Bodycam Footage Shows Hazing Incident at University of Iowa Fraternity

Police found 56 shirtless, blindfolded pledges with food splattered on them in a dark basement.

Mar. 1, 2026 at 7:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Bodycam footage has surfaced showing police responding to a fire alarm at a University of Iowa fraternity house in 2024, where they discovered 56 shirtless and blindfolded pledges in a dark basement with food splattered on them. The fraternity president claimed the pledges were completing an initiation ritual, but the incident led to the suspension of the fraternity for four years.

Why it matters

Hazing incidents at college fraternities have come under increased scrutiny in recent years, with many universities cracking down on such practices due to concerns over student safety and well-being. This case highlights the continued prevalence of hazing rituals and the challenges universities face in addressing them.

The details

When police and firefighters responded to a fire alarm at the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity house, they found 56 shirtless and blindfolded pledges in the basement, with food splattered on them. The fraternity president claimed the pledges were completing an initiation ritual, but the incident led to the fraternity being suspended for four years. One student, Joseph Gaya, was arrested and charged with interference of official acts, but the charges were later dropped.

  • The incident occurred in November 2024.
  • The fraternity was suspended until 2029, a period of four years.

The players

Alpha Delta Phi

A fraternity at the University of Iowa where the hazing incident took place.

Joseph Gaya

A 21-year-old man who was present at the scene and gave police a fake ID, leading to his arrest and charges of interference of official acts, which were later dropped.

University of Iowa

The university where the fraternity was located and which suspended the fraternity for four years following the incident.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Looks like we have quite a bit of hazing.”

— Police Officer

“I've already given multiple commands to clear the room and get out of here, but no one's moving.”

— Police Officer

“He's working at Summit.”

— Unidentified Student

“I don't know, taste it.”

— Joseph Gaya

What’s next

The University of Iowa is expected to review its policies and procedures around fraternity activities and hazing to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The takeaway

This case highlights the continued prevalence of hazing rituals in college fraternities and the challenges universities face in addressing such practices, which can put student safety and well-being at risk. It underscores the need for stronger oversight and enforcement of anti-hazing policies to protect vulnerable students.