The University of Arizona has suspended Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity after pledges were allegedly forced to swallow live goldfish and consume excessive alcohol during an initiation ritual.
University president Suresh Garimella issued a disciplinary letter to the fraternity on Friday placing it on “activities suspension,” a status that bars members from hosting, attending, participating in, or sponsoring any organizational activities until the case reaches final disposition. Only club business meetings remain permitted under the order. The duration of the suspension has not been specified.
New members identified as “baby Bearcats pledges” endured multiple forms of abuse, according to Garimella’s letter. They were forced to chug alcohol alongside the goldfish consumption and faced “screaming, degradation and threats from active members” of the chapter. The letter characterized the treatment as hazing, a violation of university policy.
Fraternity members will be required to meet with university officials to address the allegations. Whether individual organizers of the Sigma Tau Gamma chapter will face additional discipline remains undetermined.
The case emerges during active pledging season at major universities nationwide, with hazing incidents drawing renewed scrutiny. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, police discovered approximately 30 partially clothed prospective Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity members on September 23 in a sweltering, filthy basement. The pledges were found fully clothed but smeared with condiments and huddled together in disturbing conditions.
“UW–Madison is fully committed to preventing and addressing hazing and takes all incidents involving our community seriously,” the university stated Thursday following the arrests of fraternity president Brayden Klein, 20, and vice president Samuel Vane, 20. Both face misdemeanor hazing and misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges in connection with the basement scene.
The Wisconsin and Arizona incidents mark the latest in a pattern of dangerous initiation practices that have prompted intensified oversight at campuses across the country. Universities have increasingly moved to suspend Greek organizations rather than issue lesser sanctions when physical abuse or coerced consumption is alleged.
Neither the University of Arizona nor Sigma Tau Gamma’s national organization responded to requests for comment regarding the goldfish allegations or potential next steps in the disciplinary process.