Two members of an unaccredited University of Wisconsin-Madison fraternity were arrested and charged Wednesday with hazing and disorderly conduct after an anonymous tip led local police to an off-campus chapter where dozens of injured, half-nude pledges were found in the basement.
Officers dispatched to the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house on Langdon Street found around 30 partially clothed males covered in food, condiments, and other liquids. The room's thermostat was set to 81 degrees, creating hot and humid conditions. Police declared the event unlawful, and all attendees were escorted outside.
"Several of these men had visible injuries consistent with being physically assaulted," the Madison Police Department stated Thursday. The majority of those present were 18 years old.
Brayden J. Klein and Samuel N. Vane, both 20, were booked at the Dane County Jail. Police reported that the fraternity's president and vice president were present and spoke with responding officers.
The Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been unrecognized and unaccredited by the university since 2015, but has continued to operate, affiliated with its national organization. The university officially terminated the fraternity in 2015 for continuing to host events despite a previous suspension.
Alpha Epsilon Pi was originally founded as a Jewish fraternity in 1913. According to university records cited by The Associated Press, the chapter was suspended in 2013 for hosting a party that led to two individuals requiring alcohol detoxification.
The national organization stated that it takes the allegations "very seriously" and will cooperate with investigations. Hazing is a violation of the fraternity's principles, according to a spokesperson.
Hazing rituals have been linked to an average of five deaths per year across the U.S. since 2000, with nearly 130 hazing-related fatalities reported, according to HazingInfo.org.
The Madison Police Department confirmed that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.