‘Visibly injured’ students found covered with food, liquids, after ‘hazing’ police say
Two 20-year-olds were arrested after police were called to the scene of an alleged hazing incident where over two dozen young men were partially clothed and covered in liquids in the US.
Some of them were injured, police said.
Two 20-year-olds were arrested after police were called to the scene of an alleged hazing incident where over two dozen young men were partially clothed and covered in liquids in America. Madison Police
The Madison Police Department said they received an anonymous tip about an event at the unaccredited Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.
When they arrived at the house, they found about 30 “partially clothed males covered in food, condiments and other liquids” in the basement. The room’s thermostat was set to 27 degrees, police said.
Several of the men had "visible injuries consistent with being abused," police said.
The "vast majority" of the men were 18, police said.
A photo with the men's faces redacted shows the group in a dirty space with black walls and the Alpha Epsilon Pi letters painted on a piece of furniture.
Two young men, identified by police as Brayden J. Klein and Samuel N. Vane, were arrested for hazing and disorderly conduct and taken to the Dane County Jail.
The Madison Police Department said that the president and vice president of the fraternity were present and spoke to responding officers, but did not specify if Klein and Vane held those titles.
The men in the basement were escorted outside and checked for incapacitation and injuries.
"Several of these men had visible injuries consistent with being physically assaulted," police said.
No other charges have been announced in relation to the incident. An investigation remains ongoing, and those with information are asked to contact the Madison Police Department.
Alpha Epsilon Pi is an unrecognised and unaccredited student organisation at the University of Wisconsin, police and the school said.
The school said in a statement that because the chapter is still recognised by the national Alpha Epsilon Pi organisation, it is legally allowed to operate as an unaffiliated fraternity chapter.
A spokesperson for the Alpha Epsilon Pi Headquarters said it takes the allegations concerning the Madison chapter “extremely seriously.”
The national organisation plans to “cooperate fully” with the investigation, the spokesperson said, and members found responsible for criminal conduct will be expelled from the organisation.
“Hazing is a betrayal of everything our fraternity stands for,” the spokesperson said.
“There is no place for it in AEPi. No exceptions. No excuses. We educate our members about their responsibility to ‘Be Your Brothers’ Keeper.’
“This is not an optional value. It is a fundamental expectation of membership. Anyone who engages in hazing forfeits the privilege of being an AEPi brother.”
The University of Wisconsin said it is also investigating the incident as it relates to its nonacademic misconduct process. Campus officials are providing support to affected students.
The Madison Police Department said that anyone whose safety is jeopardised during the Greek life recruitment process should contact authorities.
A fraternity is a student organisation for men, common in America.
A sorority is the female equivalent, and members even often live together.
There is often fierce competition to get into them.
Some students have even died after hazing got out of hand.
- reported with CNN
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