Two leaders of an unrecognized fraternity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison were arrested this week after police said they discovered roughly 30 young men, most of them pledges, packed into a sweltering basement, according to The Washington Times and multiple other outlets.
The young men were found partially clothed and covered in food, condiments and other liquids, according to reporting from The New York Times, NBC News, CBS News, Fox News and the New York Post. Some of the pledges were reported to be injured, according to HuffPost and NBC News.
NewsNation described the fraternity as 'unrecognized and unaccredited.' Police are investigating the incident as hazing, according to the Associated Press and other outlets.
Descriptions of the basement conditions varied slightly across outlets: CBS News described the space as 'filthy,' while the New York Post described it as 'dingy.' HuffPost reported the pledges were found 'half-naked,' while the New York Post described them as 'nearly-naked.'
How each side covered it
Left
- The New York Times and NBC News emphasized the roughly 30 pledges found splattered with condiments and liquids during the alleged hazing.
- HuffPost highlighted that injured pledges were discovered half-naked in a hot, filthy basement.
- The Associated Press framed the story around police investigating the fraternity for hazing after men were found covered in food.
- CBS News focused on the discovery of dozens of partially clothed men in the frat house basement.
“30 College Students Are Splattered With Condiments and Liquids in Hazing, Police Say” — The New York Times
Center
- NewsNation reported that men were found covered in food and liquids at what it described as an unrecognized and unaccredited fraternity house.
“Men found covered in food, ‘liquids’ at ‘unrecognized and unaccredited’ frat house” — NewsNation
Right
- The Washington Times detailed that two leaders of the unrecognized University of Wisconsin-Madison fraternity were arrested after roughly 30 young men, mostly pledges, were found packed into a sweltering basement.
- Fox News emphasized dozens of pledges found covered in food inside a sweltering frat basement as police investigated the alleged hazing.
- The New York Post described the scene as dozens of nearly-naked teens found in a dingy basement, leading to the arrest of frat leaders.
“Frat leaders arrested after cops found dozens of nearly-naked teens in dingy basement in suspected hazing incident” — New York Post
Questions readers ask
What happened at the University of Wisconsin-Madison fraternity?
Police found roughly 30 young men, most of them pledges, in a hot basement, partially clothed and covered in food and other liquids. Two leaders of the unrecognized fraternity were arrested this week as police investigate the incident as hazing.
Were any of the pledges injured?
HuffPost and NBC News reported that some of the injured pledges were found in the basement, though details on the extent of injuries were not specified across sources.
Is the fraternity officially recognized by the university?
No. NewsNation described it as an 'unrecognized and unaccredited' fraternity, a characterization not detailed by other outlets.
What did left- and right-leaning outlets focus on?
Left-leaning outlets such as The New York Times and NBC News emphasized the number of students affected and the arrests of fraternity leaders. Right-leaning outlets like Fox News and the New York Post emphasized the condition of the basement and the nature of the alleged hazing.
What happens next?
Police continue to investigate the incident as hazing, according to the Associated Press, though sources do not specify what charges the arrested leaders face or next legal steps.
Sources · 10 outlet reports
- Associated PressLeft-leaningPolice investigating for hazing after men covered in food found in Wisconsin fraternity
- CBS NewsLeft-leaningWisconsin police find dozens of partially clothed men in frat house basement in alleged hazing incident
- HuffPostLeft-leaningWisconsin Frat Members Arrested After Injured Pledges Found Half-Naked In Hot Basement
- NBC NewsLeft-leaningFrat leaders arrested after pledges found in basement, injured and covered in condiments
- The New York TimesLeft-leaning30 College Students Are Splattered With Condiments and Liquids in Hazing, Police Say
- NewsNationCenterMen found covered in food, ‘liquids’ at ‘unrecognized and unaccredited’ frat house
- Fox NewsRight-leaningDozens of pledges found covered in food in sweltering frat basement as police investigate alleged hazing
- Independent Journal ReviewRight-leaningPolice Find 30 Young Men Packed Into Hot Fraternity Basement During Hazing Probe
- New York PostRight-leaningFrat leaders arrested after cops found dozens of nearly-naked teens in dingy basement in suspected hazing incident
- The Washington TimesRight-leaningWisconsin fraternity leaders arrested after alleged hazing