Hofstra Sigma Pi In Deep Shit After Former Pledge Leaks Hazing Pictures Including People Locked In Small Cages and Kneeling In Front Of Swastikas Covered In Flour and Hot Sauce
The Hofstra Chronicle - Photo and video evidence allegedly depicting rituals of the Fall 2014 and Fall 2015 pledge processes for the Sigma Pi fraternity at Hofstra University show pledging members were made to chug milk and vomit on one another, stay locked in a small cage and kneel blindfolded while their bodies were covered in hot sauce, among other hazing rituals performed at an off-campus residence.
A former student and member of Sigma Pi’s Spring 2015 Beta-Alpha class, Syed Ali John Mehdi, sent an email to national Sigma Pi Executive Director Jason Walker, and Director of Business Operations Jen Wyatt on March 1, according to a record of the transaction. Included in the email is a brief description of the “extreme hazing” Mehdi claimed he faced, as well as several photos and videos depicting certain rituals.
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Annnnnnd this is why you always try to stay on at least semi-good terms with your pledges. Or, at the very least, make sure they don’t have their fucking cell phones in with them during pledge events. It’s like every stupid celebrity and athlete that gets sniped by somebody’s iPhone rolling a blunt or smashing a gas mask bong – if you’re in the public eye, keep your head on a swivel when you’re doing something illegal. When you’re stuffing kids in tiny cages while doused in hot sauce and making them plank on broken glass in front of swastikas and shit, and it’s 2016 and the world has declared war on hazing and fraternities in general, the media literally cums themselves every opportunity they get to dig into frat scandals…don’t let people take pictures of it?
The email sent to the administrators of the national fraternity included attachments of three photographs and three videos. One of the photos allegedly depicts three members of the Fall 2015 pledge class lying on the ground while covered in flour.
Another photo appears to show a different member of that class locked in a small cage. Mehdi claims the smallest member of that class was left in the cage for indefinite periods of time – which were extended in the event a fellow pledging student could not correctly answer a question about Sigma Pi history or the initiated members.
The third photo shows an individual kneeling in front of a wall while covered in what appears to be hot sauce. “We had this thing called ‘Hell Night.’ They’d throw hot sauce all over our body and we’d have to sit there for hours all throughout the night,” Mehdi said.
He claimed the hazing brothers used ghost pepper sauce and this was the most painful act pledges had to endure. Mehdi said the brothers would put the hot sauce on the pledges’ genitals as well.
The email Mehdi sent to Sigma Pi’s national organization also contained three videos all allegedly depicting students chugging gallons of milk and forcing themselves to vomit on one another in the basement of an off-campus residence.
This dude went completely scorched earth by the way. Just a nonstop info dump of accusations.
GroupMe messages obtained by The Chronicle appear to show an initiated brother reference this on March 17, 2015, when Mehdi’s class was still going through the pledge process. This brother wrote in a chat appearing to include the 12 members of Mehdi’s class and an executive board member, “If you say anything to me I will make sure your balls feel the wrath of satan himself.”
In the context of the conversation, it is unclear if the threat was real or what the brother’s intentions were. However, Mehdi said this ritual was a regular occurrence throughout the pledge process.
The person in the third photo is also blindfolded with a purple bandana – the signature color of Sigma Pi – and behind him, on the wall, is a swastika made from duct tape.
And, obviously, he had his motives.
Mehdi openly disclosed that he sent this information to the national organization after being barred from Greek life at Hofstra. He was then expelled from the University after being found responsible of “Sexual Assault_Non-Consensual Sexual Contact” by the Administrative Conduct Board after he allegedly “engaged in sexual touching of the complainant in this matter by pushing [his] groin against her buttocks while dancing, without her affirmative consent,” according to a letter Mehdi received from the Dean of Students Office.
I read the “expelled for sexual assault” and instantly hated his fucking guts – but is that follow up for real? Like was that the thing that got him expelled? Grinding without getting written consent? Gotta be more to it than that.
And it just keeps going!!
It appears the pledges were in several group chats with different executive board members as well as initiated brothers. In one group chat, an initiated brother wrote on March 3, “Just make sure my stuff on the wash is folded neatly on my bed, and my bed is made. Person will get 10 merits.”
Someone appearing to be the vice president of Sigma Pi at the time, wrote on March 20, “Hey I need someone to step up and pick up my girlfriend from her room at 7:30 and bring her to my house, who can do that?”
After a pledge replied “I don’t have a car,” the brother responded, “I promise whoever does it i wont harm at all tonight.”
The same initiated brother, who appeared to go by the nickname “Butt plug” also wrote lyrics for a chant pledges were supposed to learn. On Feb. 25 he wrote, “I dont know what ive been told” […] “Butt plugs gonna rock our souls” […] “And when he does it will feel right” […] “Butt plugs not our friend tonight.”
On March 15, a different initiated brother wrote in a separate group chat, “You guys are so fucked,” continuing, “Get this shit off my lawn by 12:30 or your night will be the worst of your insignificant lives.” The brother went on, “I don’t care who does it. Just take care of it before 5 or God help all of you tonight.”
Mehdi outlined a host of other accusations of hazing that The Chronicle has not been able to independently verify. He claims pledges were forced to drink concoctions of things like chicken feet and hot sauce, and they were paddled repeatedly. “When we get initiated – actually when we get into the brotherhood, everyone in your tree has to paddle you. They try to get alumni to come back so we can get paddled by every single person,” he said.
He also said pledges were made to do planks on their elbows while bottle caps were placed between their elbows and the floor.
Alright we get it, these guys fucking hazed a lot.
PS
Wait this is considered hazing? Is this frowned upon? CC @Portnoy – re: that birdcage we may or may not have spent thousands of dollars building.
Another photo appears to show a different member of that class locked in a small cage. Mehdi claims the smallest member of that class was left in the cage for indefinite periods of time – which were extended in the event a fellow pledging student could not correctly answer a question about Sigma Pi history or the initiated members.