Police are currently looking into a woman’s claim of being sexually assaulted at a fraternity party close to the University of Chicago campus. This allegation arises during a time when sexual violence awareness on college grounds is heightened. Authorities in Chicago mentioned that as of Wednesday, no charges had been pressed, following an alert by university officials identifying a person of interest.
The incident in Chicago coincides with public outcry over Cornell University’s response to a woman’s accusations of being drugged and gang-raped by fraternity members in 2024. While the university took internal disciplinary measures after a campus investigation, no criminal charges were brought forward. The University of Chicago, known for its high-ranking research programs and an enrollment of 18,000 students, confirmed that a woman reported a sexual assault at a party held at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house early Sunday.
According to Chicago police, the 21-year-old victim reported the assault, sought treatment at a hospital, and is not affiliated with the university. The police report on the alleged attack was not immediately available when requested by The Associated Press on Wednesday. The woman reportedly informed the police that she felt unwell after drinking and dancing at the party. Subsequently, two of her friends found her semi-conscious in a bathroom with a partially undressed man, having had to push through a group of men cheering and seemingly supporting the situation.
Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity denied any involvement or encouragement by its members in the alleged assault. The fraternity’s University of Chicago chapter stated that upon being alerted by a friend of the victim, its members intervened promptly and terminated the event. The fraternity’s national organization spokesperson emphasized that there is no evidence linking any fraternity members to the assault or their awareness of it at the time. The person of interest identified is reportedly not associated with the university.
In a related incident, Cornell University faced criticism after a woman filed a lawsuit against the university and seven fraternity members, alleging multiple assaults at a fraternity house in 2024. Despite her detailed report to campus authorities, no charges were pursued by local prosecutors. Cornell University recently announced the suspension of fraternity house parties until the following year and plans to involve the New York State Police in campus sexual assault investigations. Additionally, the University of Arizona suspended fraternity activities this month due to reports of assault, hazing, and misconduct.
