UK suspending activities for all new fraternity members in wake of student’s death

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - The University of Kentucky has made some changes involving the investigation into the death of student.

Thursday morning, UK announced it was suspending, indefinitely, all activities for new members of all fraternities on campus.

The university says this move is part of a review to make sure the health and safety of students is protected.

“We’ve got to evaluate what we do in terms of our policies and procedures and what our students do,” said UK spokesperson Jay Blanton.

University officials said they planned to act quick and be transparent as the look into the death of 18-year-old Lofton Hazelwood. He died Monday after being found unresponsive at the Farmhouse Fraternity.

The coroner listed his cause of death as presumed alcohol toxicity.

Hazelwood was a new member of Farmhouse.

UK will also require new training for all fraternities on campus, focusing on hazing prevention, bystander intervention and university expectations.

“That’s basically training around when to intervene when you see something wrong, when you see someone in a position where they might be about to take a wrong step or be a victim of something,” Blanton said.

UK administrators have met with fraternity and sorority life student leaders to speak with them about the changes. The university says there is a general understanding by chapter leaders of this decision.

We have learned UK Police did file a liquor law violation against the Farmhouse Fraternity on Monday, the day Hazelwood was found. The violation includes underage drinking.