A 19-year-old woman has filed a lawsuit alleging she was sexually assaulted at an Alpha Delta Phi fraternity house near the University of Chicago on February 7th, marking the second such allegation against fraternities affiliated with the university in as many weeks. Jane Doe, who is not a University of Chicago student, alleges she was offered a shot at a party hosted by the fraternity, which caused her to feel unsteady and lightheaded before being led to a secluded bedroom where she was sexually assaulted. She stated she was unable to verbally or physically resist the alleged attacker, and discovered bloodstains on her underwear the following morning. The fraternity’s national organization has suspended the member involved and pledged cooperation with law enforcement. The University of Chicago, which does not recognize fraternities as official student organizations, stated it is prepared to assist the Chicago Police Department in its investigation.
The lawsuit details that Doe learned of the party through Instagram and had attended previous events at the fraternity house with friends, none of whom were University of Chicago students. According to the complaint, after consuming the shot offered by a fraternity member, she experienced dizziness and impaired vision, describing a sensation of “the spins” and feeling as though her “vision was underwater.” She reported having only had two drinks prior to the shot. The alleged assault occurred after the fraternity member directed her to a bedroom on a different floor of the house, despite her expressing her unsteadiness. Doe stated she felt unable to prevent the assault, and was left alone and unconscious until a friend found her.
This incident follows a separate allegation of sexual assault at a different fraternity near the University of Chicago earlier this month, where reports emerged of men shouting from outside a bathroom door during a party. The University of Chicago spokesperson, Gerald McSwiggan, described the allegations as “very disturbing to the University community.” Alpha Delta Phi’s national team stated the alleged conduct is “deeply troubling and inconsistent with our values.”
Our reading is that the timing of these allegations, two within a week, suggests a potential pattern of misconduct within the fraternity system near the University of Chicago. While the investigations are ongoing and the claims are unproven, the repeated nature of the accusations is noteworthy, particularly given the university’s non-recognition of fraternities. The differing emphases in reporting, some outlets highlighting the rapid succession of lawsuits, others focusing on the emotional impact on the plaintiff, reveal varying editorial choices in framing the story.
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