BLOOMINGTON — Seven members of Indiana University’s Phi Kappa Psi fraternity are facing felony hazing charges following an intense initiation ritual last fall that left two pledges hospitalized with life-threatening medical conditions.
Formal charges were filed in Monroe County, stemming from an Indiana University Police Department (IUPD) investigation into a late-night event that occurred at the chapter house.
Court records state that seven active fraternity members forced a class of more than 30 pledges through grueling physical exercises over three hours, including continuous push-ups, leg lifts, and squats, followed by an ice bath.
The extreme physical exertion caused at least two pledges to develop rhabdomyolysis—a severe, potentially fatal medical condition triggered by extreme muscle breakdown. The breakdown releases muscle proteins into the bloodstream, which can rapidly lead to kidney failure and heart damage. One victim was admitted to the hospital in critical condition.
According to court documents, additional humiliating demands were made during the ritual, including ordering one pledge to wear a diaper and urinate on command before he left to seek emergency medical treatment.
In addition to the physical abuse, investigators allege that fraternity leadership attempted to cover up the incident. Chapter President Arjunkumar Patel, of Westfield, allegedly instructed one of the injured pledges to delete text messages regarding the ritual and lie to medical personnel and detectives about how the injuries occurred.
Each of the seven charged students faces two counts of hazing, a Level 6 felony. In Indiana, a Level 6 felony carries a potential penalty of up to two and a half years in prison.
The six fraternity members serving on the “New Member Committee” named in the charging documents are:
- Joseph Moon, of Elkhart
- Noah Kucera, San Clemente, California
- Kaptur Nowaczyk, of Crown Point
- Logan Conforti, of Elgin, Illinois
- Casey Clarke, of Hagaman, New York
- Ryan Donohue, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Patel, the chapter president, faces the two felony hazing counts alongside an additional charge for obstruction of justice due to his alleged attempts to conceal evidence.
University and Chapter Status
Though approximately 36 pledges attended the event, IUPD noted that only two agreed to cooperate and be interviewed by detectives. While several defendants claimed the exercises were optional safety checks lasting under 45 minutes, police said video evidence showing pledges limping in severe pain directly contradicted those statements.
Indiana University placed the Phi Kappa Psi chapter on immediate cease-and-desist status following the initial reports, suspending all social, administrative, and recruitment operations pending the outcome of the case.
In a statement, Vice Chancellor for Student Life Lamar Hylton condemned the reported acts, stating that the alleged behavior is entirely “inconsistent with Indiana University’s values.”
