An 18-year-old freshman at the University of Kentucky (UK) died Monday night after he was found unresponsive at the FarmHouse fraternity. Identified as Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood, he was pronounced dead at 7:06 p.m. after he was taken to UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital.
The coroner in the case presumed Hazelwood died of alcohol toxicity, reports the Lexington Herald Leader.
Police don’t believe any foul play was involved in the victim’s death, however, two investigations by the school are underway, reports WTVQ. UK Police are investigating and interviewing witnesses. Additionally, UK’s Office of Student Conduct is reviewing the case.
In response to Hazelwood’s death, the FarmHouse fraternity was suspended on Tuesday, pending the results of the investigations.
According to FarmHouse’s web site, the fraternity does not allow alcohol. UK also requires its students to attend alcohol and binge drinking awareness sessions. Alcohol was not found by police in the room where Hazelwood was found unresponsive, and the victim did not live at the fraternity.
UK is also offering counseling and other services to individuals impacted by Hazelwood’s death.
Two years ago, the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) implemented new health and safety standards that banned fraternities from serving hard alcohol at any chapter event. Nearly all hazing and alcohol-abuse deaths involved students consuming high-percentage alcohol, according to NIC.
Additionally, back in 2017, NIC implemented the Good Samaritan policy, which encourages students to call for help when someone is experiencing a medical emergency.
Universities are also making attempts to reduce or even eliminate alcohol consumption by fraternities. For example, three years ago the UCLA Interfraternity Council unanimously voted to place a self-proposed indefinite ban on in-house fraternity events involving alcohol.
