Policy & Violations
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is committed to providing a safe educational environment for all students, staff, and UW-Madison affiliates. We expect that every student, advisor and organization fully adhere to state law and university policy regarding hazing activity.
Hazing is prohibited by both state law and university policy. Disciplinary action will be taken for organizations or individuals found guilty of hazing activity. Disciplinary action can include restriction, education, suspension, and/or termination.
Hazing Policy
- University of Wisconsin Madison Hazing Policy (UW-2001)
- Wisconsin State Legislature Hazing Law (948.51)
Transparency Report
The Stop Campus Hazing Act requires universities to report and summarize findings concerning any student organization (established or recognized by the institution) found to have violated the institution’s standards of conduct relating to hazing from the five previous calendar years.
Hazing incidents are included in the Transparency Report in accordance with the definition of hazing outlined in Wis. Stat. §948.51 and UW–Madison Policy UW-2001. The Registered Student Organization Code of Conduct (UW-2002) previously included a subsection on hazing and now references a more comprehensive hazing policy (UW-2001) published in June 2025. While the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s hazing policy has evolved, the underlying conduct remains relevant. Please note that prior to 2022, hazing incidents fell under code Student Organization Code of Conduct code 11.
Below is a list of organizations that have been found responsible for violating the university’s hazing policy in the previous five years. In addition to the biannual Transparency Report, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards maintains a website that informs the campus community about organizations not in good standing. The Registered Student Organization Disciplinary Process is also detailed online.
UW–Madison’s Annual Security Report includes reports of hazing that meet the definition of the Stop Campus Hazing Act (H.R. 5646).
2026
No organizations have been found responsible for hazing as of July 1, 2026.
2025
Student Organization Name: Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Date(s) of Hazing Incident(s): On or around February 17-20, 2025
Date Reported: February 26, 2025
Date Investigation Initiated: February 26, 2025
Date of Finding/Notice to Student Organization: April 14, 2025
Violation: The student organization was found responsible for violating the Registered Student Organization Code of Conduct, specifically 10(a) – Hazing – Brutality/Physical, 10(c) – Hazing – Soliciting/Planning of Hazing, and 10(e) – Hazing – Mental/Physical Health
Description: New members were found to have been forced to complete push-ups, sit-ups, and squatting with weights multiple days in a row. New members were also made to perform a skit they found humiliating. New members were required to abide by potentially demeaning rules for membership (e.g., not being allowed to move about in a normal way, not being allowed to act with sexual agency, not being able to dress as they see fit). New members also reported that they were under the impression that there would be physical violence from fraternity members from another chapter or alumni later in the semester.
Was alcohol involved? No
Sanction:
- Disciplinary Suspension: April 14, 2025 – July 31, 2025
- The university will enforce any sanctions or action plans from Phi Beta Sigma International Headquarters.
2024
Student Organization Name: Phi Gamma Delta, Mu Chapter
Date(s) of Hazing Incident(s): October 9, 2024
Date Reported: October 16, 2024
Date Investigation Initiated: October 17, 2024
Date of Finding: November 7, 2024
Violation: The student organization was found responsible for violating the Registered Student Organization Code of Conduct, specifically 10(a) – Hazing – Brutality/Physical,10(b) – Hazing – Forced Consumption, 10(e) – Hazing – Mental/Physical Health
Description: New members were required to appear at the fraternity house for line-ups a couple of times per week and perform some physical activity (e.g., push-ups).
Was alcohol involved? Yes
Sanction:
- Disciplinary Probation November 7, 2024 – November 7, 2025.
- The chapter must participate in an educational opportunity facilitated by Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity on the topic of hazing.
- Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity senior staff member will visit the chapter.
- The chapter will meet with the Fraternity and Sorority Office Life Office to discuss the chapter’s new member education plan.
Student Organization Name: Beta Theta Pi – Alpha Pi Chapter
Date(s) of Hazing Incident(s): February 7, 2024
Date Reported: March 7, 2024
Date Investigation Initiated: March 13, 2024
Date of Finding: April 19, 2024
Violation: The student organization was found responsible for violating the Registered Student Organization Code of Conduct, specifically 2(b) – Harmful Behavior – Reckless Action and 10(a) – Hazing – Brutality/Physical
Description: A new member of the fraternity was required to lay face down on the floor by an intoxicated older member. The fraternity was found to have created an environment in which this power dynamic was allowed to exist.
Was alcohol involved? Yes
Sanction:
- Disciplinary Probation April 19, 2024 – December 12, 2024.
- Social probation restricting the organization’s ability to host/hold social events with alcohol until all sanctions are completed. (April 19, 2024 – October 19, 2024)
- Educational training concerning alcohol, hazing, and bystander intervention.
- The executive board and the organization’s internal adjudication leadership attend an additional anti-hazing and bystander intervention.
Student Organization Name: Alpha Sigma Phi – Kappa Chapter
Date(s) of Hazing Incident(s): February 13, 2024
Date Reported: February 17, 2024
Date Investigation Initiated: February 21, 2024
Date of Finding: March 11, 2024
Violation: The student organization was found responsible for violating the Registered Student Organization Code of Conduct, specifically 10(a) Hazing – Brutality/physical.
Description: Potential new members were yelled at during line-ups and were made to complete pointless tasks. Those tasks included sorting sprinkles by color, singing children’s songs, and doing tasks for active members of the fraternity.
Was alcohol involved? No
Sanction:
- Disciplinary Probation March 11, 2024 – December 15, 2024.
- New member education plans must be shared with the chapter advisor and Fraternity & Sorority Life.
2023
Student Organization Name: Alpha Sigma Phi – Kappa Chapter
Date(s) of Hazing Incident(s): December 2, 2023
Date Reported: December 4, 2023
Date Investigation Initiated: December 5, 2023
Date of Finding: December 15, 2023
Violation: The student organization was found responsible for violating the Registered Student Organization Code of Conduct, specifically 10(a) – Hazing – Brutality/Physical, 10(b) – Hazing – Forced Consumption, 10(c) – Hazing – Soliciting/Planning of Hazing and 10(d) – Hazing – Forcing others to violate policy/law
Description: Potential new members were encouraged to stay at the fraternity house the week before their initiation. Potential new members were also made to engage in “prank” activities that were found to resemble stereotypical hazing activities (e.g., listening to kids’ music on repeat, being forced to learn a silly song that they would then perform for active members, having to play a trivia game, and being yelled at for getting an answer wrong during the trivia game.)
Was alcohol involved? Yes
Sanction:
- Disciplinary Probation February 15, 2023 – June 15, 2024.
- Virtual anti-hazing education program.
- An additional anti-hazing education with a staff member.
Student Organization Name: Phi Gamma Delta, Mu Chapter
Date(s) of Hazing Incident(s): February 2023
Date Reported: April 6, 2023
Date Investigation Initiated: April 10, 2023
Date of Finding: April 28, 2023
Violation: The student organization was found responsible for violating the Registered Student Organization Code of Conduct, specifically 10(a) – Hazing.
Description: New members were verbally assaulted outside of the fraternity house for an extended period of time on a February night. After the fraternity members went back inside the house, additional yelling was heard by neighbors.
Was alcohol involved? No
Sanction:
- Develop and implement strategies for managing noise in and outside of the house.
- A minimum of 8 new members will participate in a conversation about participation in investigations.
- Members of the organization will complete hazing education.
2022
Student Organization Name: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. – Eta Iota Chapter
Date(s) of Hazing Incident(s): March 6, 2022
Date Reported: April 13, 2022
Date Investigation Initiated: May 3, 2022
Date of Finding: September 29, 2022
Violation: The student organization was found responsible for violating the Registered Student Organization Code of Conduct, specifically 2(b) – Harmful Behavior and 10 (a) – Hazing
Description: A potential new member was found to have been subjected to hazing and harmful behavior, including being required to perform planks and squats, prior to initiation in the sorority. The potential new member was also assaulted by an alumna of the organization during a sorority activity.
Was alcohol involved? No
Sanction:
- Disciplinary Probation January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023.
- Disciplinary Suspension ended December 31, 2022.
- Anti-Hazing Presentation from Student Affairs.
2021
Student Organization Name: Zeta Beta Tau – Alpha Kappa Chapter
Date(s) of Hazing Incident(s): Late Fall 2021
Date Reported: December 6, 2021
Date Investigation Initiated: December 13, 2021
Date of Finding: May 2, 2022
Violation: The student organization was found responsible for violating the Student Organization Code of Conduct codes 4 (Organization representatives) and 11 (Hazing).
Description: New members were required to participate in line-ups, sleep at the fraternity house multiple nights, and perform tasks for older members like picking up food orders. During line-ups, new members participated in physical activities such as push-ups, sit-ups, and wall sits. New members also reported eating condiments, smearing condiments on each other, and participating in a penny scavenger hunt during “Hell Week.”
Was alcohol involved? No
Sanctions:
- Disciplinary Probation January 1, 2023 – February 23, 2024.
- Disciplinary Suspension September 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022.
- Membership Review.
- Officer Slate (a review or membership to determine who is eligible to be new officers of the chapter).
- Hazing Prevention Education.
- Officer Education.
- All members were required to participate in two Zeta Beta Tau education and development programs (Back to Brotherhood and THE JOURNEY).
- Coaching from Fraternity and Sorority Life.
- Required attendance at IFC.
- Review of fall recruitment planning.
Student Organization Name: Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity
Date(s) of Hazing Incident(s): March 12, 2021
Date Reported: October 14, 2021
Date Investigation Initiated: November 1, 2021
Date of Finding: February 15, 2022
Violation: The student organization was found responsible for violating the Student Organization Code of Conduct codes 4 (Organization representatives), 5 (Event responsibility), and 11 (Hazing).
Description: Hazing was found to have occurred during the induction process. Inductees were verbally berated, put in trash cans, made to eat raw onions, perform rituals without pants on, and shower together, among other things.
Was alcohol involved? Yes
Sanction:
- Disciplinary Suspension October 17, 2021 – October 16, 2022.
- Disciplinary Probation October 17, 2022- October 16, 2023.
- Restructure New Member Education Process.
- The Organization’s President meeting with CSO Chair and CSO Advisor.
2020
No organizations were found responsible for hazing.