“Alcohol consumption was reported to have occurred by numerous individuals in attendance, including pledge candidates, which includes the deceased male.”
According to CBS News, Carter Eslick, Ryan Creech, and Riley Cash were all executive board members of Delta Tau Delta’s Arizona chapter, serving as the new member educator, vice president, and treasurer.
Northern Arizona University has put the fraternity on interim suspension while investigations continue and released a statement denouncing the incident.
“We want to be clear: the safety and wellbeing of our students remain our highest priority. Violence, hazing and any other behaviour that endangers others has no place at NAU.
“This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his family, friends, and all members of our community who are grieving.”
Jack Kreman, CEO of Delta Tau Delta International, told ABC News the chapter has been prohibited from any Greek activities while the fraternity undertakes an internal audit.
“Our position on hazing is clear: it is the antithesis of brotherhood and a violation of the values of Delta Tau Delta.”
Several chapters of the fraternity have been implicated in hazing incidents over the years, including Ohio University, Florida State University, and Miami University.
In 2019, 18 Miami University students were arrested after another student was hit with a paddle while being made to ingest alcohol and cannabis, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Hazing has also occurred at New Zealand universities, particularly in Dunedin, where student flat initiations have become increasingly common.
In 2023, Critic Te Ārohi reported that a live eel was involved in a ritualistic flat signing event, with one onlooker telling the student magazine “it was the most traumatic initiation I’ve ever witnessed”.
