Boston Fraternity Tied Students in Hazing Activity
The Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity at Boston University is under investigation after an alleged hazing incident in which five students were found tied up and wearing nothing but underwear, authorities say.
All five men were covered in welts and had their heads shaved; they were found bound together by duct tape after police responded to a call about noise from the fraternity's party. The official police report states that the men "had been doused with flour, coffee grounds, fish sauce, chili sauce, honey, hot sauce, mustard and empty sardine cans," notes The Boston Channel.
While the incident is believed to be an act of hazing, several of the men have refused to cooperate with police, and a spokesman for Boston University told reporters that Alpha Epsilon Pi is not a school-sanctioned fraternity. None of the men sought medical attention for their injuries.
The young men "were tied together via duct tape wrist-to-wrist to form a human chain," states the official report. "All five were shivering and horrified and had fearful looks on their faces."
This is not the first report of hazing at Boston University. Last month, The Boston Channel notes, the Sigma Delta Tau sorority was suspended after three pledges were so intoxicated they required hospitalization.
Universities across the nation are becoming more aware of the dangers of hazing, not just from fraternities and sororities, but any major college group. Last year Robert Champion died of hazing-related injuries suffered while he was on a bus with the Florida A&M University marching band.
The case garnered national attention, and Florida Governor Rick Scott publicly spoke about the need to rid college culture of hazing.
"I am extremely concerned about the [anti-hazing] Committee's compliance with Florida's Sunshine Laws," he said in a letter to Florida A&M University's committee chairman Solomon Badger. "Who will monitor whether the members are toggling between fact-finding and possible policy and procedural changes that would make such a meeting subject to Florida's Sunshine Laws?"
Scott also told the Tallahassee Democrat editorial board earlier this month that getting rid of hazing was paramount to Florida's success.
"If we don't eradicate hazing, then parents are not going to allow their children to go [to Florida A&M University]," explained Scott.
SEE VIDEO REPORT OF THE INFAMOUS DARTMOUTH COLLEGE HAZING INCIDENT