30 Half-Naked Teens Found Huddled in Filthy, Sweltering Fraternity Basement

Cops found 30 partially dressed fraternity pledges huddled in a filthy basement, covered in food and other liquids, and some showing signs of having been physically assaulted, police said. Madison Police Department

MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept 25: Leaders of an unrecognized University of Wisconsin fraternity were arrested after police found about 30 partially clothed teenage pledges covered in condiments and other substances and huddled in a hot, filthy basement.

Fraternity president Brayden J. Klein and vice president Samuel N. Vane, both 20, were arrested Wednesday on misdemeanor hazing and misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges after police responded to an anonymous tip.

Police entered the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house in Madison at about 8:20 p.m. and found the pledges in the basement. Some had visible injuries that police said were consistent with physical assault.

According to the police incident report, the pledges were covered in food, condiments and other liquids. The basement was described as muggy and overheated, with the thermostat set at 81 degrees.

Police escorted everyone from inside the house to the outside and checked the pledges for signs of incapacitation and injuries. The vast majority of those found inside were 18 years old, according to police.

Authorities described the fraternity as an “unrecognized and unaccredited” student organization that had been terminated by the University of Wisconsin more than a decade ago.

Two men were arrested following the suspected hazing incident at an unrecognized University of Wisconsin-Madison fraternity.

The university said on Thursday that it was “fully committed to preventing and addressing hazing” and takes all incidents involving its community seriously.

“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,” the university said.

Possible sanctions include a written reprimand, disciplinary probation, disciplinary suspension, termination or educational sanctions.

The university said that although the Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter was banned from campus, Alpha Epsilon Pi remains a nationally recognized fraternity and is legally allowed to operate as a chapter unaffiliated with the university.
Source: New York Post