Madison police found roughly 30 partially clothed young men covered in food, condiments and other liquids packed into a basement heated to 81 degrees on Langdon Street last Wednesday night. The scene, at the unrecognized Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house, ended with two chapter leaders in handcuffs and a criminal investigation that is still active.
Anonymous Tip Leads Police to the Basement
Officers responded to the fraternity at the 100 block of Langdon Street after receiving an anonymous tip, according to Spectrum News 1. Inside, police discovered most of the young men were 18 years old, and several had visible injuries consistent with physical assault. Police classified the event as unlawful as officers moved everyone outside, then evaluated the pledges for incapacitation and injuries.
Madison Police Captain Kipp Hartman told reporters at a press conference that pledges had fresh red marks on their bodies consistent with physical assault, as reported by The Badger Herald. Hartman emphasized that police step in when student life or physical safety is at stake. Two men, 20-year-old Brayden J. Klein and 20-year-old Samuel N. Vane, were arrested and booked into the Dane County Jail on alleged hazing and disorderly conduct charges, per the same Spectrum News 1 report.
Viral Rumors Get Shot Down
As word of the raid spread, unverified claims about the scene circulated on the campus social media platform YikYak, including a rumor that human feces had been involved. Madison Police Public Information Officer Stephanie Fryer told The Daily Cardinal that investigators found no evidence supporting that claim, addressing the story directly in a statement to the outlet.
The incident occurred during UW-Madison's annual fall Greek rush week, according to WTMJ. Under Wisconsin Statute § 948.51, hazing that endangers physical health or safety and results in or is likely to cause bodily harm is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to nine months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
A Decade of Trouble Without University Recognition
Alpha Epsilon Pi has not been recognized by UW-Madison since 2015, when the university terminated the chapter for violating its student organization code of conduct following four alcohol and event violations. The university had first suspended the fraternity in 2013 after a 17-year-old minor and another guest needed detoxification treatment for alcohol served at the house, according to WTMJ.
Since 2016, the university has received seven allegations concerning the unrecognized fraternity, the station's report notes. A prior incident involved a student hospitalized after drinking at the 112 Langdon Street house. Because Alpha Epsilon Pi still holds recognition from its national parent organization, it continues to operate as a private off-campus entity. Police and the national fraternity are involved in the case.
University and National Fraternity Respond
UW-Madison met with national Alpha Epsilon Pi officials Thursday, and the national organization is cooperating with the university regarding the incident, per Spectrum News 1's reporting. Unrecognized fraternities and sororities like Alpha Epsilon Pi operate off campus and do not follow university policies, regulations, or governing-council requirements, and the university continues to urge students not to join or participate in activities sponsored by unrecognized Greek-life groups.
The university's Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is now investigating implicated students under Wis. Admin. Code Chapter UWS 17 nonacademic misconduct rules, which carry potential sanctions ranging from written reprimands and probation to suspension or expulsion, according to UW-Madison. The university shares information about unrecognized organizations with students, parents and families at the start of each academic year.
Alpha Epsilon Pi International said in a statement that the national fraternity takes the Madison allegations seriously, is fully cooperating with law enforcement, and will immediately expel any member found criminally responsible, according to The Daily Cardinal.
Investigation Remains Active
Madison police say the investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to report it anonymously to Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or through P3Tips.com.
