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Cook County lawsuit alleges assault at University of Chicago Alpha Delta Phi party
A 19-year-old woman alleges a member of the University of Chicago’s Alpha Delta Phi chapter sexually assaulted her during a party on Feb. 7. Her lawsuit also accuses the fraternity and its campus chapter of failing to address prior allegations and put safeguards in place.
A 19-year-old woman has sued the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and its University of Chicago chapter, alleging that a member sexually assaulted her during a party at the fraternity house on Feb. 7.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Cook County court, identifies the woman as “Jane Doe.” It says a fraternity member gave her a shot of alcohol and that she was later found unconscious in a room. A friend helped her leave the house, but she had difficulty speaking and walking, according to the complaint.
The next morning, Doe found bloodstains in her underwear and reported the alleged assault to Chicago police, the lawsuit says. The police investigation remains open, according to the filing. No arrest is reported in the complaint.
The suit accuses Alpha Delta Phi and its university chapter of disregarding previous sexual-assault allegations involving members and failing to establish meaningful protections. The allegations have not been tested in court. The University of Chicago and Alpha Delta Phi did not respond to requests for comment before the lawsuit was reported.
The case comes just over a week after Chicago police opened an investigation into a separate report of sexual assault at a University of Chicago Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity party. The reports have renewed attention to how campus organizations and the university respond to allegations of sexual violence.