Ohio State Suspends SAE Fraternity After Fire Video
Ohio State University has placed its Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chapter on interim suspension after a video showed two men with their clothing on fire near the Columbus campus, prompting a police investigation into whether any crime took place.
The university announced the suspension on Sunday, 9 November, as the footage circulated online. It said both men are receiving medical care, but it has not released their names or their conditions. The Associated Press reported that the incident appears to have taken place on Saturday, 7 November, in a neighbourhood near campus that is home to many Greek life houses.
What the video shows
The footage shows a large group of people standing outside, many wearing Ohio State’s red and white colours, laughing and shouting while a man sits on the ground with his sweatpants on fire. He then gets to his feet, runs across a grassy area and tackles a second man, whose clothing also catches fire. Both men roll on the ground removing their clothes as several onlookers intervene. One person in the crowd appears to be holding a small fire extinguisher.
Columbus police said they received no calls for service at the location on Saturday. Someone called police on Sunday evening to report that the video was circulating online. Police told Fox News Digital that the incident appeared to have happened in the 1900 block of Indianola Avenue in Columbus.
It remains unclear how the men’s clothing caught fire, and neither the university nor police have said whether the episode was an intentional stunt, a hazing ritual or an accident. The university has not said how the fraternity is linked to the event, or whether the two men are students.
University and fraternity respond
University spokesperson Benjamin Johnson said Ohio State had placed Sigma Alpha Epsilon on interim suspension pending a full investigation, and had referred the matter to university police and the Columbus Division of Police.
“The university is aware of this extremely concerning incident, and the individuals in question are receiving medical care,” 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 university’s values.”
Steve Mitchell, chief executive of the national Sigma Alpha Epsilon organisation, said the fraternity is investigating and cooperating with university officials and law enforcement.
“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, adding that behaviour violating the fraternity’s standards would not be tolerated and that it would hold those responsible accountable once the investigation determines who was involved.
The episode has put campus safety back in the spotlight at one of the largest universities in the United States. Ohio State enrols more than 60,000 students.
Police investigation under way
Columbus Police Sergeant Joe Albert said officers are working with Ohio State and the Columbus Division of Fire’s Arson Unit to determine whether any criminal acts occurred. No arrests or charges had been announced as of Monday, 9 November.
Investigators have not said what started the fire, and no further details about the two men have been released. Police said the inquiry is continuing, and the fraternity will remain suspended while the university carries out its own investigation.
A fraternity with a troubled record
Sigma Alpha Epsilon was founded on 9 March 1856 at the University of Alabama, and it is one of the largest fraternities in the United States. It also carries a long record of disciplinary trouble. A Bloomberg analysis cited by NBC News found nine SAE-linked deaths between 2006 and 2013, more than 100 university disciplinary actions and 15 chapter closures. The fraternity eliminated its traditional pledge process in 2014 and replaced it with a new member education programme.
The Ohio State episode comes as fraternities are back in the national spotlight in the wake of a former Cornell University student’s lawsuit saying she was gang raped at a fraternity party in 2024.
What happens next
The suspension will stay in place while the university and police investigations run their course. Any disciplinary action against the chapter or individual students will depend on what those inquiries find, and on whether investigators conclude that a crime was committed.
Frequently asked questions
When did the incident happen?
Police say the video appears to have been recorded on Saturday, 7 November, near campus. The suspension was announced the next day.
Have any charges been filed?
No. As of Monday, 9 November, police had announced no arrests or charges, and investigators were still working to determine whether any criminal acts occurred.
What is an interim suspension?
It is a temporary measure that bars a student organisation from operating while an investigation is under way. It is not a final finding of wrongdoing.
