Fraternity members arrested after hazing incident
MADISON (WKOW) — Madison police arrested two leaders of an unrecognized fraternity after officers found about 30 partially clothed men covered in food and condiments in a basement during a hazing incident Wednesday night.
Officers responded to the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity in the 100 block of Langdon Street around 8:20 p.m. after receiving an anonymous tip, according to a Madison Police Department incident report. Inside the basement, they discovered the men with visible injuries consistent with being physically assaulted in a room heated to 81 degrees, police reported.
Most of those present were 18 years old, police said. Police Capt. Kipp Hartman said he believed most of the men are students of the University of Wisconsin. Officers declared the event unlawful and escorted everyone outside, checking pledges for injuries and incapacitation.
Brayden J. Klein and Samuel N. Vane, both 20, were arrested for misdemeanor hazing and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. The two served as president and vice president of the fraternity, respectively, and spoke with responding officers before their arrest.
Both were taken to the Dane County Jail.
“I’ve been in this district now for 2 years as the captain,” said Madison Police Capt. Kipp Hartman. “This is my first time seeing this, and I’m unaware of any time prior to this that this has occurred.”
“Our concern is when things are going too far and people’s either life and or physical harm is at stake, and that is definitely when we are going to be stepping in,” Hartman added.
Alpha Epsilon Pi is an unrecognized and unaccredited student organization. The University of Wisconsin terminated the fraternity more than a decade ago.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or online at p3tips.com.
UW-Madison released a statement on Thursday, saying in part, “UW–Madison is fully committed to preventing and addressing hazing and takes all incidents involving our community seriously.”
The university said “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.”
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will investigate any students implicated in the incident according to its nonacademic misconduct process.
The university said because the Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter “continues to be recognized by its national organization, it is legally allowed to operate as a fraternity chapter unaffiliated with the university.”
UW–Madison students can report hazing anonymously through this online form. Members of Fraternity & Sorority Life can also anonymously ask questions or report misconduct, such as hazing, via FSL Confidential.
Information about UW–Madison’s Hazing Prevention Coalition can be found on the university’s Stop Hazing website: stophazing.wisc.edu/our-commitment/.