In February 2021, the Delta Chi chapter at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) became the focus of national attention after a hazing ritual led to the death of 19-year-old freshman pledge Adam Oakes. Just four days after accepting his bid, Adam attended an off-campus fraternity party where pledges were pressured to consume large amounts of alcohol. The next morning, he was found dead from alcohol poisoning.
The heartbreaking loss of this young man — a son, cousin, and friend — shook the nation and cast a harsh spotlight on fraternity hazing practices.
Legal Aftermath and Settlement
Criminal charges were filed against 11 Delta Chi members. Some pleaded guilty or no contest to hazing and furnishing alcohol to a minor; others saw charges dropped. In April 2022, former pledge master Christian Gordon Rohrbach pled guilty to unlawful hazing and received a suspended sentence, community service, and probation, along with a requirement to deliver hazing-prevention talks through the Love Like Adam Foundation.
On the civil side, Adam’s family initially sought $28 million in damages from the national fraternity. As reported by Sierra Krug for WRIC (Dec. 3, 2024), the case was settled for over $4.2 million in combined payments, including direct compensation to Adam’s parents and charitable donations to the foundation established in his name.
“Adam’s Law” — Turning Grief into Change
Out of this tragedy, Adam’s family turned their grief into advocacy. Working with Virginia lawmakers, they pushed for reforms that culminated in the passage of “Adam’s Law” in April 2022, signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.
As covered by Tyler Thrasher of WRIC (Apr. 13, 2022), Adam’s Law requires:
- Mandatory hazing-prevention training for all fraternity and sorority members, with advisors present.
- Transparency: Universities must publish records of hazing violations for the past ten years.
- Bystander protections: Students who report hazing incidents receive legal immunity.
“This change is going to be well worth it,” Adam’s father, Eric Oakes, told WRIC at the bill signing. “Happy there are going to be significant changes in Virginia, but sad that Adam is not going to be here to see it.”
Reflection for Michigan Delta Chi
The story of Adam Oakes is sobering. It reminds us that fraternity life is not just about tradition and camaraderie — it carries responsibility. Hazing has no place in our brotherhood. The lessons from VCU show what can happen when that responsibility is abandoned, and they underscore why Michigan Delta Chi must remain committed to safety, honor, and true brotherhood.
As alumni, we must support today’s brothers in building a culture that celebrates friendship, character, and justice — values at the core of Delta Chi since 1890.
Sources and Acknowledgements
This article, written by eDelt co-editor Keith Hellems ’62, draws on reporting by:
- Sierra Krug, WRIC-TV, “Delta Chi fraternity settles with family of pledge who died during 2021 hazing incident” (Dec. 3, 2024).
- Tyler Thrasher, WRIC-TV, “‘Moment of Joy’: Adam’s Law signed by Gov. Youngkin, focused on college hazing education & transparency” (Apr. 13, 2022).
- WRIC-TV Staff, “Former Adam Oakes ‘pledge master’ pleads guilty to unlawful hazing” (Apr. 28, 2022).
- Additional context from the Virginia Anti-Hazing Coalition, ProPublica, and Virginia state records.
Editorial Statement: Hazing Has No Place in Delta Chi
The recent settlement following the 2021 hazing death of Adam Oakes at Virginia Commonwealth University serves as a tragic and sobering reminder of what is at stake. Adam, only 19 years old and just four days into his membership, lost his life after being pressured to consume excessive amounts of alcohol at a fraternity event. His death drew national attention, spurred criminal convictions, resulted in a multimillion-dollar legal settlement, and ultimately led to the passage of Adam’s Law in Virginia, which now mandates hazing-prevention training and transparency across all Greek organizations.
This tragedy has left a permanent scar on the reputation of Delta Chi. More importantly, it has left an irreplaceable void in the lives of Adam’s family and friends. Hazing—whether through alcohol consumption, physical risk, humiliation, or any form of coercion—is fundamentally incompatible with the values of our fraternity.
As Michigan Delta Chi, we must state unequivocally:
- Hazing of any kind is prohibited.
- Encouraging or pressuring alcohol and/or drug consumption will not be tolerated.
- Activities that endanger the life or health of a brother have no place in our chapter.
Our fraternity was founded on the principles of friendship, character, justice, and education. Hazing undermines every one of these principles. Brotherhood is not built by endangering others; it is built by supporting, protecting, and uplifting one another.
We have a responsibility—not only to ourselves and our alumni, but also to the families who entrust their sons to Delta Chi—to ensure their safety and well-being at all times. The Michigan Chapter is committed to upholding these standards and to setting an example for what fraternity life should be: safe, honorable, and worthy of the letters we wear.
Hazing has no place here. Not now. Not ever.
Fraternally,
Jeff Schoenherr ’91, President of Housing Corporation