Alleged Sexual Assault at University of Chicago Fraternity Party

A young woman has accused a group of men of raping her during a party at a fraternity house at the University of Chicago. This incident reportedly took place in a bathroom where men outside were heard cheering, asking things like “when’s my turn” and “let me in.” The report comes soon after serious allegations against another fraternity, making the situation more concerning.

The alleged assault occurred at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house in Hyde Park, during what was described as a chaotic party. A 21-year-old woman, who is not a student at the university, attended the event with a couple of friends after seeing an announcement about it on social media.

According to her friend, Mia Lara, they were having a good time dancing when the victim went off with a man she had been kissing. Lara later searched for her friend and found a small group of men gathered outside a locked bathroom door, saying things like “I want to go in there” and “when’s it my turn.”

Lara, managing to get through the door, discovered her friend in a distressing state—slumped against the wall with her clothes disheveled. A man, who is also reportedly not affiliated with the university, was allegedly holding her wrists. The young woman was in tears, pleading with her friend to help her escape and to stop what was happening.

Following the incident, Lara confronted the man outside and accused him of assaulting her friend. He allegedly responded by saying, “She wanted to.”

According to Chicago police, the young woman received medical attention at a hospital, and they are actively investigating the claims. As of Wednesday night, no arrests had been made.

The university has stated that it has prohibited the individual of interest from being on campus. A spokesperson from the fraternity’s national organization indicated that the accused is not a member of their chapter and asserted that they do not believe any fraternity members were involved or complicit in the alleged crime.

The fraternity issued a public statement expressing profound concern over the sexual assault, condemning the violence unequivocally. They noted that aware of the situation through one of their sober monitors who was contacted by the victim’s friend. Members of the fraternity, including the risk manager, arrived quickly to assist the victim.

They emphasized that one member stayed with the victim until the authorities arrived, and the party was shut down immediately afterward. Although the fraternities at the University of Chicago are not officially linked with the institution, they must still adhere to school policies.

The fraternity supports the investigation and is committed to providing assistance in any way they can, reiterating that their primary concern is for the victim and calling for respect for her privacy and dignity.

Furthermore, the fraternity’s headquarters is cooperating with the school and law enforcement, and has instructed the chapter to halt all events during the ongoing investigation. They expressed that all members are pained for the victim, emphasizing that no individual should ever feel unsafe during any campus event.