Police Investigate Alleged Sexual Assault At University Of Chicago Frat Party

Chicago police are investigating an alleged sexual assault at a fraternity party near the University of Chicago, adding to growing scrutiny of how colleges and Greek organizations respond to reports of sexual violence.

According to the Associated Press, the incident reportedly occurred early Sunday at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house. The 21-year-old woman, who didn’t attend the university, reported the alleged assault to police and went to a hospital for treatment.

Police said Wednesday that no one had been charged, although university officials announced a day earlier that investigators had identified a person of interest. The University of Chicago said the alleged perpetrator fled the house after another person confronted them. The woman is not a university student.

The Chicago Sun-Times, citing a police report, reported that the woman told authorities she had been drinking and dancing at the party before she began feeling unwell. Two of her friends allegedly found her “not fully conscious” in a bathroom with a man, with both partially undressed.

According to the Sun-Times, friends of the woman told police they had to push past several men to enter the bathroom. Those men were reportedly “cheering and appearing to encourage the activity inside.”

Alpha Epsilon Pi has denied that members of its fraternity participated in or encouraged the alleged assault. The fraternity’s University of Chicago chapter said members rushed to help the woman after one of her friends alerted them and immediately ended the party.

“There is no evidence at all that any AEPi members participated in this assault or were aware of it while it was transpiring,” Jonathan Pierce, a spokesperson for the fraternity’s national organization, told AP. 

The fraternity also said the alleged perpetrator was chased out of the house and captured on surveillance cameras fleeing the property. The Chicago investigation comes during a heightened national concern over sexual assault allegations involving fraternities, particularly following a controversy at Cornell University.

Last month, a woman sued Cornell and seven fraternity members, alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple men at a fraternity house in October 2024. The men have denied wrongdoing, and no criminal charges were filed.

Cornell announced Tuesday that it would ban fraternity-house parties through the end of the year and involve New York State Police in investigations of campus sexual assaults.

The University of Arizona has also suspended fraternity activities following multiple reports of assault, hazing, and other misconduct.

As the Chicago investigation continues, authorities have not announced any charges, and the allegations remain under investigation.

SEE ALSO:

Cornell Finally Bans Frat Parties After Alleged Sexual Assault

Trump Sympathy For Cornell Rape Suspects Is Entirely On Brand [Op-Ed]