A UC Berkeley student has been hospitalized after a reported medical emergency at an off-campus fraternity pool late Friday night. According to SFGATE, the university confirmed it is “aware of reports of a drowning” that occurred “at a recognized fraternity located off-campus.”
In its public statement, UC Berkeley expressed support for the student and their family, noting that “our thoughts are with the student, their family, loved ones and friends during this time,” and that the school is following its protocols to offer assistance.
Reports from the Berkeley Scanner indicate that first responders were called to a fraternity on the 2400 block of Prospect Street shortly before 11:30 p.m. The student was reportedly administered CPR and transported to a nearby hospital. Due to privacy laws, the university has not released any additional details about the student’s current condition.
UC Berkeley confirmed that there is an ongoing police investigation.
Hazing Attorney David Bianchi Weighs In
David Bianchi, a nationally recognized hazing attorney and founding partner at Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain, P.A., spoke out after learning of the incident and the media reports surrounding it. He described the situation as “every parent’s worst nightmare.”
Bianchi highlighted the gravity of the reports coming from Berkeley:
“The recent news about the horrific hazing incident at UC Berkeley involving a student who is now critically injured after nearly drowning is every parent’s worst nightmare.”
Although the university has only confirmed a reported drowning and a hospitalization, Bianchi responded to the information reported in the media and the early statements issued by the fraternity’s leadership.
He noted that the fraternity’s public statement followed a pattern he has seen repeatedly in serious hazing cases. “According to the media reports, the incident happened at an Alpha Delta Phi off-campus house and, not surprisingly, the fraternity’s executive director issued the usual statement of ‘our priority is the safety and well-being of all members and guests.’ That’s what they all say after these horrific things happen.”
Drawing from more than three decades of representing hazing victims and families, Bianchi emphasized that incidents like this rarely occur without warning signs:
“I have been representing fraternity hazing victims and their families for over 30 years in hazing cases all over the country, and I can tell you that in every case I have ever had where the victim either died or is seriously injured, the fraternity leadership at the national and local level failed to do enough to stop it before it happened.”
He continued:
“These events don’t just emerge out of thin air. They are typically planned in advance and, in many instances, they are part of a long-standing fraternity tradition where similar acts of madness take place each year at the same time. Everyone associated with overseeing fraternities knows this, yet the hazing continues.”
A National Hazing Crisis
Bianchi placed the Berkeley incident within the broader, longstanding national pattern:
“Since the year 2000, over 100 fraternity pledges have died as a result of hazing, and this continues to occur despite the fact that every national fraternity has an anti-hazing policy, every major college and university has an anti-hazing policy, and most states have laws making hazing a crime punishable with jail time.”
He stressed that swift legal action is essential to preventing future tragedies:
“When these tragedies occur, it is imperative to immediately put the wheels in motion to hold the perpetrators accountable with the filing of criminal charges and the filing of a civil lawsuit on behalf of the victim.”
Bianchi concluded with a call for decisive consequences:
“Justice here must be swift and certain, and it must send a message to every other fraternity out there that if you continue to do these things, you too will be on the receiving end of the full measure of justice for the harm you caused to the victim. Enough is enough.”
Broader Hazing Concerns in Greek Life
The SFGATE report notes that UC Berkeley’s fraternities and sororities operate off campus, with “recognized” groups subject to some oversight by university staff, while unrecognized groups often lost that status due to hazing or alcohol violations. This mixed oversight model is common nationwide and can create safety gaps for students.
As the investigation continues, the Berkeley incident serves as another stark reminder of how quickly fraternity events can turn dangerous—and how essential strong oversight and accountability are in preventing future tragedies.