An Ohio State University fraternity has been temporarily suspended while authorities investigate a video that appears to show two panicked men engulfed in flames.
A video shared on social media shows a large group of people standing outside, many wearing the school’s red and white colors, laughing and shouting while one man sits on the ground with his sweatpants on fire. He then lunges at a second person and attacks them. The second man’s clothes also catch fire, and they both roll on the ground removing their clothes as several bystanders intervene. One of them appears to be holding a small fire extinguisher.
University spokesman Benjamin Johnson said the school placed the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity on interim suspension pending its investigation and referred the matter to the university and Columbus police. The university did not say how the fraternity was connected to the event, whether the burned men were students or what condition they were in Monday.
“The university is aware of this extremely concerning incident and the individuals in question are receiving medical treatment,” Johnson said in a statement. “Ohio State is committed to a safe and healthy environment and expects students and student organizations to uphold that commitment and the values of the university.”
Columbus Police Sgt. Joe Albert said it appears the incident took place on Saturday. Police did not receive any calls to the scene, but someone called police Sunday evening to report the video was circulating online, he said.
Steve Mitchell, CEO of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said behavior that violates its high standards has no place in his organization and that he will take appropriate action to hold those responsible accountable based on the investigation.
“We take this matter seriously and are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident while working closely with university officials and local law enforcement,” he said in a statement.
More than 60,000 students are enrolled at the university.
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