4 years after Adam Oakes’ death, his family reacts to new hazing allegations at VCU
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Four years after the hazing death of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) student Adam Oakes, his family says they’re saddened to learn of new allegations tied to an unrecognized organization.
On Tuesday, Oct. 7, VCU issued an alert that the university was investigating multiple reports of alleged hazing connected to students running an unauthorized chapter of Theta Chi.
According to the university, the allegations involve “extreme physical calisthenics, physical battery, forced alcohol consumption and mental degradation” during a pledging process that took place between Oct. 3 and Oct. 6.
Theta Chi is not recognized by VCU after being suspended in 2024 for alcohol use and abusive conduct.
For Eric Oakes, the news was painful to hear.
“I was angry that they were still doing the same things to the students that they were guilty of last year, and I’m sure years before, but they just never got caught,” he said.
His 19-year-old son, Adam, died in 2021 from alcohol poisoning at a Delta Chi fraternity party.
“Our whole goal in life at this point is to make sure no kid loses their life so senselessly because of hazing,” Oakes told 8News.
After Adam’s death, Delta Chi was permanently banned from VCU and Virginia lawmakers passed Adam’s Law, requiring colleges to provide hazing prevention training to student organizations. The Love Like Adam Foundation was also created in his honor to spread hazing prevention education to students, as well as academic leaders and law enforcement.
Still, Oakes said unrecognized fraternities continue to pose a serious threat to student safety.
“It’s dangerous, because there’s no oversight by the national and there’s no oversight by the school,” he said. “In my opinion, it’s similar to a gang. It’s gang-like behavior where you have to be initiated to get in.”
Oakes believes stronger consequences and faster disciplinary actions are needed to deter hazing, both on and off campus.
“You need to have swift punishments and you need to have expulsions,” he said. “There can’t be a gray area there. That’s detrimental to the safety of the students, especially the younger students.”
As VCU continues its investigation, Oakes said his family remains focused on spreading awareness and pushing for earlier hazing prevention education, starting as early as middle school.
