Police have released a 911 call that reported fraternity pledges being set on fire in Ohio.
asserted
pledges → release → Ohio
A video of the incident quickly went viral on social media after it was recorded at a gathering of members of an Ohio State University fraternity on Saturday.
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it → go → Saturday
Authorities are now investigating whether two students left with deep burns during the incident were victims of hazing.
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students → investigate → hazing
In a Sunday 911 call obtained by CBS News, a woman can be heard telling a Columbus Division of Police dispatcher about the 35-second video filmed at a gathering linked to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
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woman → obtain → fraternity
“They set their pledges on fire, and there's a video of it.
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They → set → it
And I just want to send it in so that something gets done about it,” the caller said.
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caller → want → it
“They put gasoline on him and lit him on fire, and then just kind of stood there and laughed.”
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They → put → fire
The caller noted that she saw the video through a sorority group chat and was not there when it was filmed.
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it → note → chat
In the audio clip, which was also reviewed by CNN, the caller also detailed the condition of the two men in the video.
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caller → review → video
“It’s hard to tell,” she said.
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she → ’ → ?
“One of them got the fire out pretty, pretty easily, and the other one was stripped naked and still on fire when the video ended.
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video → get → fire
In the clip, a hooded man can be seen with his pants engulfed in flames.
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pants → see → flames
He jumps to his feet and lunges at another hooded man, knocking them both to the ground.
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He → jump → ground
When they stand up, both men's clothes are aflame, though it is unclear whether the second man’s clothes were on fire before they collided.
uncertain
they → stand → fire
One of them eventually begins rapidly removing their clothing.
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One → begin → clothing
All the while, a ring of people watches them.
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ring → watch → them
“Oh s***, oh s***, oh s***,” an onlooker can be heard saying.
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onlooker → hear → ?
Both students have been treated for “moderate” second- and third-degree burns, a Columbus police report states.
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report → treat → burns
Ben Johnson, a spokesperson for Ohio State University, has confirmed that the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity has been placed on an interim suspension while it investigates the incident.
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it → confirm → incident
“The university is aware of this extremely concerning incident, and the individuals in question are receiving needed medical care," Johnson said.
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Johnson → receive → care
“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.”
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students → commit → commitment
Steve Mitchell, CEO of the national Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said that the organization is aware of the video and is working with university officials and authorities.
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organization → say → officials
“Sigma Alpha Epsilon holds its collegiate members to high standards of conduct and accountability,” he said.
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he → hold → conduct
“Behavior that violates these standards has no place in our organization.
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that → violate → organization
“We are committed to holding those responsible accountable and will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation.
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those → commit → investigation
The fraternity has been sanctioned at least seven times since 2001, according to The Lantern, which examined its own previous reporting and archives.
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which → sanction → reporting
Fraternity culture has become the subject of a national debate following the Cornell 7 case, which involved a woman accusing seven male members of Cornell University’s Chi Phi chapter of gang-rape.
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which → become → rape
The unnamed woman says the incident occurred while she was intoxicated with alcohol and ketamine.
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she → say → alcohol
The men accused in the case have denied the allegations.
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men → accuse → allegations
The Independent has contacted Columbus police for comment.
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Independent → contact → comment
The Aporia
