BU Hazing: Students Bound, Covered in Fish Sauce
April 10, 2012— -- Five Boston University students were found bound and covered in condiments, their heads partially shaved, in the basement of a frat house Monday in Boston.
Boston police arrived at the Alpha Epsilon Pi home to investigate a report of a party, but when the partygoers fled, cops found five adult men in their underwear with their hands taped behind their backs, kneeling on the basement floor. The men were covered in chili sauce, coffee grounds, honey, mustard, hot sauce, flour, and empty sardine cans, according to a police report.
Police are investigating other Boston University students, all of whom are members of the fraternity, in connection with the incident. Some of the suspects were questioned at the home where the men were found bound, after they hid in upstairs bedrooms and closets when police broke up the party.
Eleven members of the fraternity, which is unsanctioned by the university, live in the home where the men were found.
Police said they found the students "shivering" with "horrified fearful looks on their faces." The men did not respond when police asked if they were okay, though, according to the police report, one "victim looked right at Officer with tears coming down his face shook his head from right to left indicating no."
They were covered with red welts and condiments, and parts of their heads had been shaved, according to police.
Officers notified the Boston University police, who arrived at the scene to help interview victims and suspects, the report said. None of the suspects interviewed would explain why the men were bound in the basement covered in the condiments.
The police also found a keg of beer and multiple cups of beer flecked with sardines.
A spokesman for Boston University told ABC News affiliate WCVB that Alpha Epsilon Pi is not a sanctioned fraternity and the university does not approve of the alleged behavior.
"Boston University finds these allegations troubling and takes them very seriously," said spokesman Colin Riley.
The university opened its own investigation into the matter, and is looking into the alleged behavior of nine students involved, according to WCVB.
"If we find it's a violation of our code of student responsibilities, then their status as a student at the university could be in jeopardy," Boston University Dean of Students Ken Elmore told the station.
Boston police told ABC News their investigation is ongoing.
