Woman alleges sexual assault at AEPi house near University of Chicago

AEPi spokesperson cites no evidence of member participation

The incident allegedly took place at about 1:50 a.m. on Sunday at the off-campus Alpha Epsilon Pi residence, according to a daily crime log maintained by the university.

In the police report obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, the woman said she was “not fully conscious” when she was found partially undressed inside a bathroom with a man, who was also semi-nude. She told police, according to the report, that a group had blocked her friends, at first, from entering the bathroom.

University officials announced on Wednesday that a person of interest had been identified. They said the individual is not a student and has been banned from campus. Chicago police said Wednesday afternoon that no one is in custody and that the investigation remains ongoing.

Jonathan Pierce, a spokesperson for the fraternity, said on Wednesday that there was no evidence that AEPi members had participated in the assault or were aware of it.

“When AEPi members (there were several ‘sober monitors’ during the party, including the chapter’s safety officer) became aware of the victim’s report, they offered assistance by providing food and water and even loaned a shirt to the victim as she reported being cold while she waited outside for emergency response,” Pierce said.

“We are pleased that the alleged assailant has been identified and hope that the victim can find some solace in knowing that justice is being done,” Pierce said.

The reported Chicago assault follows a 2024 gang-rape allegation at a Cornell University fraternity house. The Guardian reported that news of the alleged attack “ignited national uproar and criticism of the Ivy League school’s perceived leniency toward the alleged offenders.” New York state prosecutors have reopened an investigation into the Cornell report.

Under mounting backlash, Cornell has suspended all fraternity parties for the remainder of the academic year as it assesses the safety of its Greek societies, The Guardian reported. Last week, the University of Arizona took a similar step, halting all fraternity activity in the wake of several hazing and physical-assault allegations, including accusations that a Greek organization coerced recruits into binge drinking and swallowing live goldfish.