AEPi fraternity president and VP arrested for hazing at UW-Madison
The president and VP of Alpha Epsilon Pi at UW-Madison were arrested after police found around 30 partially clothed men covered in food in a hot basement.
AEPi leaders taken to Dane County Jail after hazing incident on Langdon Street
The president and vice president of the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison were arrested on hazing and disorderly conduct charges on the night of 23 September, according to a Madison Police Department (MPD) incident report reviewed by dailycardinal.com.
Officers responding to 112 Langdon St. discovered approximately 30 partially clothed males — most of them 18 years old — inside the fraternity basement, covered in food, condiments and other liquids. "Several of these men had visible injuries consistent with being physically assaulted," the incident report stated. A thermostat in the room was set to 81 degrees, creating hot and humid conditions.
AEPi Chapter President Brayden Klein and Vice President Samuel Vane, both 20, were transported to Dane County Jail following the incident.
MPD Public Information Officer Stephanie Fryer addressed rumours circulating on UW-Madison's YikYak page, stating the department has "no information to suggest feces was involved, but this remains an open and active investigation." Fryer added that MPD has no jurisdiction over the fraternity house itself, directing inquiries to the national organisation.
In a statement, AEPi International said the organisation takes the allegations involving its Madison chapter seriously and will "cooperate fully with the authorities investigating this matter." The statement added that any member found criminally responsible would be expelled from AEPi and that the organisation supports prosecution "to the fullest extent of the law."
"Hazing is a betrayal of everything our fraternity stands for. There is no place for it in AEPi… anyone who engages in hazing forfeits the privilege of being an AEPi brother," the statement read.
Eyewitnesses describe scene on Langdon Street
Siena Schettino, who was studying at the nearby Wisconsin Tri Delta house, told The Daily Cardinal she first noticed a police car outside AEPi around 10 p.m. The Tri Delta president alerted the house, prompting members to rush downstairs for a better view. Through the window, Schettino counted five police cars and observed two shirtless students in the front yard speaking with officers.
Around 11 p.m., police handcuffed Klein and Vane and placed them in patrol vehicles. "The streets were lined on both sides with students on students… everyone on the streets were just waving bye to them as they drove off," Schettino said. She and members of Tri Delta and Delta Gamma subsequently watched approximately 20 "shirtless and wet" pledges leave the AEPi house carrying bags of clothing back to their dorms. Schettino is not affiliated with Greek life.
Victor Salas, who lives next door to the AEPi house, told the Cardinal he heard police shouting on Langdon Street. "I look out my window, and I just see hoards of people all along the sidewalk," Salas said. "People started coming out of their houses down the street and the next thing I know the whole block was just full of people." Salas said he had not known until that night that his neighbours were a fraternity. "I always thought this hazing stuff didn't happen anymore," he said.
History of sanctions at UW-Madison
UW-Madison has a long disciplinary record with AEPi. The university terminated the chapter in 2015 after it hosted events while already under suspension — a suspension that had been imposed in 2013 following an incident in which a 17-year-old minor and another guest were transferred to detox after drinking at the fraternity. Between the initial suspension and the eventual termination, the university recorded four additional incidents involving events or alcohol.
Since 2016, UW-Madison has received seven allegations concerning the organisation, including a report of a student being hospitalised after drinking at the fraternity and an anonymous report detailing what was described as "disturbing hazing behaviour."
University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department Communications Director Marc Lovicott confirmed to The Daily Cardinal that UWPD is aware of the situation but directed further enquiries to MPD.
Requests for comment declined
Vane declined repeated requests for comment. Felix Quiros-Keller, a former AEPi rush chair, also declined. Two other members — Noah Refoua, described as part of the executive board, and Chase Fink, a moderator of the fraternity's fall rush Facebook group — each hung up immediately when contacted by The Daily Cardinal. Klein could not be reached for comment.
MPD continues to investigate the incident. UW-Madison said it will separately investigate any students implicated in the matter for non-academic misconduct.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)