Wisconsin frat leaders arrested after 30 pledges found in filthy basement, injured and covered in condiments

Key Points:

• Two leaders of an underground Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Madison were arrested and charged with hazing after about 30 pledges were found injured, shirtless, and covered in condiments in a hot, filthy basement.
• The fraternity was removed as a recognized chapter on campus in 2015 but continued to operate off-campus, with the national organization still recognizing the Madison chapter.
• Police reported the pledges had visible injuries consistent with physical assault and were subjected to harsh conditions, including an 81-degree basement environment.
• The national Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity condemned the hazing, promising full cooperation with authorities and expulsion of any members found responsible, while the university pledged to investigate the students involved.
• Anti-hazing experts warn that underground chapters pose significant risks due to lack of university oversight, with nearly 130 hazing-related deaths reported in the U.S. since 2000.