Two Students Left With Second and Third-Degree Burns as Fraternity Hazing Probe Begins
Two Ohio State University students suffered second- and third-degree burns after their clothes caught fire during an incident at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house in Columbus, Ohio. Police are investigating whether the incident involved hazing, while the university's Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter remains suspended.
The university has not explained the fraternity's connection to the incident, although the police report identified the chapter's president, George Limperis, as an offender in the investigation. No charges have been reported, and investigators have not established how the fire began.
Columbus police said the incident happened on Saturday, 7 November. Officers received no emergency calls that night. A student reported the video to police the following day, after it began circulating on social media.
A preliminary police report released on Tuesday described both victims as students with 'moderate' second- and third-degree burns. The Associated Press reported that they were treated for deep burns. Ohio State said they were receiving medical care.
What the Ohio State Video Shows
The footage shows two men on the ground with their trousers on fire. One appears to lunge at the other, and both roll on the ground as they struggle to remove their burning clothes. Several bystanders attempt to help, while some onlookers appear to laugh. One person also appears to hold a fire extinguisher but fails to deploy it successfully.
The video does not show how the fire started or whether anyone deliberately caused it. The precise location has not been confirmed, either. The police report describes the activity as dangerous and lists hazing as the charge under investigation, but authorities have not established how the fire started or whether the incident involved an initiation ritual.
The student who reported the video described the scene in a recorded call, saying, 'They stood around watching while this kid just burned.'
Police said they would work with Ohio State and the Columbus Division of Fire's Arson Unit to establish whether any criminal acts occurred. That remains an open question, not a finding of wrongdoing.
Ohio State and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Respond
Ohio State spokesperson Benjamin Johnson said the chapter had been suspended pending a full investigation. The university has not explained how the chapter was connected to the gathering, or whether any of its members were among those shown.
'The university is aware of this extremely concerning incident, and the individuals in question are receiving medical care,' Johnson said. He added that Ohio State expects students and student organisations to uphold its commitment to a safe and healthy environment.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon's national organisation is also investigating. Chief executive Steve Mitchell said it was working with university officials and local law enforcement. The organisation said it holds its collegiate members to high standards of conduct and accountability, and would take appropriate action based on the findings.
The suspension is an interim measure. It does not establish that the fraternity or any individual was responsible.
Ohio strengthened its hazing law in 2021, when Governor Mike DeWine signed Collin's Law after a student died at a fraternity house at Ohio University. The law covers conduct linked to joining or remaining in an organisation that creates a substantial risk of physical or mental harm.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon ended pledging across its chapters in 2014, citing injuries and deaths. Investigators have not said whether this gathering involved an initiation or official fraternity activity. According to the Associated Press, Ohio State's public list of hazing violations does not include the chapter for the past five years.