Indiana University fraternity hazing charges hospitalize two pledges

Seven members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at Indiana University were indicted on felony hazing charges after a grueling October 2025 ritual left two pledges in the hospital with rhabdomyolysis, a life‑threatening muscle‑breakdown condition. The ceremony involved an empty room with a metal trough of ice water, forced "brother squats," push‑ups, planks, leg lifts and immersion in the ice bath while reciting the fraternity creed. One pledge reported severe thigh pain and dark urine, prompting hospitalization for several days.

Fraternity president Arjunkumar Patel allegedly instructed a pledge to lie about the injuries and to delete related messages, leading to additional obstruction‑of‑justice charges. Other members charged include Joseph Moon, Noah Kucera, Logan Conforti, Casey Clarke, Ryan Donohue and Kaptur Nowaczyk. The case highlights ongoing concerns about hazing practices on college campuses.