A sorority member at the University of Arizona has alleged she was sexually assaulted by two men at a fraternity house during a night of drinking in late August.
asserted
she → allege → August
The student told the university’s police department that she consensually kissed one of the men at one point while at the Sigma Phi Epsilon house on 26 August but doesn’t remember agreeing to sex, according to search warrant records posted Monday night by KOLD-TV in Tucson.
uncertain
she → tell → Tucson
The sexual assault allegations surfaced two weeks after the university had suspended activities for its 21 fraternities amid reports of misconduct, including assault, hazing and drug- and alcohol-related behavior.
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university → surface → assault
Suspensions on all but five fraternities have since been lifted after they had mandatory meetings with the dean of students.
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they → lift → students
In speaking with an investigator, the sorority member recalled consuming tequila, including sharing a cup of the beverage with friends; witnessing two men sexually assaulting her, and even feeling one man’s breath on her face; awakening the next morning without pants or underwear on; and noticing a difficulty in swallowing, a possible sign of strangulation, according to the records.
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pants → speak → records
Later that day, she reported the allegations to police and underwent a forensic exam at a hospital.
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she → report → hospital
In a recorded call with the sorority member two days after the encounter, one of the men acknowledged he had sex with her, but said she had agreed to it and denied that another man had had sex with her.
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man → record → her
He said he had been drunk and “fuzzy” on what happened.
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what → say → ?
He said people took video of the sorority member and him kissing in a bathroom, according to the records.
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member → say → records
The Associated Press left email and phone messages with the university Tuesday seeking comment.
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Press → leave → comment
Its police department said the investigation is ongoing and declined to say whether any arrests had been made.
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arrests → say → ?
The Pima county attorney’s office said the case hadn’t been referred to it for prosecution.
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case → say → prosecution
The university put Sigma Phi Epsilon on probation from July until May of next year after a hazing complaint.
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university → put → complaint
Sigma Phi Epsilon isn’t among the five fraternities that are currently listed as suspended.
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that → list → fraternities
The national fraternity organization said they ordered members of the Arizona chapter to comply with any investigation.
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they → say → investigation
“The Fraternity has suspended those involved while the investigation proceeds.
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investigation → suspend → those
Any member found responsible will be expelled from Sigma Phi Epsilon, and we will cooperate fully with law enforcement as it seeks accountability under the law
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it → find → law
,” read a statement from Brian Warren, chief executive officer of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
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statement → read → Epsilon
Retaliation against the alleged victim or any witnesses would also not be tolerated, Warren said.
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Warren → allege → victim
Other cases of alleged sexual assault at fraternities have drawn recent national attention.
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cases → allege → attention
At Cornell University, a former student alleged that multiple Chi Phi fraternity members sexually assaulted her in October 2024.
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members → allege → October
The allegations have sparked campus protests, renewed scrutiny of the Ivy League school’s disciplinary system and a state investigation into the alleged assault.
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allegations → spark → assault
Several of the men have denied that they engaged in any nonconsensual sex or denied they touched the woman at all.
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they → deny → woman
This week, a woman sued Alpha Delta Phi and its Chicago chapter, alleging she was raped in February by a member of the fraternity at the University of Chicago.
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she → sue → Chicago
The woman, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, claimed she was sexually assaulted during a party at an on-campus residence and that she reported the assault to city police the next day.
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she → identify → police
When asked about the case, Chicago police did not name the fraternity or provide an exact address, but said they were investigating a report of a sexual assault that happened on the same block early on 8 February.
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that → ask → February
The University of Chicago and Alpha Delta Phi did not respond to emails in time for publication.
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University → respond → publication
Chicago police are also investigating after a woman reported being sexually assaulted during a party at another fraternity earlier this month.
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woman → investigate → fraternity
The University of Chicago said in a statement last week that a woman reported being sexually assaulted at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house.
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woman → say → house
The fraternity said none of its members took part in the alleged attack.
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none → say → attack
The Aporia
