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There's been a major update from fraternity officials after police found around 30 partially clothed pledges inside an overheated basement.
On Wednesday (September 23), at around 8:20PM, Madison police responded to an anonymous tip about a possible hazing event on Langdon Street.
"Inside the basement of the residence, officers found around 30 partially clothed males covered in food, condiments, and other liquids," Madison police Capt. Kipp Hartman said, per WKYT.
Conditions inside the basement were described as hot and humid, with police finding the thermostat set to 81 degrees, according to The New York Post.
Police said the gathering was unlawful and escorted everyone from the property outside.
The pledges from Alpha Epsilon Pi were then checked for injuries or signs of incapacitation, although cops say no one needed transportation for medical treatment.
Authorities arrested Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity president Brayden J. Klein and vice president Samuel N. Vane, both 20, for misdemeanor hazing and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Klein and Vane were booked into the Dane County Jail. The Dane County District Attorney’s Office is now reviewing the case before deciding whether formal charges should be filed.
Investigators collected statements from everyone inside, but some of the accounts conflicted.
"Some statements also did not align with what everybody else’s statements were, so there were some concerns with what was being said," Hartman said. "I would say we had limited cooperation."
Fraternity hazing is any humiliating, abusive, or dangerous activity required to join or remain in a college fraternity.
In response to the incident, Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) International has stopped all Madison chapter programming while an investigation into the "alleged violations" of the fraternity's "health and safety guidelines" takes place.
Jonathan Pierce, Chief Communications Officer for AEPi, said: "AEPi has urged members to cooperate fully with the investigation, which will inform recommendations to the fraternity’s Supreme Board of Governors for further actions impacting the chapter and/or individual members."
"Any decisions about the house on Langdon will be made following the conclusion of the investigations," he added.
In an email shared with The Daily Cardinal, Pierce said the AEPi Headquarters placed the chapter on "cease and desist,".
The order "prohibits new member meetings, social and brotherhood events, philanthropy events, chapter social media activity ,and other chapter gatherings, while permitting essential executive board administrative responsibilities to continue".
Both the Madison Police Department and the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards are investigating the incident.
"UW–Madison is fully committed to preventing and addressing hazing and takes all incidents involving our community seriously," the university said in a statement. "Any student determined to be in violation of law, regulation, or university policy may be subject to sanctions according to Wis. Admin. Code Chapter UWS 17."
"These sanctions may include a written reprimand, disciplinary probation, disciplinary suspension, termination, or educational sanctions," it warned.
