Family accuses Wilberforce of hazing in lawsuit after student’s death

WILBERFORCE — A lawsuit has been filed against a local university after a student’s death.

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As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak, Savanna Jones’ family is now suing Wilberforce University over her on-campus death in April.

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Savanna Jones’ family says that their daughter died because of an alcohol hazing ritual at Wilberforce University, according to a previous report.

In the new lawsuit filed in Greene County, the family’s lawyer said Jones died because she was hazed on campus.

The court document states Jones was going through initiation with “a social drinking club” known as “the turtles” on a campus where alcohol is not allowed.

Jones was required to drink a bottle of liquor that night as a part of a ritual called “crossing turtles,” the lawsuit states.

It alleges that “she became visibly and dangerously intoxicated to the point that she could not stand.”

Her family’s lawyer writes that she was carried back to her dorm room across campus, where she was left and where she died hours later.

“This was a hazing death. There is no question about it,” said Rex Elliott, a Columbus-based lawyer representing her family. “It’s something they’ll live with forever. It’s a hole that will never go away from them. Again, they have incredibly strong faith, but they are devastated over the loss of their daughter.”

Elliot told News Center 7 that they hope this lawsuit can prevent other deaths moving forward.

“To make sure that universities understand that they have a responsibility to monitor what goes on in their campuses. And we cannot have another young kid die from a senseless hazing ritual like Savanna Jones did,” he said.

Family accuses local college of hazing in lawsuit after student’s death