Police are investigating suspected illegal hazing after approximately 30 partially clothed young men were discovered in the basement of a fraternity house near the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The men were reportedly covered in food, condiments, and other liquids.
Madison police stated that some of the men, identified as fraternity pledges, exhibited signs of physical assault. Officers responded to the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity house on Wednesday night following an anonymous tip.
Two fraternity members, both aged 20, were arrested on tentative misdemeanor charges of hazing and disorderly conduct. As of Friday morning, no formal charges had been filed against them. The university has also launched its own investigation into the incident.
Police noted that the basement thermostat was set to 81F, creating hot and humid conditions. The majority of individuals in the basement were 18 years old. The fraternity's status as a recognized student organization on the Madison campus was terminated in 2015.
A national spokesperson for the fraternity, Jon Pierce, stated that the organisation is taking the allegations seriously and will cooperate with investigations. Any member found to have participated will be expelled, Pierce added.