Boston Police Probe Second Alleged Hazing
Fraternity unrecognized by BU also involved in first incident last month
Nine students BU officials believe to be members of the unrecognized fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) are under investigation by police from the BU Police Department and the Boston Police Department for allegedly hazing five other students, also apparently brothers. The incident was discovered early Monday morning by Boston police responding to a complaint of a loud party at 24 Ashford Street in Allston. According to a Boston police report, the officers found five apparent pledges dressed only in their underwear standing in the basement, covered with various food ingredients and with their hands bound together. Further investigation revealed red welts on the backs of the alleged victims.
All students questioned by police declined to make a statement, and no charges have been filed. Hazing is a misdemeanor under Massachusetts law and is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $3,000 fine.
The same fraternity, which has no official affiliation with BU, was involved in another hazing last month, this one with Sigma Delta Tau (SDT) sorority. Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore announced yesterday that as a result of the first hazing incident, 14 students, all members either of AEPi or SDT, would be sanctioned. “Some of the sanctions are pretty severe,” says Elmore (SED’87). “Some students will be suspended.”
“This is a serious, serious incident,” Elmore says. “What’s troubling is we have a group of students affiliated with AEPi who were involved in this and the other incident. The consistent fact has been that members of this organization have been involved in both incidents.”
Elmore met recently with leaders of recognized Greek groups on campus and discussed issues of denigration and personal worth and integrity. “Our students were seriously concerned,” he says. They worry that their groups, “who have done what they’re supposed to do, will be branded. The leadership is concerned their reputation will be affected by another group of students who aren’t even recognized by the University.” He says his office will investigate each student involved in the most recent case in accordance with the University’s disciplinary process.
The two incidents are the first allegations of hazing at the University reported to authorities in more than a decade. Unlike AEPi, SDT is a recognized Greek life organization at BU.
Elmore says that in the wake of the two incidents, the University is trying to contact officials at AEP’s national headquarters in Indiana. “I am concerned that our students participate and belong to an organization that would permit these kinds of things to happen,” he says.
He notes that BU has a hotline (1-866-294-8451) that students may call to report hazing allegations. “It’s anonymous and it’s secure,” Elmore says.
In the SDT case, two women were treated and released from the hospital for intoxication following a booze-related hazing involving SDT and AEPi. SDT was suspended by the University while Elmore conducted his investigation. “We found we needed to talk to additional students,” during that process, he says, so “we are going to still keep the sorority on suspension until further notice, until we have time to talk to more students.”
Officials at AEPi’s national headquarters authorized to speak to the media were away yesterday and unavailable for comment.
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