University of Iowa suspends Alpha Delta Phi for allegedly blindfolding more than 50 pledges
By: Yahoo News
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A University of Iowa fraternity has been suspended after police discovered a possible hazing incident involving blindfolded pledges "with food thrown on them."
Authorities discovered 56 blindfolded pledges in the fraternity's basement, "with food thrown on them," according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Press-Citizen.
The University of Iowa's Office of Student Accountability is investigating the incident and informed the fraternity president that it must "suspend all operations" pending the outcome of the investigation because of "the gravity of the allegations."
"The university is committed to protecting the health and safety of its students and will address any behavior that puts student safety at risk," the release said. The university declined to comment further on Monday morning.
The UI contacted "the affected students" to offer counseling services and resources. In its release, it also implored students "with information or evidence" to contact UI police or report concerns to the Office of Student Accountability.
The national Alpha Delta Phi fraternity suspended the university's charter on Friday, the organization confirmed, and the Iowa City chapter is not listed on the fraternity's website. The fraternity launched a third-party investigation in the wake of the incident and said the national organization and the University of Iowa chapter are "fully cooperating" in the investigation.
"The Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity is deeply disturbed by the recent hazing allegations involving our chapter at the University of Iowa," the national Alpha Delat Phi fraternity said in a statement to the Press-Citizen. "As a fraternity, we stand firmly against all forms of hazing. Our values are rooted in fostering respect, integrity, and responsibility in all aspects of life."
A person listed as the president of the University of Iowa chapter of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Public Information Officer and Chief of Staff Hayley Bruce said the University of Iowa police are investigating the incident, which is separate from the Office of Student Accountability's investigation.
One person arrested, authorities continue investigation
Joseph Gaya, 21 of Riverside, was arrested and charged with interference with official acts on Nov. 15, court records show. Gaya allegedly "stood in front of the officers in the doorway of the room full of pledges" and "refused to move for officers," according to the criminal complaint.
Gaya is not a University of Iowa student and he does not live at the fraternity house, according to police.
Gaya allegedly stepped between an officer and two witnesses who were speaking to police. The officer allegedly told Gaya to step back so the conservation could continue, but Gaya refused and told the witnesses "not to talk to the police." When the officer again told Gaya to relent, he allegedly said, "You can (expletive) leave, how about that?"
The witnesses then allegedly told Gaya that "they were fine" but he did not move.
Gaya was told to leave the fraternity house by its members, according to court records.
Two other UI fraternities are serving hazing-related suspensions
Hazing is strictly forbidden in the University of Iowa handbook guidelines for student organizations. Hazing is a simple misdemeanor under Iowa law.
"Hazing is defined as any intentional or reckless behavior, action, or situation, occurring with or without consent that endangers or creates risk of injury, mental or physical discomfort, hinders student engagement, harasses, embarrasses, and/or ridicules an individual," according to the UI's guidelines for student organizations.
Two other University of Iowa fraternities are currently in the midst of suspensions after committing "hazing and alcohol-related offenses."
The Acacia fraternity was suspended in 2020 after allegedly requiring new members of the fraternity to remain in the frat house's attic until they had consumed large amounts of alcohol. The fraternity will become eligible for reinstatement in December.
The University of Iowa's Kappa Sigma chapter was suspended in 2018 and has been eligible for reinstatement for nearly two years, though it still appears on the university's suspended organizations list.
University of Iowa fraternities were banned from holding events with alcohol in the late 2010s after a University of Iowa student died during a fraternity formal at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri in 2017.
Iowa State University's Farmhouse Fraternity was intertwined in legal trouble in 2023 when a trio of members were accused of harassment. The students allegedly attempted to coerce another fraternity member into performing a sex act on one of them by threatening to shoot the person with an airsoft gun. Two of the three students were sentenced to probation while the other's case was dismissed.
Editor's Note: This story was updated to add new information.
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: What we know about the UI's suspension of Alpha Delta Phi for hazing
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I've never understood the attraction of this kind of crap.
If I knew someone who blindolded people in his basement and threw food on them, I would tell him to get some psychiatric help.
Seems pretty tame.
"You can join our club if you let us take you to the basement, blindfold you , and throw food at you"
"No thanks weirdos."
It's not a police matter.