No Charges Filed Against UW-Madison Students in Alpha Epsilon Pi Hazing Case

When Madison police arrested two University of Wisconsin-Madison students in September following a disturbing hazing incident at an off-campus fraternity, the case quickly drew national attention from outlets including The New York Times and CNN. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne has declined to file charges against the two 20-year-old men, saying prosecutors lack the evidence to prove a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

The decision, delivered in an email to reporters, closes the door on criminal prosecution for the two men, both members of Alpha Epsilon Pi. Yet the fallout is far from finished. UW-Madison says its own disciplinary investigation continues, and the national fraternity organization has launched a corrective action plan that includes replacing the chapter’s leadership.

Thirty Men Found in an 81-Degree Basement

Police were dispatched to the Alpha Epsilon Pi house on the 100 block of Langdon Street around 8:20 p.m. on Sept. 23 after receiving an anonymous tip, according to an incident report cited by the Cap Times. In the basement, officers found an estimated 30 partially clothed 18-year-old males covered in food, condiments and other liquids. The thermostat was set to 81 degrees, creating hot, humid conditions, and several men had visible injuries consistent with physical assault.

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The incident occurred during rush week, the multi-day process when students seek to join fraternities or sororities. Both arrested men were 20 years old and held leadership positions in the chapter, Wisconsin Public Radio reported.

Removed from Campus in 2015

The Madison chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi operates off-campus and is not affiliated with UW-Madison, a status that traces back to a troubled history with the university. The fraternity was suspended in 2013 for alcohol-related violations, including an incident where a 17-year-old and another guest were transported to detox after being served alcohol at a chapter party, according to UW-Madison. In 2015, the university terminated the fraternity’s status as a student organization entirely after it continued holding events while suspended.

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Despite that removal, the chapter continues to operate legally because it remains recognized by the national organization. Founded in 1913 to provide Jewish college men a brotherhood when they were excluded from other organizations, Alpha Epsilon Pi now has chapters at more than 150 campuses in eight countries with over 100,000 living alumni.

Prosecutors Decline to File Charges

District Attorney Ozanne explained his decision in an email, stating that the “referral was declined as there was not enough evidence to prove a criminal charge against the two individuals beyond a reasonable doubt.” The Wausau Pilot & Review and WPR both reported the decision, noting that while police booked the men on suspicion of hazing and disorderly conduct, the burden of proof required for a criminal conviction could not be met.

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“We do not have enough evidence to prove a criminal charge beyond a reasonable doubt,” Ozanne told the Cap Times.

The lack of charges means the men’s names remain protected, as the Cap Times noted it is not identifying them because no charges have been filed.

Campus Consequences Remain

While the criminal case ends, UW-Madison’s Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is still investigating any students implicated in the incident. The university warned in September that anyone found in violation could face sanctions ranging from a written reprimand and disciplinary probation to suspension or expulsion. A campus spokesperson told the Cap Times that federal privacy laws prevent the university from sharing specific details about ongoing investigations.

The incident adds to a documented pattern: UW-Madison’s latest security report recorded two instances of hazing in 2025 on property owned by a student organization or institution related to the university.

National Fraternity Responds with Corrective Action

Jonathan Pierce, communications officer for Alpha Epsilon Pi’s national office, told the Cap Times that the international organization investigated the incident and is “implementing a corrective action plan for the chapter, which will allow limited programming within our guidelines.”

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Jonathan Pierce, communications officer for Alpha Epsilon Pi’s national office, said the organization has replaced the chapter leadership and is looking to improve operations to be safer and more in compliance with its values. In an email, Pierce said Alpha Epsilon Pi is grateful the incident is behind them and that no one was injured. The national office also stated that anyone found responsible for participating in the hazing would be expelled from the fraternity.

For a fraternity founded over a century ago to serve students excluded elsewhere, the Madison chapter now faces a reckoning that reaches from the Dane County courthouse to the university’s disciplinary offices—even without a criminal conviction.