University of Arizona Sorority Member Alleges Sexual Assault at Frat House

A sorority member at the University of Arizona has accused two men of sexually assaulting her at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in August. The alleged assault occurred on August 26, according to search warrant records obtained by KOLD.

The accuser told police she was at the fraternity house with friends and had been drinking. She stated she consensually kissed one of the men, but her next memory was waking up in another room without her clothing. She reported that two men, described as blonde and brunette, assaulted her, and she believes she told them to "please stop."

The following morning, the woman reported difficulty swallowing, which the warrant notes can be a sign of strangulation. After falling asleep, she woke and reported the incident to the University of Arizona Police Department (UAPD).

Two days later, on August 28, she recorded a conversation with one of the accused men. The man reportedly admitted to having sex but claimed to be drunk and uncertain about the events. He stated that only he and the accuser had sex and that she had consented.

UAPD obtained a search warrant on September 8 for the Sigma Phi Epsilon house, seeking surveillance footage from the night of the alleged assault. The national Sigma Phi Epsilon organization stated it had suspended the involved members and would expel any found responsible, cooperating fully with law enforcement.

The Pima County Attorney's Office has not yet received the case, indicating it remains under investigation by UAPD.

This accusation follows the University of Arizona's suspension of all fraternity activities in early October. The suspension was enacted due to numerous reports of misconduct, including assault, hazing, and drug and alcohol-related incidents. In a letter to campus Greek life, Dean of Students Chrissy Lieberman described the concerns as "egregious."

Separately, Cornell University is facing national attention over gang rape allegations filed by a student who claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024. Cornell has banned fraternity parties for the remainder of the year and commissioned an investigation into its response to the allegations. The accused students have denied the claims, and while not criminally charged, a special counsel has been appointed to investigate. A lawsuit related to the Cornell incident claims that during the assault, one of the accused posted to a fraternity Snapchat group that there was "free p***y" upstairs.