University of Wisconsin Fraternity Leaders Arrested in Alleged Hazing Incident
Two fraternity leaders were arrested after police discovered dozens of students in a sweltering basement, some reporting injuries.
Two leaders of an underground University of Wisconsin fraternity have been arrested in connection with an alleged hazing incident that left dozens of students in a hot, garbage-strewn basement. Police took fraternity president Brayden J Klein and vice president Samuel N Vane, both 20, into custody on Wednesday evening.
Officers responded to the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house on Langdon Street around 8:20 p.m. following an anonymous tip. According to a police report, they discovered approximately 30 students, many of whom were partially clothed and covered in food, condiments, and other liquids. The basement was reportedly 81 degrees Fahrenheit, creating hot and humid conditions.
Most of the individuals found in the basement were identified as 18-year-old freshmen, police stated. Some of the students showed visible injuries consistent with being physically assaulted, including fresh red marks on their bodies, according to police captain Kipp Hartman. The students were escorted out and medically evaluated.
Klein and Vane were arrested and booked into Dane County Jail on charges of disorderly conduct. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the Madison Police Department indicated that more charges could be forthcoming. Captain Hartman addressed rumors circulating on social media, denying claims of an undercover officer or feces being present, and stated that the department is monitoring online misinformation.
Alpha Epsilon Pi Headquarters issued a statement asserting that they take such allegations seriously and will cooperate fully with the investigation. The organization noted that hazing is a violation of its principles and that members engaging in such conduct forfeit their membership.
Alpha Epsilon Pi was previously an unrecognized student organization that the University of Wisconsin officially terminated in 2015. The university released a statement confirming that its Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will investigate any students involved. The university clarified that since the chapter is recognized by its national organization, it is permitted to operate independently of the university.
The university’s health services department is providing support to students affected by the incident. Madison Area Crime Stoppers and the police department are asking anyone with information about the event or those involved to come forward.