Mother of hazing victim speaks out after fraternity cocaine ring bust
Evelyn Piazza, an advocate against hazing, addressed the recent charges involving drug trafficking and hazing related to fraternity members at Penn State. According to documents from a grand jury, there are 14 individuals implicated in a cocaine operation linked to the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities. Allegations suggest that pledges were involved in cutting and packaging drugs that had been brought in from New York and Philadelphia.
In a separate incident, police in Madison, Wisconsin responded to an anonymous tip about hazing. They discovered about 30 young men, mostly around the age of 18, crammed into a hot basement at the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity house. The basement temperature was set at 81 degrees, leading to uncomfortable and oppressive conditions. Many of the individuals present were partially clothed and appeared to have been subjected to physical harm.
Reports state that the fraternity is not recognized by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as it was terminated by the institution over ten years ago. Nevertheless, the national AEPi organization acknowledged that they still accept the Madison chapter.
Madison Police Captain Kipp Hartman mentioned seeing possible fresh marks indicating physical abuse on some individuals, but there were no visible open wounds. He indicated that no one required medical attention following the incident.
Fraternity president Brayden J. Klein and vice president Samuel N. Vane, both aged 20, were arrested on charges related to hazing and disorderly conduct. These charges are considered misdemeanors, and the case will be evaluated by the Dane County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the situation, as officers encountered discrepancies in the accounts provided by those present in the basement that night, which raised questions and concerns among investigators. Hartman commented on the limited cooperation from the individuals involved during their inquiries.
The gathering took place during the university’s rush week, and it appears that all individuals involved were students. AEPi, which claims to be “the world’s Jewish college fraternity,” includes over 150 chapters across four countries. Jonathan Pierce, the fraternity’s communications officer, stated that they take the claims seriously and intend to fully cooperate with any ongoing investigations. Any member found guilty of criminal behavior would face expulsion, and the organization plans to support prosecution for those involved.
In a statement, Pierce expressed that hazing represents a violation of the fraternity’s values and that there is no tolerance for such actions within AEPi. They emphasize the importance of upholding responsibilities to support fellow brothers and have made clear that individuals engaging in hazing would lose their chapter membership privileges.
