Hazing: Viral Body Cam Shows Shirtless, Alcohol-Covered Pledges and Blindfolded Dozens in Fraternity Basement
Newly released police-worn body camera footage lays bare a hazing scene inside a university fraternity house, showing dozens of blindfolded, shirtless pledges covered in various substances when officers and firefighters entered after a fire alarm. The footage has circulated widely online, and the episode has prompted a multiyear suspension of the chapter involved.
Hazing footage: what the body cams reveal
The video shows emergency responders entering the fraternity basement and encountering rooms filled with young men who were blindfolded. Officers found 56 pledges in two dark rooms, with many appearing shirtless. Some were covered in ketchup and alcohol, while others appeared to have white, yellow, red or brown substances on them and food had been thrown in the space.
In the footage, officers worked to understand what was happening, repeatedly asking whether anyone needed medical attention or was present against their will. The pledges responded in unison that no one was there against their will. At several points, officers asked to speak to someone in charge but did not receive clear direction from people inside the house.
What authorities encountered and immediate actions
Responding personnel moved through the house searching for leadership and for anyone who might be harmed. The body camera captures officers ordering some individuals out of the rooms for questioning and shining flashlights into the darkened spaces to assess the situation. One person inside the house shouted slurs and repeatedly interrupted exchanges between officers and the pledges; that individual was arrested, charged with interference with official acts, and those charges were later dropped.
- Number of pledges found: 56
- Location within house: two dark basement rooms
- Visible conditions: many blindfolded; some shirtless; various food- and liquid-based substances on bodies
- Immediate responses: officers sought anyone in charge; several men were moved for questioning
University response and consequences
Following the incident, the university suspended the fraternity chapter. The suspension extends until the summer of 2029, and the institution currently has three fraternities under suspension. The release and circulation of the body camera footage have intensified public attention on the disciplinary action and on hazing practices more broadly.
The footage has also generated widespread reaction online, where clips of the body camera material have been shared and discussed. Reactions range across a spectrum, and the visuals from the basement prompted renewed scrutiny of campus policies and enforcement steps taken after emergency responders intervened.
Next steps and caveats
Officials who responded asked questions and took immediate steps to determine whether anyone was in danger and who was responsible for activities in the house. Individuals taken into custody faced charges that were later dropped in at least one instance. The university's suspension of the chapter is in place as the institution enforces its disciplinary measures.
Recent updates indicate the body camera footage has become publicly available and continues to draw commentary. Details may evolve as institutional reviews conclude or if additional disclosures are made, and further developments will clarify any ongoing administrative or legal actions tied to the incident.
