Woman Confronts Man at UChicago Frat Party Over Alleged Assault

A video circulating online shows a woman confronting a man she accuses of sexually assaulting her friend at a fraternity party near the University of Chicago over the weekend. The incident occurred at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house.

In the video, the woman, identified as 21-year-old Mia Lara, can be heard yelling, “He f–king assaulted my friend in the bathroom of the f–king frat party! You can record all the s–t you want!” According to CNN, Lara stated, “I walk in there, you f–king took her clothes off!” The man in the video responded, “She wanted to,” before Lara appeared to attempt to slap him and pursue him.

Lara told CNN that after she helped her friend out of a bathroom at the frat house early Sunday, she noticed a group of men pointing and laughing at her friend outside on the sidewalk. Lara confronted one of the men, believing him to be the assailant. She alleged that the men initially tried to misdirect her by claiming the actual assailant was attempting to re-enter the house. However, Lara pursued the group, and one of the men began recording her as she verbally confronted him.

Lara’s account states that she and her friends attended the party, which was promoted online, though none were students at the University of Chicago. She claimed she and two girlfriends entered the party alone after two male companions were denied entry. Inside, Lara saw her friend kissing a man before they disappeared, and she later found them in a locked bathroom. According to Lara, her friend was slumped on the floor, partially clothed, and asked to be taken out.

The police report indicates that the alleged victim had consumed three cans of an unknown alcoholic beverage and began to feel unwell and black out. She reportedly told police she was not fully conscious while in the bathroom.

The University of Chicago announced that it has identified a “person of interest” in connection with the alleged sexual assault. The university stated that the individual is not a student but has been banned from campus. The university also noted its lack of official affiliation with Greek life but emphasized that such organizations must adhere to campus regulations.

Jonathan Pierce, a spokesperson for the national Alpha Epsilon Pi organization, stated that the alleged assailant was not a member of the fraternity. He added that fraternity members offered assistance when they learned of the incident. "There is no evidence at all that any AEPi members participated in this assault or were aware of it while it was transpiring," Pierce said in an email. He also expressed that the group did not believe the individuals cheering outside the bathroom door were AEPi members.

Neither Pierce nor the police provided comment on the video. The university did not respond to requests for comment regarding the video.

If you or someone you know is affected by issues related to sexual assault, you can call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.