Hazing Lawyers in Connecticut: Protecting Students & Holding Institutions Accountable
Hazing in Connecticut: A Hidden Crisis on Campus
Fraternities and sororities have been a part of Connecticut’s college culture for generations, but behind the camaraderie and tradition lies a dark reality: hazing. Every year, students across Connecticut—at Yale, UConn, Trinity College, Wesleyan, Fairfield University, and other institutions—are subjected to dangerous, degrading, and sometimes life-threatening initiation rituals. What’s often dismissed as “harmless tradition” is actually abuse, assault, and reckless endangerment—and it’s happening right here in Connecticut.
At Attorney 911, we’re fighting back. We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—a case that has exposed waterboarding, forced exercise until kidney failure, and a culture of institutional neglect. The same fraternities with chapters in Connecticut are operating under the same national organizations. If it can happen in Texas, it can—and does—happen in Connecticut.
If your child has been hazed in Connecticut, you have legal rights. And we will fight for you.
What Is Hazing? Connecticut’s Legal Definition
Hazing isn’t just “roughhousing” or “team-building.” Under Connecticut law (C.G.S. § 53-23a), hazing is defined as:
“Any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in any organization.”
This includes:
✅ Physical abuse (beating, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion)
✅ Forced consumption (alcohol, food, drugs—until vomiting or passing out)
✅ Psychological torture (waterboarding, sleep deprivation, humiliation)
✅ Sexual abuse (forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects)
✅ Extreme servitude (forced errands, cleaning, driving members at all hours)
In Connecticut, hazing is a criminal offense. It can result in:
- Misdemeanor charges (up to 1 year in jail)
- Felony charges (if serious injury or death occurs)
- Civil lawsuits (compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages)
Hazing in Connecticut: The Reality
While Connecticut’s universities may project an image of safety and academic excellence, hazing is rampant—and often covered up.
Connecticut Colleges & Universities Where Hazing Occurs
| University | Greek Life Presence | Notable Hazing Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Yale University | Strong Greek system (fraternities & sororities) | Elite culture, high-pressure pledging |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) | Large Greek community | Alcohol-related hazing, physical endurance tests |
| Trinity College | Active Greek organizations | Small campus, tight-knit groups, peer pressure |
| Wesleyan University | Fraternities & sororities | Progressive reputation, but hazing still occurs |
| Fairfield University | Growing Greek system | Jesuit values vs. hazing culture |
| Quinnipiac University | Fraternities & sororities | Competitive recruitment, alcohol-related risks |
| University of New Haven | Greek organizations | Less oversight, higher risk of extreme hazing |
| Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) | Fraternities & sororities | Less scrutiny, higher risk of abuse |
| Sacred Heart University | Greek life present | Religious affiliation doesn’t prevent hazing |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Smaller Greek system | Less oversight, higher risk of extreme rituals |
The same national fraternities and sorororities involved in our $10 million lawsuit—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, and others—have active chapters in Connecticut.
Real Hazing Incidents in Connecticut (and Nearby)
While Connecticut doesn’t always make national headlines for hazing, it happens here—and it’s often swept under the rug.
| Case | University | Fraternity | What Happened |
