University of Arizona sorority member alleges sexual assault at Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house
A University of Arizona student reported being sexually assaulted by two men at a fraternity house in late August, with the investigation still ongoing.
What happened
A sorority member at the University of Arizona alleged she was sexually assaulted by two men at a Sigma Phi Epsilon house on 26 August after consuming tequila. The student told university police she consensually kissed one man but has no memory of agreeing to sex. According to search warrant records, she reported witnessing the assault, feeling one man's breath on her face, waking without pants or underwear, and experiencing difficulty swallowing. She underwent a forensic exam at a hospital and reported the allegations to police the same day. One of the men acknowledged having sex with her in a recorded call but claimed she had agreed; he denied another man had assaulted her and said he was too drunk to remember clearly.
Context
The allegation emerges two weeks after the University of Arizona suspended activities for 21 fraternities amid reports of misconduct including assault, hazing, and drug and alcohol violations. Sigma Phi Epsilon had already been placed on probation from July through May of the following year due to a prior hazing complaint. The case reflects a broader pattern: similar sexual assault allegations at fraternities have surfaced recently at Cornell University and the University of Chicago, drawing national attention and triggering campus protests and investigations. The university police investigation remains ongoing, and the Pima County Attorney's Office has not yet received a referral for prosecution.
What's disputed
Whether the alleged victim agreed to sexual contact. One of the accused men claims she consented; the sorority member states she has no memory of agreeing to sex. Whether a second man participated in the assault is also contested—the accused man denied another man had sex with her.