In a startling turn of events, a fraternity chapter at a New Jersey university has been permanently shut down following a critical incident involving a student. Authorities revealed that the student sustained severe injuries during what is believed to be a hazing ritual involving electricity.
Rutgers University’s Alpha Sigma Phi chapter was closed indefinitely after a 19-year-old student member was left in critical condition. This incident, which reportedly took place on October 15, involved the student being electrically shocked while in contact with water, as reported by NJ.com. Authorities were alerted to the scene by a disconnected 911 call, and on arrival, they found the student unresponsive.
Gordy Heminger, a representative for Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, Inc., confirmed in a statement to NJ.com that their investigation concluded hazing had indeed occurred. Consequently, the fraternity opted to permanently close the Rutgers chapter.
The fraternity house, which is located off-campus, has a history of code violations, according to reports from NJ Advance Media.
Further details provided by Heminger indicate that the incident involved “underground and unreported new members” and occurred in the basement of the fraternity house.
Heminger reportedly added that the Oct. 15 incident involved “underground and unreported new members,” and occurred in the basement of the off-campus fraternity house.
“At some point, water became involved,” Heminger said. “This was not students just listening to music in the dark as was claimed by an anonymous parent. This was hazing. We are still trying to determine who and how many people were involved, but we believe it will be double digits when all the facts come out.”
Heminger also reportedly called on Rutgers to expel any students who were involved in the incident, while vowing that Alpha Sigma Phi will do the same.
Alpha Sigma Phi’s Rutgers University chapter has been permanently closed following hazing allegations, according to officials. (iStock)
“We hope Rutgers will do the same,” Heminger reportedly said. “New Jersey has very strong anti-hazing laws and I hope the prosecutor seeks the maximum penalties allowed for those involved.”
As of Friday, authorities had not filed any charges stemming from the incident and the injured student was no longer in critical condition, NJ.com reported.
The New Brunswick house also possessed a history of building code violations and officials have since declared the building to be an unsafe structure, according to NJ Advance Media.
A 19-year-old student was initially in critical condition after being found unresponsive at an Alpha Sigma Phi chapter’s off-campus house at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. (iStock)
A July 2025 inspection revealed numerous “life safety” issues – including multiple electrical hazards – at the property, which is owned by the fraternity’s national arm and managed by CLVEN, according to NJ.com.
Immediately following the incident, Rutgers imposed a cease and desist order on the fraternity’s activities and placed the chapter on organizational disciplinary probation until May 18 – however, the fraternity has since been shut down in light of the new information obtained by investigators.
In 2021, the state implemented several new and stricter penalties for hazing after 19-year-old Timothy Piazza, a New Jersey resident, died after being forced to drink copious amounts of alcohol while attending Penn State University. Two former college students ultimately pleaded guilty to criminal charges stemming from Piazza’s death last year, according to NJ.com.
Alpha Sigma Phi’s national organization, Rutgers University and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
