The University of Iowa has provisionally suspended one of its fraternities following a hazing incident last week.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Alpha Delta Phi, Alpha Delta Phi members are accused of having “food thrown at them” by 56 pledges while they were blindfolded in the basement of a fraternity house. Iowa City Press Secretary, Citizen.
The pledge was discovered around 12:45 a.m. on Nov. 15 when Iowa City police and university police responded to a fire alarm at the fraternity house.
The fraternity was ordered by the university's Office of Student Responsibility to “cease all operations” pending the outcome of an investigation into the hazing allegations.
The fraternity's national organization also suspended the UI chapter.
According to the university, one person, who is not a student and does not live at the fraternity house, was arrested and charged with obstructing official business.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen identified the person as 21-year-old Joseph Gaya.
The newspaper said his charges stem from standing “in front of police officers in the doorway of a room filled with pledges” and refusing to move out of the way.
During the conversation, he allegedly got between two witnesses and a police officer and instructed the witnesses not to tell the police.
The officer told Gaya to leave the scene, but Gaya refused and eventually told the officer, “(expletive) you can leave, but what do you think?”
According to the Press Citizen, two witnesses told Gaya that she was OK, but she still refused to leave.
The university said its Office of Student Responsibility will follow disciplinary procedures for student organizations, including sanctions for prohibited conduct such as hazing.
“As a registered student organization, the fraternity is expected to uphold the values of the university, and its members are expected to abide by the Student Life Code,” the university said in a news release.
The UI said “counseling and resources” are being provided to affected students.
“The university is committed to protecting the health and safety of our students and will address any behavior that jeopardizes their safety,” the university said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Alpha Delta Phi's national organization and the University of Iowa Police Department.
