A 21-year-old woman has reported an alleged sexual assault at a fraternity house near the University of Chicago. The case has drawn new attention to safety at college parties and the conduct of Greek groups across the United States.
The alleged incident took place early Sunday at an off-campus house linked to Alpha Epsilon Pi. The university’s daily crime log placed the report at about 1.50am.
According to a police report, the woman told officers she was not fully conscious when she was found in a bathroom with a man. Both were partly undressed, the report said.
The woman also said a group had first blocked her friends from entering the bathroom. The report did not give further details about why they were stopped.
University officials said they had identified a person of interest in the case. The individual is not a student and has been barred from campus, officials said in a notice issued on Wednesday.
Chicago police said no one was in custody as of Wednesday afternoon. The investigation remains open, and officials have not announced any criminal charges.
The person of interest has not been publicly named. Being identified in an investigation does not mean that a person has been found guilty of a crime.
Alpha Epsilon Pi has denied that there is evidence linking its members to the alleged assault. Jonathan Pierce, a spokesperson for the fraternity, said members had not taken part in the incident or known about it before the report.
Pierce said several fraternity members had served as sober monitors during the party. The chapter’s safety officer was among them, he said.
He added that members offered help after learning of the woman’s report. They gave her food and water and lent her a shirt because she said she was cold while waiting outside for emergency workers.
The fraternity welcomed the news that police had identified a person of interest. Pierce said he hoped the woman would find some comfort as the case moved forward.
Police have not shared more details about the reported assault. Investigators are working to establish what happened and whether other people were involved.
The case comes as colleges face renewed pressure to improve safety at fraternity events. Reports of sexual abuse, hazing, and physical harm have led to calls for stronger rules and better ways to report misconduct.
A reported gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity house in 2024 has also returned to public debate. The case sparked anger and questions about how the university dealt with the allegations.
New York state prosecutors have reopened an investigation into the Cornell report. The move has added to demands for a closer review of campus safety and the handling of sexual assault claims.
Cornell has suspended all fraternity parties for the rest of the academic year. The university said it would use the time to assess safety in its Greek societies.
The University of Arizona has also halted all fraternity activity. The decision followed several allegations of hazing and physical assault.
Those claims included reports that members of a Greek group pressured new recruits to drink large amounts of alcohol and swallow live goldfish. The allegations have added to concerns about dangerous initiation practices at colleges.
The recent cases have raised questions about how universities oversee fraternity houses and parties. Some houses are located away from campus, which can make supervision more difficult.
Universities can set rules for student groups, suspend activities, and restrict access to campus. Police handle criminal investigations and assess whether the evidence supports charges.
In Chicago, the case remains under investigation. Officials have not said when they expect to release further details or whether charges will follow.
The report has added to a wider debate about student safety and the role of fraternities. As investigations continue in several states, colleges face growing calls to take reports seriously and make their safety rules clear.
