Wilberforce University Faces Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Freshman’s Hazing-Related Death
The Wilberforce University hazing lawsuit is forcing a painful conversation about accountability on HBCU campuses. The family of Savanna Jones, an 18-year-old freshman at Wilberforce University in Ohio, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the university on June 23, 2026. The lawsuit alleges Jones died on April 30 after an alcohol-based initiation ritual. The ritual was tied to an unofficial student group known as “the Turtles.” Her family claims university staff failed to step in as her condition worsened. The case raises serious questions about hazing, oversight, and student safety on a campus that markets itself as alcohol-free. What the Lawsuit Alleges