Disturbing footage has emerged of a hazing incident at the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity at the University of Iowa.
The footage is of an incident that occurred in November of 2024, when authorities discovered 56 people blindfolded in the basement of a fraternity house.
Newsweek has contacted the University of Iowa via email for comment.
File photo: Students walk across campus at the University of Iowa on October 2, 2014 in Iowa City, Iowa. | AP Photo/Charlie Neibergal
Authorities then found the pledges, blindfolded in the fraternity’s basement with food thrown on them, according to a report from the Iowa Press-Citizen, who citied a criminal complaint they had obtained.
Hazing is defined as “any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them regardless of a person’s willingness to participate,” as per a report from The University of Maine.
Hazing is strictly forbidden at the University of Iowa and is a misdemeanor under Iowa law.
At least one school hazing death has occurred every year from 1959 through to 2026, according to the journalist Hank Nuwer, who researches hazing and has created an interactive database cataloguing hazing deaths.
An officer can be heard in the video asking: “Does anyone want to be forthcoming about what’s going on? Anyone? Because you gotta see it from my perspective of, what the f*** did I just walk into?”
One social media user shared a clip of the footage on X, where it has amassed 2.6 million views.
The pledges in the basement were discovered as law enforcement checked the fire alarm.
The video shows a prolonged back and forth between the individuals in the fraternity and law enforcement, as law enforcement tried to establish what had happened, and where the person in charge was. The Individuals involved were not forthcoming with information.
“This stops here, guys,” an officer is heard saying at one point. “This is the police department. This stops here. Who is in charge?”
An officer later says: “I’ve already given multiple commands to clear the room and get out of here, but no one's moving. Clearly, they’re taking this pretty serious.”
Later in the video, the officers speak to a person identifying themself as the fraternity president outside of the building. When asked what was going on, that person said it was “their lead up to initiation,” and that “it’s a ritual where they’re blindfolded and get messed with.”
The officer then states: “We responded to a fire alarm, we were trying to get people to evacuate because of the fire alarm, but from my understanding, you guys refused.
“Then, on top of that, we find this hazing event, we want to speak to somebody. Nobody knows anything, nobody knows anyone. Nobody knows what’s going on. This is going in a report. The University of Iowa is going to see this.”
The fraternity was then formally suspended in May of 2025 for the next four academic years.
He was charged with interference with official acts. These charges were later dropped.
The recently released video footage shows his arrest the day after the hazing incident took place.
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Here is footage of the event:
The footage is of an incident that occurred in November of 2024, when authorities discovered 56 people blindfolded in the basement of a fraternity house.
Newsweek has contacted the University of Iowa via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Early in the morning of November 15, 2024 Iowa City and University of Iowa police responded to a fire alarm at the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity house.File photo: Students walk across campus at the University of Iowa on October 2, 2014 in Iowa City, Iowa. | AP Photo/Charlie Neibergal
Authorities then found the pledges, blindfolded in the fraternity’s basement with food thrown on them, according to a report from the Iowa Press-Citizen, who citied a criminal complaint they had obtained.
Hazing is defined as “any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them regardless of a person’s willingness to participate,” as per a report from The University of Maine.
Hazing is strictly forbidden at the University of Iowa and is a misdemeanor under Iowa law.
At least one school hazing death has occurred every year from 1959 through to 2026, according to the journalist Hank Nuwer, who researches hazing and has created an interactive database cataloguing hazing deaths.
What To Know
The footage of the incident has recently been released and has circulated widely on social media. It shows multiple young men standing close together in a basement with their shirts off, covered in various substances.An officer can be heard in the video asking: “Does anyone want to be forthcoming about what’s going on? Anyone? Because you gotta see it from my perspective of, what the f*** did I just walk into?”
One social media user shared a clip of the footage on X, where it has amassed 2.6 million views.
The pledges in the basement were discovered as law enforcement checked the fire alarm.
The video shows a prolonged back and forth between the individuals in the fraternity and law enforcement, as law enforcement tried to establish what had happened, and where the person in charge was. The Individuals involved were not forthcoming with information.
“This stops here, guys,” an officer is heard saying at one point. “This is the police department. This stops here. Who is in charge?”
An officer later says: “I’ve already given multiple commands to clear the room and get out of here, but no one's moving. Clearly, they’re taking this pretty serious.”
Later in the video, the officers speak to a person identifying themself as the fraternity president outside of the building. When asked what was going on, that person said it was “their lead up to initiation,” and that “it’s a ritual where they’re blindfolded and get messed with.”
The officer then states: “We responded to a fire alarm, we were trying to get people to evacuate because of the fire alarm, but from my understanding, you guys refused.
“Then, on top of that, we find this hazing event, we want to speak to somebody. Nobody knows anything, nobody knows anyone. Nobody knows what’s going on. This is going in a report. The University of Iowa is going to see this.”
Is Alpha Delta Phi Suspended?
The Alpha Delta Phi fraternity was initially placed on an interim suspension by The University of Iowa. The suspension was announced less than 24 hours after the police were called to the fraternity house.The fraternity was then formally suspended in May of 2025 for the next four academic years.
Who Is Joseph Gaya?
Joseph Gaya, who was 21 at the time of the incident, was the only person arrested in connection with the hazing. He was not a University of Iowa student at the time of the incident and was referred to as a former fraternity member in media reports.He was charged with interference with official acts. These charges were later dropped.
The recently released video footage shows his arrest the day after the hazing incident took place.
What Happens Next
Alpha Delta Phi’s earliest reinstatement date is July 1, 2029.Article Link
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Here is footage of the event:
