The College of Kentucky group is looking for solutions a day after an 18-year-old freshman died at a fraternity home on the college’s Lexington campus.
The scholar, recognized as 18-year-old Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood, was discovered lifeless on the residence of the FarmHouse Fraternity on Monday, and he seemingly died from alcohol poisoning, in line with officers.
Nevertheless, UK President Eli Capilouto and Vice President for Scholar Success Kirsten Turner mentioned in a message to the campus group that investigations into Hazelwood’s demise are underway.
As well as, the information of Hazelwood’s demise has reignited conversations round hazing on school campuses, primarily in Greek life, in addition to if alcohol consumption is a matter on the campus.
This is what we all know up to now:
Standing of investigation into UK scholar demise
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“Foul play isn’t suspected” within the case of Hazelwood’s demise, UK spokesman Jay Blanton mentioned, “however police are investigating the circumstances of his demise.”
“The UK Police Division was referred to as to the FarmHouse Fraternity at roughly 6:22 p.m. Monday night concerning studies of an unresponsive scholar,” Blanton informed The Courier Journal in an e mail. “The scholar was taken to UK HealthCare’s Chandler Hospital. Makes an attempt to revive him have been unsuccessful and he was pronounced as deceased early (Monday) night.”
An preliminary report from the Fayette County Coroner’s Workplace mentioned Hazelwood’s reason for demise, pending additional investigation, is “presumed alcohol toxicity.” His time of demise was listed as 7:06 p.m. Monday, and the way was listed as an “accident.”
Capilouto and Turner additionally despatched the campus group a message Tuesday evening concerning the “tragic loss” of Hazelwood.
“First, two investigations have been launched by the college. UK Police already has begun its investigation and is within the means of interviewing individuals. UK’s Workplace of Scholar Conduct additionally has begun a assessment,” the message mentioned.
As soon as full, the message added, “each of those investigations will likely be made public together with any findings and proposals, topic to crucial redactions to guard the privateness of scholars.”
“However we’ll perceive higher what occurred and we’ll talk with Lofton’s household and our college household,” the message mentioned. “Third, as of at present, the College has suspended all actions for the FarmHouse Fraternity whereas these investigations are ongoing. The main focus of the chapter — and of college officers concerned on this assessment — wants to stay fastened on understanding what occurred and discovering solutions.”
Who was Lofton Hazelwood?
Henderson native Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood, 18, was recognized by the Fayette County Coroner’s Workplace as the scholar who died.
Hazelwood was, the Kentucky Kernel reported, a first-year agricultural economics scholar at UK. In a press release, his fraternity’s CEO referred to him as a “new member.”
Relations informed Lexington media shops he was the youngest of 4 siblings and have become all in favour of agriculture after working a summer season job on a farm. He was a graduate of Henderson Excessive College, The Gleaner reported, the place he performed on the golf group.
What’s the FarmHouse Fraternity?
The FarmHouse Fraternity is a Greek group based by college students on the College of Missouri in 1905. It was fashioned by male college students learning agriculture with the target of “constructing the Complete Man by means of four-fold improvement: Intellectually, Spiritually, Socially/Morally and Bodily.”
The fraternity has been on UK’s campus since 1951, and it is one in all 20 “social fraternities” — organizations ruled by the college’s Interfraternity Council — on the campus.
FarmHouse has 48 whole chapters on campuses within the U.S. and Canada.
Is hazing an issue on the College of Kentucky?
The character of Hazelwood’s demise has raised questions on whether or not hazing — the abuse of somebody in a company by different members, usually as an initiation — is at play.
Hazing is often related to “Greek life” and has been cited in different circumstances of alcohol-related deaths on school campuses.
UK’s code of conduct defines hazing as “any motion or scenario created by a member of the College Neighborhood in opposition to one other member of the College Neighborhood for the aim of affiliation with a bunch or group that: (a) Is negligent or reckless in nature; (b) Is humiliating or endangers a person; or (c) Unreasonably interferes with scholastic or employment actions.”
The code of conduct cites “pressured consumption of meals, alcohol, or medicine or different managed substances” for instance of hazing conduct.
People cited for hazing can face punishment ranging “from a warning to disciplinary expulsion,” and organizations might face “suspension or restriction from College property or revocation of Registered Scholar Group standing.”
“Violators of this coverage are topic to referral to acceptable regulation enforcement or College companies, in addition to to regional and nationwide affiliated workplaces for teams and organizations, for motion or prosecution,” UK’s code of conduct states.
Based on publicly accessible data, 10 scholar organizations on UK’s campus are at present going through “disciplinary probation” or the “revocation of registered scholar group standing.” All of these teams are accused of both hazing, “misuse of alcohol” and/or “hurt and risk of hurt.”
The FarmHouse Fraternity isn’t listed as going through any disciplinary penalties.
Is ingesting an issue on the College of Kentucky?
Hazelwood’s demise has additionally raised questions on alcohol consumption amongst school college students.
Based on the college’s most up-to-date Clery report — a assessment of crime statistics and security efforts federally funded universities are legally required to situation annually — three “liquor regulation arrests” have been made on or in shut proximity to UK’s most important campus in 2020.
Nearly 700 “liquor regulation violations” on or in shut proximity to the primary campus have been “referred for disciplinary motion” in 2020, in line with the report. That is down from 2019, which noticed 822 situations, however up from the 627 reported in 2018.
Extra fraternities scrutinized throughout the nation
The College of Missouri briefly suspended all fraternity actions after a freshman was discovered unresponsive at a frat home early Wednesday.
The scholar was transported to a hospital as a consequence of alcohol poisoning issues.
The choice comes as extra universities throughout the nation have been scrutinized below allegations of hazing and overconsumption of alcohol lately.
In 2017, a College of Missouri fraternity was sued by the household of a freshman scholar, who declare he was hazed and compelled to drink which led to alcohol poisoning, ABC-17 reported. One other fraternity was investigated a 12 months prior over allegations of members utilizing racial slurs.
Contributing: Celina Tebor, USA TODAY; Billy Kobin, Louisville Courier-Journal
Comply with Mary Ramsey on Twitter @mcolleen1996.
This text initially appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: College of Kentucky scholar Lofton Hazelwood lifeless in frat home
