responds

Steve Mitchell, chief executive of the national Sigma Alpha Epsilon organization, said the group was aware of the video and was in contact with Ohio State and local law enforcement. “Sigma Alpha Epsilon holds its collegiate members to high standards of conduct and accountability,” Mitchell said in a statement. “Behavior that violates these standards has no place in our organization.”

The Ohio State chapter is now listed as an inactive student organization on a university website, and the chapter has made its Instagram account private, according to The Lantern, the student newspaper.

The suspension is the latest in a series of fraternity discipline cases at Ohio State. Earlier this year, the university suspended Pi Kappa Phi for 10 years after a student was hospitalized following a fraternity event. In April, it suspended Kappa Delta Rho over alcohol and hazing violations.

Reporting based on coverage by USA Today, The Columbus Dispatch and The Lantern.