University of Chicago addresses fraternity sexual assault allegations
Goldlaner.com – Another woman alleges sexual assault at a fraternity house near the University of Chicago, adding to concerns about student safety and how reports involving off-campus organizations are handled. The university is scheduled to hold a public safety meeting Wednesday evening.
The latest case involves a 21-year-old woman who reported being sexually assaulted at a fraternity house near campus on October 11. Chicago police are investigating, and the university said a person of interest has been barred from campus.
A separate lawsuit, filed Monday by a 19-year-old college student identified as Jane Doe, alleges she was sexually assaulted by a fraternity member during a February gathering at the Alpha Delta Phi house near the University of Chicago.
“These allegations are very disturbing to the University community,” University of Chicago spokesperson Gerald McSwiggan said.
McSwiggan said the university is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. He said the school remains committed to preventing and responding to sexual assault, and that the planned safety meeting was scheduled before the allegations became public.
What the lawsuit alleges
The lawsuit names Alpha Delta Phi Inc. and the Chicago Society of Alpha Delta Phi as defendants. The University of Chicago is listed as a respondent in discovery, an Illinois legal procedure that allows Doe to seek information from the school and potentially add it as a defendant if evidence supports doing so.
Doe does not attend the University of Chicago, her attorney Georgia Booth told WLS. According to the complaint, she attended a February party at the Alpha Delta Phi house and accepted a shot of alcohol offered by a fraternity brother.
The lawsuit alleges that the drink was unidentified and that Doe soon became lightheaded and unsteady. It says the fraternity member led her to a private bedroom, where he allegedly made unwanted sexual advances after she was unable to physically or verbally resist.
“Jane Doe was mentally and physically incapable of providing consent,” the lawsuit states.
Doe alleges she asked the man to use a condom, that he declined, and that he penetrated her without consent before leaving her unconscious in the room. A friend who tried to check on Doe was initially prevented from going upstairs, the complaint alleges.
The lawsuit says a fraternity member who saw Doe unconscious later intervened, allowing the friend upstairs. The friend found Doe, helped her leave the house and got her to safety. The next morning, Doe said she found bloodstains in her underwear and contacted Chicago police.
Police investigation and university response
Chicago police said a 19-year-old woman reported being sexually assaulted at about 1 a.m. on February 8 inside a residence in the 5700 block of South University Avenue. Police said she later went to a hospital. Authorities did not identify the fraternity, though the lawsuit places the alleged assault at the Alpha Delta Phi address on that block.
Another woman alleges sexual assault in the October report, more than eight months after the February incident. The cases have renewed attention on fraternity houses near campus and the responsibilities of universities, law enforcement and Greek-letter organizations.
The University of Chicago has said fraternities are not formally affiliated with the school. Students who belong to those organizations, however, remain subject to university rules and disciplinary procedures. That distinction can affect which institution investigates allegations, provides support or imposes discipline.
University of Chicago safety questions: FAQ
Who is investigating the reported assaults? Chicago police are investigating the October report. The February allegation is described in a civil lawsuit, and police confirmed receiving a report of sexual assault connected to a residence in the 5700 block of South University Avenue.
Is the University of Chicago a defendant in the lawsuit? No. The university is listed as a respondent in discovery, which permits the plaintiff to seek information and could allow the school to be added later if evidence supports that action.
Are fraternities near the university formally affiliated with the school? The university has said fraternities are not formally affiliated with it, although student members remain subject to university policies and disciplinary processes.
What is the purpose of the public safety meeting? The meeting is part of an ongoing university public-safety series and gives community members a chance to discuss safety concerns, reporting processes and the university’s response to incidents near campus.
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