Chicago police are currently investigating a claim made by a woman stating that she was sexually assaulted during a fraternity event near the vicinity of the University of Chicago campus. This allegation has emerged during a time when there is increased awareness surrounding sexual violence occurrences on college grounds. As of Wednesday, Chicago authorities have not pressed any charges in connection to the incident. The university released an advisory mentioning the identification of a person of interest.
This incident in Chicago coincides with a recent controversy involving Cornell University, where a woman alleged that she was drugged and gang-raped by members of a fraternity in 2024. Despite internal disciplinary actions taken by the university following a campus inquiry, no criminal charges were filed in the case.
The University of Chicago, a prestigious research institution in the U.S. with a student population of 18,000, confirmed that a woman reported being sexually assaulted at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house during an early Sunday party. Following a confrontation with another individual, the perpetrator fled the premises, the university stated. The victim, a 21-year-old woman, reported the assault to law enforcement and sought medical treatment but is not affiliated with the university as a student.
Chicago police, upon request from The Associated Press, did not immediately provide a copy of the incident report related to the alleged assault. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the woman informed law enforcement that she had been consuming alcohol and dancing at the event before feeling unwell. Her friends discovered her in a compromised state in a bathroom with a man, both partially undressed. The friends informed the police that they had to push through a group of men who seemed to be encouraging the situation in order to access the bathroom.
Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity has vehemently denied any involvement of its members in the purported assault or any encouragement of such behavior. The fraternity’s University of Chicago chapter stated that upon being alerted by one of the victim’s friends, its members promptly intervened and terminated the party. Jonathan Pierce, a representative of the fraternity’s national body, asserted that there is no evidence linking any fraternity members to the assault. The individual identified as a person of interest is not associated with the university.
In a related development, Cornell University recently announced a ban on fraternity house parties until the following year in response to a lawsuit filed by a woman against the university and seven fraternity members, alleging repeated assault at a fraternity facility in October 2024. The accused individuals have denied any misconduct. Cornell University also disclosed plans to involve the New York State Police in investigations concerning campus sexual assault incidents.
Moreover, fraternity activities at the University of Arizona have been suspended following multiple reports of assault, hazing, and other inappropriate behavior.