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. 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. 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.
Suspensions on all but five fraternities have since been lifted after they had mandatory meetings with the dean of 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. Later that day, she reported the allegations to police and underwent a forensic exam at a 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. He said he had been drunk and “fuzzy” on what happened. He said people took video of the sorority member and him kissing in a bathroom, according to the records.
The left email and phone messages with the university Tuesday seeking comment. Its police department said the investigation is ongoing and declined to say whether any arrests had been made. The Pima county attorney’s office said the case hadn’t been referred to it for prosecution.
The university put Sigma Phi Epsilon on probation from July until May of next year after a hazing complaint. Sigma Phi Epsilon isn’t among the five fraternities that are currently listed as suspended. The national fraternity organization said they ordered members of the Arizona chapter to comply with any investigation.
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,” read a statement from Brian Warren, chief executive officer of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Retaliation against the alleged victim or any witnesses would also not be tolerated, Warren said. Other cases of alleged sexual assault at fraternities have drawn recent national attention.
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