30 partially clothed men found in frat basement in alleged hazing incident

By Kerry Breen is a news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use. Read Full Bio September 25, 2026 / 8:52 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Two 20-year-olds were arrested after police were called to the scene of an alleged hazing incident where over two dozen young men were partially clothed and covered in liquids. Some of them were injured, police said. The Madison Police Department said they received an anonymous tip about an event at the unaccredited Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. When they arrived at the house, they found about 30 "partially clothed males covered in food, condiments and other liquids" in the basement. The room's thermostat was set to 81 degrees, police said. Several of the men had "visible injuries consistent with being abused," police said. The "vast majority" of the men were 18, police said. A photo with the men's faces redacted shows the group in a dirty space with black walls and the Alpha Epsilon Pi letters painted on a piece of furniture. An image of alleged hazing victims in the basement of an unaccredited frat house. Madison Police Department Two people, identified by police as Brayden J. Klein and Samuel N. Vane, were arrested for hazing and disorderly conduct and taken to the Dane County Jail. The Madison Police Department said that the president and vice president of the fraternity were present and spoke to responding officers, but did not specify if Klein and Vane held those titles. The men in the basement were escorted outside and checked for incapacitation and injuries. "Several of these men had visible injuries consistent with being physically assaulted," police said. No other charges have been announced in relation to the incident. An investigation remains ongoing, and those with information are asked to contact the Madison Police Department. Alpha Epsilon Pi is an unrecognized and unaccredited student organization at the University of Wisconsin, police and the school said. The school said in a statement that because the chapter is still recognized by the national Alpha Epsilon Pi organization, it is legally allowed to operate as an unaffiliated fraternity chapter. A spokesperson for the Alpha Epsilon Pi Headquarters said it takes the allegations concerning the Madison chapter "extremely seriously." The national organization plans to "cooperate fully" with the investigation, the spokesperson said, and members found responsible for criminal conduct will be expelled from the organization. "Hazing is a betrayal of everything our fraternity stands for," the spokeperson said." 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 University of Wisconsin said it is also investigating the incident as it relates to its nonacademic misconduct process. Campus officials are providing support to affected students. The Madison Police Department said that anyone whose safety is jeopardized during the Greek life recruitment process should contact authorities. In: Hazing Wisconsin University of Wisconsin