schools
18-year-old dies after being forced to drink entire bottle of liquor during hazing ritual, lawsuit says
By Gerald Harris, Dorothy Sedovic at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· June 24, 2026
· 2 min read
WILBERFORCE, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) - The family of an 18-year-old filed a wrongful death lawsuit against an Ohio university, alleging she died during a hazing ritual.The family of Savanna Jones filed a lawsuit against Wilberforce University. Jones was a freshman living on the university’s campus ...
Key takeaway The family of Savanna Jones filed a lawsuit against Wilberforce University.
Why this matters in The Nashville
The tragic death of Savanna Jones during a hazing ritual at an Ohio university serves as a stark reminder for Nashville 's own educational institutions to reexamine their policies and procedures regarding student safety and hazing prevention. While this incident occurred outside of Tennessee, it highlights the need for local universities and colleges to ensure that they have robust measures in place to prevent similar tragedies from occurring on their campuses. Nashville's students and families deserve to know that their schools are taking proactive steps to protect them from the dangers of hazing and alcohol abuse. As the lawsuit against Wilberforce University moves forward, Nashville's educational community should take this opportunity to reflect on its own practices and consider ways to strengthen its support systems for students, particularly those involved in social clubs and organizations.
About this story
Original reporting by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: schools ·
Published: June 24, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? WILBERFORCE, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) - The family of an 18-year-old filed a wrongful death lawsuit against an Ohio university, alleging she died during a hazing ritual.The family of Savanna Jones filed a lawsuit against Wilberforce University. Jones was a freshman living on the university’s campus ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 24, 2026 by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Gerald Harris, Dorothy Sedovic at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more schools coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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