Madison police are investigating suspected illegal hazing at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house after officers discovered approximately 30 partially clothed young men in the basement. The University of Wisconsin-Madison stated it is launching its own investigation into the incident.

Police responded to the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house on Wednesday night after receiving an anonymous tip. Responding officers arrived at the 100 block of Langdon Street in Madison around 8:20 p.m. Inside the basement of the residence, officers found around 30 other partially clothed males covered in food, condiments, and other liquids. Police described the men found in the basement as pledges of the fraternity.

Some of the men had signs of being physically assaulted. A majority of the people in the basement were 18 years old. Police said the thermostat in the basement was set to 81 degrees Fahrenheit, and the walls of the basement appeared to be painted black.

Two fraternity members, both aged 20, were arrested on tentative misdemeanor charges of hazing and disorderly conduct. Brayden Klein and Samuel Vane were charged with hazing and disorderly conduct. Police said that the fraternity’s president and vice president were present at the scene that night and spoke to responding officers.

No formal charges had been filed against the arrested individuals as of Friday morning. Police released a photo showing about two dozen shirtless men in the basement with trash and debris on the ground. The faces of the people in the released photo were blurred out.

The university’s Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is investigating the incident in accordance with its nonacademic misconduct process. "UW–Madison is fully committed to preventing and addressing hazing and takes all incidents involving our community seriously," the university said in a Thursday statement. Any student found to have broken the law or university policy could be subject to sanctions ranging from a written reprimand to expulsion. The University of Wisconsin-Madison campus is home to about 52,000 students.

Jon Pierce, spokesperson for the national Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, said the organization is taking the allegations very seriously and will cooperate fully with investigations. He said hazing is a betrayal of everything the fraternity stands for. He added that any member found to have participated will be expelled from the fraternity.

There is no place for hazing in AEPi, Pierce said. No exceptions. No excuses. Madison Police are offering a monetary reward for information about the incident, which may be shared anonymously via Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or online at p3tips.com.

Why It Matters

The Madison Police Department reported that in 2025, there were 14 hazing-related incidents investigated on or near university campuses in the city. Alpha Epsilon Pi operates as a fraternity chapter unaffiliated with the university because it is still recognized by its national organization. Since this chapter continues to be recognized by its national organization, it is legally allowed to operate as a fraternity chapter unaffiliated with the university. Alpha Epsilon Pi was founded as a Jewish fraternity in 1913.

Timeline

Alpha Epsilon Pi was suspended by the university in 2013 for hosting a party where a 17-year-old and another person required detoxification after consuming alcohol. The University of Wisconsin-Madison terminated Alpha Epsilon Pi's status as a recognized student organization in 2015. The termination of recognition in 2015 occurred after a fourth incident involving events, alcohol, or both.

What's New

Later reporting indicates the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity was terminated by the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2015 for holding events while suspended. This followed a suspension in 2013 after a 17-year-old minor and another guest were transferred to detox after drinking at the fraternity. Additional details show the Madison Police Department (MPD) found around 30 men covered in food, condiments and other liquids in the basement of Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, which has been unrecognized by the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 2015.

Since 2016, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has documented seven additional allegations against Alpha Epsilon Pi related to hazing, drinking, disrespectful behavior, and intramural sports. The president and vice president of Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi), Brayden J. Klein and Samuel N. Vane, were arrested for hazing and disorderly conduct on Wednesday night following a hazing event in their fraternity house, according to an incident report filed by the Madison Police Department. In 2013, Alpha Epsilon Pi at UW-Madison was suspended after a party where a 17-year-old and another individual were taken to detox for alcohol-related issues. Jon Pierce, the national spokesperson for Alpha Epsilon Pi, has served in this role since at least 2018, according to the fraternity’s official website.