Police are looking into a woman’s claim of being sexually assaulted at a fraternity gathering near the University of Chicago campus, an accusation that arises amidst increased attention to sexual violence in college settings. Authorities in Chicago stated that as of Wednesday, no arrests had been made, following an alert from university officials revealing that a person of interest had been identified.
The incident in Chicago coincides with 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 based on a campus inquiry, no criminal charges were brought forward.
The University of Chicago, a prestigious U.S. research institution with 18,000 students, disclosed that a woman reported being sexually assaulted early Sunday at a party held at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity residence. The university mentioned that the assailant fled the property upon being confronted by another individual.
The 21-year-old victim reported the assault to law enforcement and sought medical care at a hospital, according to Chicago police, who confirmed she is not affiliated with the university. Chicago police did not furnish a copy of the incident report upon request by The Associated Press on Wednesday.
As per the Chicago Sun-Times, referencing the police report, the woman recounted consuming alcohol and dancing at the party before feeling unwell. The report indicated that two of her friends discovered her in a compromised state in a bathroom with a man, both partially undressed. The friends alleged they had to push through a group of men cheering and seemingly endorsing the situation to access the bathroom.
The fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, stated that none of its members partook in or encouraged the alleged assault. The university chapter of the fraternity informed that upon being alerted by a friend of the victim, its members promptly assisted the woman and terminated the event. The fraternity’s national spokesperson, Jonathan Pierce, emphasized that there is no evidence of fraternity involvement in the assault.
The individual identified as a person of interest in the case by university authorities is confirmed not to be associated with the institution. The Cornell case, which surfaced recently after a woman filed a lawsuit against the university and seven fraternity members, has prompted Cornell to suspend fraternity house parties until the following year. The university also announced the involvement of the New York State Police in investigations of campus sexual assaults.
Fraternities have faced scrutiny at the University of Arizona as well, which suspended fraternity activities due to multiple reports of assault, hazing, and other misconduct earlier this month.