University of Iowa fraternity suspended after cops find 56 pledges blindfolded in basement

A fraternity astatine the University of Iowa has been suspended aft constabulary recovered 52 pledges blindfolded successful a basement.

The alleged hazing incidental happened astatine the Alpha Delta Phi residence successful Iowa City connected Friday.

Police said the 56 blindfolded pledges had 'food thrown connected them' successful the frat house's basement, arsenic reported by the Iowa City Press-Citizen. 

Joseph Gaya, 21, was arrested and charged with interference with authoritative acts aft allegedly helium reportedly 'stood successful beforehand of the officers successful the doorway of the country afloat of pledges' and 'refused to determination for officers.'

Gaya is not a UI pupil and does not unrecorded astatine the frat house, constabulary said. 

He is accused of stepping successful betwixt 2 witnesses and a constabulary serviceman they were speaking to. 

Gaya allegedly told the witnesses 'not to speech to the police.'

He was past asked to permission the location by the frat members. 

When an serviceman continued trying to talk to the witnesses, Gaya reportedly said: 'You tin f***ing leave, however astir that?'

Gaya did not determination adjacent aft the 2 witnesses said 'they were fine,' per tribunal documents. 

Officers discovered the country aft responding to a occurrence alarm astatine the house.

Hazing is banned astatine UI and is simply a elemental misdemeanor successful Iowa. 

The University of Iowa's Office of Student Accountability cited the 'gravity of the situation' and has ordered the fraternity to suspend each operations until an probe is completed.

Meanwhile the nationalist Alpha Delta Phi fraternity besides suspended the UI charter and has launched a third-party probe.

'The Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity is profoundly disturbed by the caller hazing allegations involving our section astatine the University of Iowa,' the nationalist Alpha Delta Phi fraternity told the Press-Citizen. 

'As a fraternity, we basal firmly against each forms of hazing. Our values are rooted successful fostering respect, integrity, and work successful each aspects of life.'

UI said they person contacted the affected students and offered counseling services and resources.

The schoolhouse besides asked anyone with applicable accusation oregon grounds to interaction UI constabulary oregon different officials.

Since 2000, implicit 100 American students person died arsenic a effect of hazing, portion others person been near severely disabled from intoxicant poisoning.