Police are currently looking into a woman’s claim of being sexually assaulted at a fraternity gathering close to the University of Chicago campus. This accusation arises during a time when there is increased awareness of sexual violence in college settings. As of Wednesday, Chicago police have not made any arrests, despite university officials stating that they have identified a person of interest.
The incident in Chicago is amidst controversy surrounding Cornell University’s response to a woman’s allegations of being drugged and gang-raped by fraternity members in 2024. While the university took internal disciplinary measures following a campus investigation, no criminal charges were filed.
The University of Chicago, renowned for its research programs and with an enrollment of 18,000 students, confirmed that a woman reported being sexually assaulted at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house during a party early on a Sunday. The assailant reportedly fled the scene after being confronted by another individual. The 21-year-old victim reported the assault to the police and sought medical attention but is not a student at the university.
Details from the police report, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, indicate that the woman, who had been drinking and dancing at the party, was found in a bathroom in a compromised state by her friends. They had to push through a group of men who were seemingly encouraging the situation inside the bathroom.
Alpha Epsilon Pi denied any involvement by its members in the alleged assault and claimed they acted promptly to assist the victim upon being alerted by her friends, ending the party immediately. The fraternity’s national spokesperson emphasized that there is no evidence linking any fraternity members to the assault. The individual identified as a person of interest is confirmed not to be associated with the university.
In a separate case, a lawsuit was filed against Cornell University and seven fraternity members by a woman who alleged repeated assaults at a fraternity house in 2024. Despite her detailed report to campus authorities, no legal action was taken by local prosecutors. Cornell has responded by banning fraternity house parties until the following year and involving the New York State Police in campus sexual assault investigations.
Moreover, the University of Arizona recently suspended fraternity activities due to multiple reports of assault, hazing, and other misconduct. This adds to the ongoing scrutiny of fraternities in the university setting for issues related to sexual violence and misconduct.