Another woman alleges sexual assault at fraternity near University of Chicago
Another Woman Alleges Sexual Assault at Fraternity Near UChicago
Activelifezero.com – Another woman alleges sexual assault at fraternity near the University of Chicago, adding to renewed concern about student safety and how reports involving off-campus Greek-letter organizations are handled. The university is scheduled to hold a public safety meeting Wednesday evening as Chicago police investigate separate allegations involving fraternity houses near campus.
One report involves a 21-year-old woman who said she was sexually assaulted at a nearby fraternity house on October 11. The university said last week that a person of interest has been barred from campus while the Chicago Police Department continues its investigation.
A second allegation was raised Monday in a lawsuit filed by a 19-year-old college student identified as Jane Doe. The lawsuit alleges that she was sexually assaulted by a fraternity member during a February party at the Alpha Delta Phi house near the university.
“These allegations are very disturbing to the University community,” University of Chicago spokesperson Gerald McSwiggan said.
Allegations described in the lawsuit
According to the complaint, Doe attended a party at the Alpha Delta Phi house in February and accepted a shot of alcohol from a fraternity brother. The lawsuit does not identify what was in the drink. It says she soon became lightheaded and unsteady.
The suit alleges that the fraternity member then took Doe to a private bedroom on another floor and made unwanted sexual advances after she was no longer physically or verbally able to resist.
“Jane Doe was mentally and physically incapable of providing consent,” the lawsuit alleges.
Doe says she asked the man to use a condom, but he refused. The complaint alleges that he penetrated her without consent and later left her unconscious in the room.
A friend who had attended the party with Doe tried to go upstairs to check on her but was initially stopped by other fraternity members, according to the lawsuit. The friend was eventually permitted upstairs after a member who had seen Doe unconscious intervened. The friend found Doe unresponsive and helped her leave the house, the complaint states.
The following day, Doe says she found bloodstains in her underwear. She reported the incident to Chicago police and identified the fraternity brother she alleges assaulted her.
Police report and defendants named
Chicago police have 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 before later going to a hospital. Police did not publicly name a fraternity, though the lawsuit identifies Alpha Delta Phi’s address on that block as the location of the alleged assault.
Another woman alleges sexual assault at fraternity as the lawsuit names Alpha Delta Phi Inc. and the Chicago Society of Alpha Delta Phi as defendants. The University of Chicago is not currently listed as a defendant.
Doe does not attend the University of Chicago. Her lawsuit identifies the school as a respondent in discovery, an Illinois legal procedure that can allow a plaintiff to seek information before deciding whether evidence supports adding another party as a defendant.
McSwiggan said the university is not a defendant in the case and said the school remains committed to preventing and addressing sexual assault. The university has said its Wednesday public safety meeting was scheduled before the allegations became public as part of a recurring discussion series.
University rules and off-campus fraternities
The university has previously said fraternities are not formally affiliated with the institution. However, University of Chicago students who belong to fraternities remain subject to university rules and potential disciplinary proceedings.
That distinction can matter when allegations concern an organization operating outside the university’s formal structure. Schools may still address the conduct of enrolled students, campus access and potential violations of institutional policies, even when an alleged incident occurs at an off-campus property.
Another woman alleges sexual assault at fraternity during a period of broader scrutiny over how colleges respond to reports tied to fraternity houses and off-campus housing. Such cases have prompted continued discussion about prevention, survivor support and accountability.
University of Chicago safety meeting
The planned public safety meeting offers students, families and community members an opportunity to ask how reports are received, what emergency resources may be available and how the university communicates safety concerns. It may also help clarify the different roles of police, university officials and independent fraternity organizations.
FAQ: Sexual assault resources near the University of Chicago
What should someone do after reporting a sexual assault? A person may seek medical care, contact law enforcement, ask about support services and preserve any information they believe could be relevant. The choice of whether and when to report belongs to the person affected.
Can the University of Chicago take action over an off-campus allegation? The university has said fraternities are not formally affiliated with it, but enrolled students remain subject to university rules and possible disciplinary proceedings.
Who is investigating the February allegation? Chicago police have said they received a report from a 19-year-old woman concerning an alleged sexual assault on February 8 in the 5700 block of South University Avenue.
Why is the university holding a public safety meeting? The university said the Wednesday meeting was scheduled before the allegations became public and is part of a recurring public-safety discussion series.
