Police release pic of 30 uni students crammed into hot basement covered in food as two arrested

Two 20-year-olds have been arrested after police found around 30 university students crammed into a basement. 

The horrible scenes, believed to be part of a hazing ritual, were discovered in Alpha Epsilon Pi in Madison, Wisconsin, after a tip. They were covered in food, condiments, and “other liquids”, with a few of them showing signs of “visible injuries.” Temperatures in the basement reached nearly 28 degrees. 

More information was released over the weekend. 

Police released a picture from inside Alpha Epsilon Pi

Credit: ABC

Following a tip about the chapter, which the University of Wisconsin-Madison does not recognise as an official fraternity, the Madison Police Department released a picture from inside the basement. It showed around 30 young, partially clothed 18-year-olds, though their faces were blurred out to protect their anonymity. 

The room was a mess, with what appeared to be brown-tinted rubbish covering the floor. 

“Several of these men had visible injuries consistent with being physically assaulted,” the police said.

The young men were taken from the building and checked over for injuries, with police noting that a few had fresh redness and marks potentially consistent with being struck. There were no open wounds, and Captain Kipp Hartman was not aware of any of the students being transported to the hospital. 

Frat leaders were arrested, and the national organisation has spoken out 

Following the search, police confirmed they arrested fraternity president Brayden Klein and vice president Samuel Vane, both 20, under suspicion of hazing and disorderly conduct. They were taken to Dane County Jail, with the district attorney set to review the case. 

Police are still investigating, but the captain said the information was incredibly sketchy, with “limited cooperation” from those involved. 

Although the University of Wisconsin-Madison has not recognised the fraternity for 10 years, the national branch of Alpha Epsilon Pi recognises the chapter, so it was still allowed to accept pledges. 

Most Read

How to do the Hotel Lobby AI trend from TikTok that puts people into Quavo and Takeoff video

Here’s what the real Lizzie Borden’s father Andrew was actually like to be around

Aileen Wuornos and Lizzie Borden’s made-up connection explained after Netflix’s Monster

Credit: ABC

“Hazing is a betrayal of everything our fraternity stands for,” a spokeperson for the national fraternity said in a statement.

“There is no place for it in AEPi. No exceptions. No excuses. We educate our members about their responsibility to ‘Be Your Brothers’ Keeper.’ This is not an optional value. It is a fundamental expectation of membership. Anyone who engages in hazing forfeits the privilege of being an AEPi brother.”

The fraternity has since suspended the Madion chapter house, telling CBS: “The directive prohibits new member meetings, social and brotherhood events, philanthropy events, chapter social media activity and other chapter gatherings, while permitting essential executive board administrative responsibilities to continue.

“AEPi has urged members to cooperate fully with the investigation, which will inform recommendations to the fraternity’s Supreme Board of Governors for further actions impacting the chapter and/or individual members.”

The university also issued a statement 

Credit: Madison Police Department

In a lengthy statement posted to its website, the University of Wisconsin-Madison condemned the alleged actions of the uncredited fraternity. 

“The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will investigate any students implicated in the incident according to its nonacademic misconduct process,” it 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, expulsion, or educational sanctions.”

More information is expected to follow as the authorities continue with their investigation. 

For more, like The Tab on Facebook. 

Featured image credit: ABC and Madison Police Department