Several Charges Dropped Against Boston University Fraternity in Hazing Incident

A Boston University fraternity is breathing a sigh of relief after the District Attorney’s Office chose to drop several charges in a hazing incident that received national attention, CBS Boston reports.


Alpha Epsilon Pi, a Jewish fraternity unaffiliated with the university, engulfed itself in a scandal after police found pledges duct taped and covered in fish sauce.


The suspects reportedly appeared in Brighton District Court Wednesday where multiple counts of hazing charges were reduced to a single count. Only five of the nine students accused appeared in court.


The accused students include Jesse Jay, Roert Rappa, Laurence Rosenblum, Jonathan Toobi, Alexander Nisenzon, Justin Katz, Kyle Shevrin, Spencer Davidson and Cyrun Nazmiyal.


The charges initially included hazing, failure to report hazing and assault & battery. Three suspects faced additional charges of Keeper of a Disorderly House.


Alpha Epsilon Pi, which is not affiliated with the university, was caught hazing the students at a house on 24 Ashford St. Police reportedly found the young men in a basement shivering after being covered in condiment-type substances.


One of the alleged victims was reportedly crying as police found them. The condiments they were covered in included fish sauce, chili sauce, flour and coffee grinds, the report states.


“It’s serious, it’s troubling and we’re going to investigate it,” said BU spokesman Colin Riley in a statement. “They’ll not only have to deal with Boston University, but if Boston Police charges them with anything, then they’re going to have to face that situation as well.”


The university and the Inter-Fraternity Council have not recognized the fraternity since 1995, IFC President Jimmy Czodli told The Daily Free Press.


“They are in no way, shape or form affiliated with us or the university,” Czodli, a College of Arts and Sciences senior, told The Daily Free Press. “The fraternities that are affiliated with the university do not condone, participate in or tolerate any form of hazing of any kind, especially the extreme nature that was depicted in that police report.”


Hazing carries up to one year behind bars and assault and battery up to two-and-a-half years in jail.