A member of a sorority at the University of Arizona stated that two men sexually assaulted her in a fraternity house during a drinking night in late August, court documents report. The student told university police that at one point she agreed to kiss one of the men in the Sigma Phi Epsilon house on 26 August, but does not remember agreeing to sex.
The court documents were released on Monday evening and were reported by Tucson-based KOLD-TV. The student recalled consuming tequila, including sharing a drink with friends. She also remembered seeing two men sexually assaulting her and feeling one of their breaths on her face.
The following morning, she woke up without her trousers or underwear and noticed difficulty swallowing, which can be a sign of strangulation. She reported the assault to the police on the same day and underwent a forensic examination in a hospital.
In a recorded conversation two days after the encounter, one of the men admitted to having sex with the student but claimed she had consented, denying that the other man had sex with her. He said he had been drunk and his memories were hazy. He added that people had filmed video of him and the student kissing in the bathroom.
Associated Press left email and phone messages with the university on Tuesday seeking comment. University police stated that the investigation is ongoing and declined to say if any arrests had been made. The Pima County Attorney's Office noted that the case had not been referred to them for criminal prosecution.
The university placed Sigma Phi Epsilon on conditional supervision from July until May next year following a report of hazing. That fraternity is not among the five currently listed as suspended. The fraternity's national organisation stated that it had ordered members of the Arizona chapter to cooperate in any investigation.
"The fraternity has suspended the involved parties while the investigation continues. Any member found responsible will be expelled from Sigma Phi Epsilon, and we will fully cooperate with the police in seeking accountability under the law," read a statement from Brian Warren, chief executive officer of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Warren added that retaliation against the alleged victim or witnesses would not be tolerated.
The case emerged two weeks after the university suspended the activities of its 21 fraternities due to reports of misconduct, including assaults, hazing, and drug and alcohol-related behaviour. The suspensions have since been lifted for all but five fraternities, after they held mandatory meetings with the dean of students.
Similar allegations have been made at other universities. At Cornell, a former student stated that she was sexually assaulted by multiple members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024, which triggered campus protests, new oversight of the disciplinary system, and a state investigation. Several men denied any improper sex or even touching the woman.
This week, a woman sued Alpha Delta Phi and its Chicago chapter, claiming she was raped by a fraternity member at the University of Chicago in February. Named as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, she claims she was assaulted during a party in a student residence and reported the assault to city police the next day. Chicago police did not name the fraternity or provide a specific address but stated they are investigating a reported sexual assault that occurred in the same block early on 8 February. The University of Chicago and Alpha Delta Phi did not respond to emails before publication. Chicago police are also investigating a report from a woman who said she was sexually assaulted during a party at another fraternity earlier this month. The University of Chicago stated last week that the woman reported a sexual assault at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house, and that fraternity stated none of its members were involved in the alleged assault.
