Hofstra University is investigating an off-campus incident where a dog was made to drink from a beer keg by members of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity at a party, Fox News reported.
The five-second video of the incident that went viral on social media shows two members of the fraternity forcing a small brown dog to drink beer.
According to The Washington Post, the video was taken at an off-campus fraternity house in Hempstead, N.Y. and surfaced on social media websites on Saturday.
so apparently it’s okay to force dogs to drink beer even though it can kill them???? @HofstraU @AEPi pls do better @peta pic.twitter.com/u8Wx78MUfL
— Kristina (@kristinaproscia) May 11, 2019
On Monday, the university responded by launching an investigation and placing the chapter on interim suspension.
“The University has been in communication with Alpha Epsilon Pi International headquarters, as well as with chapter members regarding this off-campus incident. The behavior seen on the video is unacceptable and in violation of the University’s Code of Community Standards,” the university said in a statement.
“In addition, any individual students identified in the video will also be subject to the University’s Code of Community Standards.”
The incident grabbed the attention of the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty, which launched an investigation of its own as well.
“It’s wrong on every level. It’s just not rational thinking,” Gary Rogers of the SPCA told CBS News. “[It’s] a misdemeanor for failure to provide adequate sustenance and overdrive and torture of an animal.”
The national headquarters of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity has placed the local chapter on “cease and desist,” citing a violation of its health and safety policies.
“During this investigatory period, there can be no chapter activities,” Jon Pierce, a spokesman for Alpha Epsilon Pi, said in a statement to The Washington Post.
“We hope that we are able to use this as a teaching moment to help build better young men who are committed to our policies and our mission of developing the future leaders of the world’s Jewish communities.”
Last week, Swarthmore College banned all the Greek organizations on campus based on recommendations suggested by its Task Force for Student Social Events and Community Standards committee report, which found serious misconduct surrounding fraternities.