BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — The parents of Stone Foltz - the 20-year-old BGSU student who died as a result of alleged hazing - are speaking out.
Foltz was a sophomore at Bowling Green State University from the Dublin area who died March 7, days after an alleged hazing incident involving alcohol that occurred at a Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) off-campus event on March 4. The fraternity has been placed on interim suspension as law enforcement and Bowling Green State University officials investigate the situation. Foltz spent days in the hospital before his family made the decision to donate his organs.
Now his parents, Cory and Shari Foltz, are asking for action and accountability.
"We don't need the condolences. We just need this to stop," Cory Foltz said.
The family is calling on national fraternities to step up and make the changes necessary to ensure the safety of their members and stop hazing rituals once and for all.
"I think until you stop these fraternities from these rituals of any type of hazing going on and figure out how it can be successful - without these rituals - there’s not gonna be an end. That’s why we’re holding them accountable," Shari Foltz said.
Stone Foltz's blood alcohol content was 0.394, according to the family, who said it was likely even higher immediately after the alleged hazing ritual.
In Ohio, 0.08 is the threshold to term someone as legally drunk.
"Furious, just furious; when I tried to put together the timeline of when Shari talked to Stone last, when the ritual started and when his roommate found him face down in his apartment alone, that window was 90 minutes or less, that we know of," Cory Foltz said. "How can someone’s alcohol content level be .394 hours later? That’s consuming a lot of alcohol."
According to a blood alcohol concentration calculator from the nonprofit group Aware, Awake, Alive, for a man weighing approximately 165 pounds, a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.4 would require about 20 shots of 80-proof alcohol in two hours.
The parents are urging anyone who was there the night of their son's death to come forward with information and take responsibility for their role in the events that unfolded.
"Stone did not have a choice in this matter. I hold them accountable as well - anyone who was involved that night, whether it was an active member, whether it was his big brother, whether it was another pledge, to come forward to speak up, to explain what went on that night," Shari Foltz said. "I think they’re going to help put a stop in place, but until they do that they have to live with this. If they’re being told to keep quiet, to change their story... you’ve got to live with that the rest of your life."
The Foltz family is hoping someone will step forward, and finally give them some answers.
"I forgive them, but I won’t forget and I’m asking them to own up - and explain what went on that night," Shari Foltz said.
"As any parent would after losing their son, we expect answers sooner than later. We don't want it to drag on," Cory Foltz said.
Bowling Green has hired former U.S. Attorney David DeVillers to lead a comprehensive review aimed at holding all groups or individuals accountable.
Wednesday night, WTOL requested an interview with President Rodney Rogers- or any other member of BGSU leadership - for the following night to address the claims and questions raised by Stone Foltz’s family.
The university directed WTOL 11 to its previous statement:
"We continue to express our deepest thoughts and sympathy to the Foltz family. Stone’s death is a tragedy. BGSU has taken immediate action to place Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity on interim suspension while we assist local law enforcement with its investigation and also conduct a broader review of student life. In addition, we have since engaged special counsel David DeVillers, a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and we are committed to completing a thorough and fair investigation, seeking the truth and facts, and holding all students and groups responsible. The investigation is ongoing at this time.”
In response to Foltz's death, Senate Bill 126 was introduced, aimed at cracking down on hazing, specifically for Ohio colleges and universities.
Ohio Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, says that Foltz's death and the alleged hazing incident on BGSU's campus hit too close to home.
"I've got a son who attends Bowling Green State University. The same age as Stone Foltz. I'm a BGSU alum myself and that's my hometown," said Gavarone.
She along with state Sen. Stephanie Kunze are co-sponsors of the new legislation.
Gavarone and Kunze gave sponsor testimony Wednesday in the Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee.