While Cornell University is under scrutiny for allegations of an un-prosecuted frat party gang rape, another allegation surfaced: A fraternity at the University of Arizona in Tucson has been suspended for allegedly subjecting new members to hazing rituals involving alcohol consumption and live goldfish
The fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma, is under investigation for multiple violations of the student code of conduct. Per a letter from the university, "Reportedly, during the fall 2025 semester, new members of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity were subjected to hazing. Specifically, new members were forced to consume large quantities of alcohol and live goldfish. Additionally, new members were subjected to screaming, degradation, and threats from active members. Such behavior is in violation of the Arizona Board of Regents Student Code of Conduct."
Frat members were informed by the college earlier this month all activities were suspended while it's under investigation for these violations of the student code of conduct.
“It has been determined that your organization presents a substantial risk to members of the university community,” a letter from the dean of students addressed to the fraternity president reads.
This incident is part of a series of hazing-related events at U.S. university campuses, including arrests at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a reopened investigation into an alleged drugging and gang rape at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University.
Specifically,
- At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, two men were arrested for their alleged role in an off-campus initiation at the Alpha Epsilon Pi house, where around 30 partially clothed males were found covered in food and condiments.
- Alpha Epsilon Pi is an unrecognized and unaccredited student organization that was terminated by the University of Wisconsin over a decade ago due to conduct violations related to underage drinking, hazing, and unauthorized events.
- In New York, prosecutors reopened an investigation into an alleged drugging and gang rape at the Chi Phi fraternity house on the Cornell University campus in response to a lawsuit filed by a woman who says she was sexually assaulted after being pressured to consume drugs and alcohol.
- An 18-year-old 'Jane Doe' filed a lawsuit last month saying she was force fed bags of wine at a Kappa Sigma frat party in Arizona, and said she begged them to stop, until she was so drunk that, as the Phoenix Times reported, one of the members "dragged the 4’11”, 100-pound girl into one of the home’s three bathrooms. He locked the door and put his hand around her neck (and then sexually assaulted her.)"
Many universities have said they have involved have taken action to address these incidents and prevent future hazing.
And yet, it seems to keep happening.
“The behavior that has been outlined in the many allegations received is abhorrent and cannot be tolerated within our community,” Cornell University said in a statement in 2024 when a Jane Doe reported that she took ketamine and drank alcohol at a frat party and was gang raped after she was incapacitated. Text threads revealed in her new civil lawsuit show young men sending each other texts urging there was "free p***" in a room.
That incident had Ithaca, New York, Mayor Robert Cantelmo calling for an immediate moratorium on all student event and special event permits, including Greek Life events.
“[The University’s response] is a miscarriage of justice and continues to pose a significant threat to students and residents who may be victimized at unsafe and under-monitored on- or off-campus student events,” Cantelmo wrote in a statement
