Second allegation of sexual assault emerges from U. of C. fraternity parties

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, October 22, 2026

A woman filed a lawsuit accusing a University of Chicago Alpha Delta Phi fraternity member of sexually assaulting her at a February party, alleging the fraternity failed to enforce safety measures and has a history of disregarding such claims. The case adds to growing scrutiny of Greek life at the university amid multiple recent assault allegations, prompting ongoing investigations and calls for greater accountability.

A lawsuit filed this week alleges that a woman was sexually assaulted at a University of Chicago fraternity party earlier this year, marking the second such allegation linked to campus Greek life in recent weeks. The complaint names the national organization and local chapter of Alpha Delta Phi and describes an incident that allegedly occurred on the night of February 7 at the fraternity’s house near the Hyde Park campus.

According to the lawsuit and a police report obtained by the Chicago Tribune, the woman, identified as “Jane Doe,” was given a shot of alcohol that she suspected was drugged shortly after arriving at the party. She subsequently became incapacitated, and the suit alleges that a fraternity member led her to a bedroom where he raped her despite her visible impairment. The man, who has not been charged with a crime and is not listed as a defendant, was suspended by Alpha Delta Phi’s national organization, which said it is cooperating with law enforcement.

The complaint further alleges that other fraternity members prevented the woman’s friend from immediately checking on her until another member verified Jane Doe’s incapacitated state. The victim was found unconscious with difficulty speaking and walking. The following day, she awoke in a different dormitory and discovered blood stains in her underwear. She reported the assault to Chicago police on February 8, prompting an ongoing investigation by both university and city authorities.

The suit contends that Alpha Delta Phi, both locally and nationally, has a longstanding history of overlooking sexual assault allegations involving its members. It cites a 2009 report of criminal sexual assault investigations linked to the same fraternity house and accuses the organization of failing to implement adequate safety measures or respond properly to known risks. The suit also asserts that the fraternity violated its own national policies on party safety, including the absence of sober monitors, the lack of guest list controls, and failure to verify the woman’s age at the event.

University of Chicago officials emphasized that fraternities are not formally affiliated with the institution but acknowledged the gravity of the allegations. “These allegations are very disturbing to the University community,” said Gerald McSwiggan, a university spokesperson, noting the school’s commitment to preventing sexual assault. The university is not named as a defendant but has declined to release details of its investigation without a court order.

This incident comes shortly after a separate accusation involving the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity at the University of Chicago, where men have been implicated in blocking a bathroom door while a woman was assaulted inside a party on October 11. That case remains under investigation, with the university having identified a “person of interest.”

The recent surge of sexual assault allegations within University of Chicago fraternities follows a high-profile lawsuit filed last month against members of a Cornell University fraternity. The cases have intensified scrutiny of campus safety and fraternity culture nationally, triggering calls from student groups for greater accountability. Aliyah Overturf, a senior neuroscience student and leader of the campus group Feminist Forum, said her organization has devoted multiple meetings to discussing these issues, emphasizing the need to examine institutional and cultural factors that facilitate such violence.

The woman in the latest lawsuit reportedly does not attend the University of Chicago but was a student at another college when the assault occurred. She has since withdrawn from school due to severe psychological distress. Her attorney, Mike Grieco, said the civil suit seeks not only compensation but also systemic change to prevent future assaults at the local and national levels.

Alpha Delta Phi’s national executive director, Steve Ehrfurth, described the alleged behavior as “deeply troubling and inconsistent with our values” but did not specify when the fraternity member’s suspension began. Meanwhile, the Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter has been ordered to halt all programming pending investigation. Cornell University has also banned fraternity parties for the academic year following its related case.

As investigations continue, university administrators have not indicated forthcoming policy changes or disciplinary actions beyond those already disclosed, and the fraternity has not informed the alleged victim or her representatives of any steps taken in response to the allegations.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.