NAU Freshman's Death at Fraternity Rush Event Leads to Hazing Arrests, Chapter Suspension
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — A weekend fraternity rush event turned tragic at Northern Arizona University, leading to the death of an 18-year-old freshman and triggering a hazing investigation that has seen three students arrested and the local fraternity chapter suspended.
Flagstaff Police Department officers responded to a residence on South Pine Grove Road just before 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, after reports of an unresponsive male. Bystanders had already initiated CPR, and responding officers continued life-saving measures until paramedics arrived. The student was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been released pending family notification.
Investigators determined the student had attended a "rush" event at the residence the previous evening, hosted by the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Police allege that alcohol consumption was involved at the gathering. The incident led to the arrest of three NAU students and Delta Tau Delta members: 20-year-olds Carter Eslick, Riley Cass, and Ryan Creech. Each faces a felony hazing charge under Arizona's recently strengthened anti-hazing statute, known as Jack's Law.
"This is a devastating loss for our university community," NAU said in a statement. The university confirmed the immediate suspension of the Delta Tau Delta chapter and pledged full cooperation with the police investigation. "The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priorities. Hazing has no place at NAU," the statement continued.
The case casts a renewed spotlight on the persistent issue of hazing on college campuses. Arizona's Jack's Law, enacted in 2022, classifies hazing that leads to serious injury or death as a felony, punishable by up to 3.75 years in prison. The law defines hazing as subjecting someone to potentially dangerous activities to gain entry into a group.
As detectives work to determine the official cause of death, the campus community grapples with the fallout. The national office of Delta Tau Delta has not commented, citing the ongoing investigation.
Community Reaction
David Chen, NAU Senior and Student Government Representative: "This is a heartbreaking reminder that policies on paper aren't enough. We need a fundamental cultural shift. The university's swift suspension is a start, but real change requires every student to speak up against these dangerous traditions."
Maria Rodriguez, Flagstaff Resident and Mother of a College Student: "I sent my son to college to learn, not to be pressured into life-threatening rituals. These fraternities operate like they're above the law. It's time for universities to hold them accountable with zero tolerance. Where was the oversight?"
Professor Alan Briggs, Sociology Department: "Tragically, this incident fits a known pattern where the desire for belonging collides with harmful group dynamics. While laws like Jack's Law provide crucial legal tools, combating hazing ultimately depends on changing the social norms within these organizations themselves."
Kyle Johnson, Former Fraternity Member at Another University: "This makes me furious. We spent years talking about 'brotherhood' and 'tradition,' but some chapters just use that as an excuse for abuse. Until the national organizations and schools crack down hard on every single violation, nothing will change. These arrests are justified, but they're just treating a symptom."