University of Arizona Student Reports Sexual Assault at Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity House

A University of Arizona sorority member has alleged she was sexually assaulted by two men at a fraternity house during a night of drinking in late August.

The student told university police that she consensually kissed one of the men while at the Sigma Phi Epsilon house on August 26 but does not recall consenting to sex, according to search warrant records posted Monday night by KOLD-TV in Tucson.

The allegations emerged two weeks after the university suspended activities for its 21 fraternities amid reports of misconduct, including assault, hazing, and drug- and alcohol-related behavior. Suspensions have since been lifted for all but five fraternities following mandatory meetings with the dean of students.

In an interview with an investigator, the sorority member recalled consuming tequila, including sharing a cup with friends; witnessing two men sexually assaulting her and feeling one man’s breath on her face; waking the next morning without pants or underwear; and experiencing difficulty swallowing, a possible sign of strangulation, according to the records.

She reported the allegations to police later that day and underwent a forensic exam at a hospital.

In a recorded call with the student two days after the encounter, one of the men acknowledged having sex with her but said she had agreed to it and denied that another man had participated. He stated he had been drunk and “fuzzy” on the details, and said people had taken video of the two kissing in a bathroom, according to the records.

The Associated Press left email and phone messages with the university Tuesday seeking comment. Its police department said the investigation is ongoing and declined to say whether any arrests had been made. The Pima County Attorney’s Office said the case had not been referred to it for prosecution.

The university placed Sigma Phi Epsilon on probation from July until May of next year after a hazing complaint. The fraternity is not among the five currently listed as suspended.

The national fraternity organization said it ordered members of the Arizona chapter to comply with any investigation.

“The Fraternity has suspended those involved while the investigation proceeds. Any member found responsible will be expelled from Sigma Phi Epsilon, and we will cooperate fully with law enforcement as it seeks accountability under the law,” read a statement from Brian Warren, chief executive officer of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Retaliation against the alleged victim or any witnesses would also not be tolerated, Warren said.

Other cases of alleged sexual assault at fraternities have drawn recent national attention.

At Cornell University, a former student alleged that multiple Chi Phi fraternity members sexually assaulted her in October 2024. The allegations have sparked campus protests, renewed scrutiny of the Ivy League school’s disciplinary system, and a state investigation into the alleged assault. Several of the men have denied engaging in any nonconsensual sex or denied touching the woman at all.

This week, a woman sued Alpha Delta Phi and its Chicago chapter, alleging she was raped in February by a member of the fraternity at the University of Chicago. The woman, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, claimed she was sexually assaulted during a party at an on-campus residence and reported the assault to city police the next day.

When asked about the case, Chicago police did not name the fraternity or provide an exact address but said they were investigating a report of a sexual assault that occurred on the same block early on February 8.

The University of Chicago and Alpha Delta Phi did not respond to emails in time for publication.

Chicago police are also investigating after a woman reported being sexually assaulted during a party at another fraternity earlier this month. The University of Chicago said in a statement last week that a woman reported being sexually assaulted at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house. The fraternity said none of its members took part in the alleged attack.

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