This article includes references to sexual assault.
The University encourages anyone with information about the incident or the suspect to submit a tip through the Chicago Police Department’s online tip form or to contact the University of Chicago Police Department. Additional resources and reporting options for instances of sexual misconduct are available at cares.uchicago.edu.
Update, October 12, 3:18 p.m.: In a statement posted to their Instagram, the Lambda chapter of AEPi wrote that they were “deeply disturbed” by the assault and were cooperating with police investigations. According to the statement, “To the best of our knowledge, no one affiliated with AEPi was involved or complicit with this incident.” AEPi also encouraged anyone with information about the incident to contact CPD.
A woman reported being sexually assaulted at the house of the Lambda chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity early Sunday morning, according to a community alert issued by the University that afternoon.
The woman, who is not affiliated with the University of Chicago, reported that the assault occurred at approximately 1:50 a.m. during a party which began at 10:30 p.m. According to the alert, an unidentified suspect fled the building after an individual intervened. No information about the events leading up to the assault had been made available at the time of publication.
According to eyewitnesses cited in the alert, the suspect was “a 5’ 7” South Asian male with a dark complexion, short hair on the sides and longer curly hair on top, wearing a black T-shirt, black jogging pants, and white shoes.” An initial review of security camera footage by University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) officers showed an individual matching the suspect’s description running from the house.
A UCPD officer on patrol was flagged down following the incident and arranged for the woman to be transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center for care. The Chicago Police Department is conducting an investigation with support from UCPD.
AEPi’s national health and safety policies require members and guests to comply with laws concerning sexual misconduct and mandate that members maintain safe environments for guests. The policies also prohibit members and guests from engaging in assault or violence.
While the fraternity’s national organization states that individual chapters are responsible for their day-to-day operations, it reserves the right to place chapters on probation or revoke their charters for violations of its policies.
In a statement to the Maroon, Jonathan Pierce, the chief communications officer for AEPi’s national organization, said the fraternity’s headquarters became aware of the incident Sunday afternoon and has since been working with chapter leadership, and that a national organization staff member is meeting with chapter members. Pierce said the chapter is cooperating with University officials and local law enforcement and has been instructed not to hold any events or programs pending the outcome of the investigation. He added that all AEPi members receive mandatory training on sexual misconduct prevention and that violations of the fraternity’s policies may result in expulsion.
“Most importantly, all of AEPi hurts for the person who was the victim in this incident,” Pierce wrote. “No one should attend an event on any campus — fraternity-based or otherwise — and have to fear for their safety and wellbeing.”
The Lambda chapter of AEPi did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A UChicago spokesperson told the Maroon on Monday after the initial publication of this story that the University had informed AEPi’s national organization of the assault and was pursuing an additional disciplinary investigation into the incident.
“As noted in yesterday’s message, the University remains committed to addressing sexual misconduct cases that occur, to imposing disciplinary consequences as warranted, and to continually improving efforts to prevent sexual misconduct,” the spokesperson wrote. “In addition to the CPD’s ongoing criminal investigation, the University is using tools at its disposal to gather information and when possible will initiate disciplinary proceedings. The University alerted the national office of the fraternity regarding this case.”
The AEPi national organization also requires that events where alcohol is present have a guest list, operate by invitation only, and maintain a guest-to-member ratio no greater than 3:1. A banner advertising the “Pi2K” party where the assault occurred was visible on the frat house’s exterior as of approximately 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
AEPi moved into the property at 5625 South University Avenue this academic year. It was previously located at 6103 South University Avenue.
In the community alert, University officials wrote that fraternities are not recognized student organizations and have no formal affiliation with the University, but that students in fraternities remain subject to University policies and disciplinary procedures.
“The safety and well-being of our students and all who come to our community is our highest priority,” the alert read.
This is a developing story.
We ask anyone who has knowledge of the incident at AEPi or ongoing investigations to please contact us at [email protected] or submit a tip through our tip form. The Maroon protects source information, and any identifying information you provide will only be seen by the paper’s executive editors.
Editor’s note, October 12, 1:28 p.m.: This article was updated to include comment from the University.
Editor’s note, October 11, 8:15 p.m.: This article was updated to include comments from the AEPi national organization.
