Sexual assault at UChicago frat house sparks campus safety concerns
A 21-year-old woman reported being sexually assaulted at an Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house near the University of Chicago. A person of interest has been identified and banned from campus.
Woman reports sexual assault at Alpha Epsilon Pi house near University of Chicago
A 21-year-old woman reported being sexually assaulted at an off-campus fraternity house near the University of Chicago in the early hours of Sunday morning, theguardian.com reports, as Greek life across the United States faces renewed scrutiny over recurring misconduct.
The incident allegedly occurred at approximately 1.50am at the Alpha Epsilon Pi residence, according to the university's daily crime log. In a police report obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, the woman stated she was "not fully conscious" when she was found partially undressed inside a bathroom with a semi-nude man.
She told police that a group had initially prevented her friends from entering the bathroom.
University officials announced on Wednesday that a person of interest had been identified. That individual is not a student and has been banned from the campus. Chicago police confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that no one was in custody and that an investigation remains ongoing.
Jonathan Pierce, a spokesperson for Alpha Epsilon Pi, said there was no evidence that any of its members had participated in or were aware of the alleged assault. Pierce noted that several "sober monitors" had been present during the party, including the chapter's safety officer.
"When AEPi members became aware of the victim's report, they offered assistance by providing food and water and even loaned a shirt to the victim as she reported being cold while she waited outside for emergency response," Pierce said in a statement.
"We are pleased that the alleged assailant has been identified and hope that the victim can find some solace in knowing that justice is being done," he added.
The reported incident comes in the wake of a gang-rape allegation at a Cornell University fraternity house in 2024. That case drew national uproar and widespread criticism of the Ivy League institution's perceived leniency toward the alleged offenders. New York state prosecutors have since reopened an investigation into that report.
Under mounting pressure, Cornell suspended all fraternity parties for the remainder of the academic year while it assesses the safety of its Greek organisations.
Last week, the University of Arizona took similar action, halting all fraternity activity following several hazing and physical assault allegations — including accusations that one Greek organisation had coerced recruits into binge drinking and swallowing live goldfish.
Source: Google News MT