The University of Chicago has announced the identification of a person of interest related to a sexual assault incident at a fraternity house. This identification came through witness statements and video evidence shared with the Chicago Police Department.
According to the university, the person of interest is not a student or affiliated with the institution, and has been banned from campus. A source informed CBS News Chicago that multiple individuals associated with the incident have been banned, none of whom are students. As of Thursday, no arrests have been made.
The assault occurred at the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity house, located at 5625 S. University Ave., across from UChicago’s Main Quad in Hyde Park. A 21-year-old woman reported being sexually assaulted in a bathroom during a fraternity party at 1:50 a.m. on Sunday. The woman, not affiliated with the university, did not know the attacker. An unidentified suspect was interrupted during the incident and subsequently fled. Surveillance footage captured an individual matching the suspect’s description running away from the frat house.
A University of Chicago police officer was alerted and arranged for the woman to be transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center. Students described Fraternity Row during rush season as a period marked by frequent parties and large events.
Online video has emerged showing a woman, claiming to be a friend of the victim, confronting a man she alleged was her friend’s attacker. The video was recorded near the Henry Crown Field House and depicts the woman pursuing the suspect around a corner.
Jillian Furey, a clinical services supervisor at Resilience, a rape crisis center in Chicago, described sexual violence on college campuses as a pervasive public health crisis. She highlighted the challenges survivors face in court, noting the low conviction rates.
Students have expressed concern regarding fraternity safety. One student suggested reconsidering the existence of frats, while another highlighted potential reputational damage impacting those not responsible for the incident.
This incident at UChicago occurs alongside separate sexual assault allegations at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University, prompting scrutiny of fraternity culture.
The AEPi fraternity’s national organization has instructed the chapter to suspend events during the investigation. In a statement, the fraternity expressed sympathy for the victim. No charges have been filed against the person of interest.