Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) International is suspending all Madison chapter programming during an investigation into “alleged violations of the fraternity’s health and safety guidelines” following the arrest of two fraternity members on Sept. 23, according to Jonathan Pierce, the Chief Communications Officer for AEPi.
The Madison Police Department (MPD) found around 30 men “covered in food, condiments and other liquids” in the basement of the fraternity, several with “visible injuries consistent with being physically assaulted” according to an incident report. MPD arrested AEPi President and Vice President Brayden Klein and Samuel Vane, both 20-year-olds, according to police.
The AEPi Headquarters “cease and desist” directive to its Pi Chapter in Madison “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,” Pierce said in an email to The Daily Cardinal.
According to Pierce, AEPi National has had a staff person in Madison since yesterday morning, who may have returned home the evening of Sept. 25.
“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,” Pierce said. “Any decisions about the house on Langdon will be made following the conclusion of the investigations.”
Previously, MPD Public Information Officer Stephanie Fryer said MPD has no say over the house.
MPD and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards are also conducting investigations related to the Sept. 23 Langdon incident.
The AEPi chapter has been unrecognized by the university since 2015.
In an email sent to university students today, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Lori Reesor addressed the incident, confirming national AEPi and the university’s Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards’ investigations.
“There is no place for hazing on our campus. A healthy campus community should encourage, uplift, and help you reach your social, academic, and professional pursuits,” Reesor said in the email. “We must take care of each other.”
Editor's note: This article was updated at 10:52 a.m. on Sept. 26 to reflect a clarification from Alpha Epsilon Pi's Chief Communications Officer that AEPi International placed the chapter on cease and desist. A previous version of this article referred to AEPi National issuing a cease and desist directive.
Sonia Bendre is the campus news editor for The Daily Cardinal. You can reach her at sonia.bendre@dailycardinal.com.
