Virginia Commonwealth University will pay the family of Adam Oakes nearly $1 million, the school announced Friday, as part of a settlement in response to Oakes’ death in a 2021 fraternity hazing incident.
The agreement, which includes a payment of $995,000, was approved Friday in Fairfax County Circuit Court and includes a number of commitments from VCU to reform its approach to overseeing fraternities and sororities.
An outside investigation conducted in 2021 concluded there are concerns about hazing and binge drinking at VCU that the university has struggled to address.
Oakes died of alcohol poisoning in February 2021 after a “big-little” party for the VCU chapter of the Delta Chi fraternity. Six former members of the fraternity pleaded guilty or were found guilty of misdemeanor hazing or misdemeanor serving alcohol to a minor. None of the six received jail time.
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VCU permanently banned the fraternity, which faced numerous claims of rule breaking.
“The light in all of this is that Virginia Commonwealth University is now making changes to prevent what happened to Adam from happening to anyone else in the future,” Oakes’ family said in a statement.
As part of the settlement, VCU announced a number of changes it will make to fraternity and sorority life, including delaying when students can join student groups and restricting how alcohol is served at parties.
VCU also must follow Adam’s Law, signed this year by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, which requires colleges to provide in-person hazing prevention training and to publicly report hazing violations.
Now, students have to complete 12 credit hours at VCU before they can join a fraternity or sorority. A student who joins must complete 28 days of new-member education. Fraternities and sororities will be prohibited from serving alcohol at events attended by new members.
Some VCU students oppose making students wait until their second semester to rush a fraternity or sorority. In July, a student group called the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression urged VCU to rescind the policy.
VCU says it will designate Feb. 27, the anniversary of Oakes’ death, as an annual hazing prevention day and day of remembrance.
The school will restrict how alcohol is served at Greek events, restricting students from buying alcohol from stores. Oakes was instructed to drink a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. If students provide alcohol, they’ll be required to do so through a licensed third-party vendor and notify VCU in advance.
The external investigation determined VCU needs to better control alcohol at big-brother activities. Too often, alcohol is served at recruitment events, which was already against the rules. One chapter adviser told investigators “we need to take a more serious look at traditions and the role of alcohol and unsafe behavior in the new member process.”
On VCU’s fraternity and sorority life web page, the school will add a link to the Love Like Adam Foundation, which celebrates Adam’s life and contains information about the Oakes family’s work to prevent hazing.
As a part of hazing-prevention training, VCU will encourage bystanders to intervene and assist others who may be subjected to hazing, are intoxicated or are at risk of sexual violence, bodily injury or other dangers. Adam’s Law includes a provision for this type of training.
The law also requires universities to publish a report each semester of any organizations found responsible of violating the student code of conduct. Delta Chi faced discipline each of its last seven years on campus, a Richmond Times-Dispatch investigation determined. Had Oakes known the fraternity’s reputation, he may not have joined, his family has said.
VCU also plans to build a physical memorial to Oakes on campus.
“VCU has agreed to make monumental changes to their Greek system that will hopefully set a precedent for other universities to follow,” his family said.
Oakes’ family has visited several colleges this semester to provide hazing-prevention treatment. But other colleges don’t want them on their campuses and are concerned their presence will draw attention, the family said.
“Those schools that have allowed our foundation to present see that change is needed and know they want to be a part of the solution,” the family said. “They see that the system is broken.
“Thankfully, VCU sees that and is willing to engage and work with us to make positive change.”