Person of interest identified in connection with sexual assault near University of Chicago campus

CHICAGO ( WGN ) — A person of interest has been identified in connection with a sexual assault that was reported early Sunday morning at a fraternity house near the University of Chicago campus, the school announced Tuesday in a community alert .

The individual is not a University of Chicago student or affiliated with the university and has been banned from campus, the school says. Since the investigation is ongoing and no charges have yet been filed, the identity of the person cannot be disclosed.

According to the university, the identification of a person of interest has been corroborated by witness statements and video evidence from university cameras and license plate readers. All of this information has been shared with the Chicago Police Department, which is leading the investigation, the university says.

Chicago police say a 21-year-old woman — who the school later said is not affiliated with the university — reported to officers that she was sexually assaulted around 2 a.m. Sunday by a male offender inside a residence in the 5600 block of South University Avenue, in Hyde Park on Chicago’s South Side.

The Chicago Maroon , the university’s independent student-run newspaper, first reported that the alleged assault occurred at the house of the Lambda chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity.

A Chicago Tribune report citing CPD’s report on the incident says the victim was dancing at a party at the fraternity house when a man asked her several times to come to a bedroom with him.

She refused, but she went to the bathroom after she began to feel unwell, the report says. The victim said the man then followed her into the bathroom. She lost consciousness, and when she woke up, she said part of her clothing had been removed and she had been sexually assaulted, according to the report.

The report also says witnesses observed three to five people standing outside the bathroom door cheering and encouraging what was happening inside.

A university spokesperson said that after an individual intervened, the suspect fled the house. A community alert was then sent to students Sunday saying the sexual assault was reported to CPD and the University of Chicago Police Department.

The spokesperson also said that “while fraternities are not recognized student organizations at UChicago and thus have no formal affiliation with the university, all university students are subject to university policies and disciplinary procedures. The university remains committed to addressing sexual misconduct cases that occur, to imposing disciplinary consequences as warranted, and to continually improving efforts to prevent sexual misconduct.”

In a statement provided to WGN-TV , a spokesperson for AEPi’s national organization said the fraternity’s headquarters became aware of the incident Sunday afternoon and has since been working with chapter leadership. The spokesperson also said the fraternity chapter is cooperating with university administration and local law enforcement on their investigations.

“Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity unconditionally opposes, and its conditions of membership absolutely prohibit, any conduct considered as ‘sexual harassment’ or ‘sexual assault,'” the spokesperson said, in part. “This includes such behaviors as repeated propositioning, coercive pressure, unwanted touching and physical violence.

“… Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity unconditionally opposes, and its conditions of membership absolutely prohibit, any conduct considered as ‘sexual harassment’ or ‘sexual assault.’ This includes such behaviors as repeated propositioning, coercive pressure, unwanted touching and physical violence.

“… We have a responsibility to protect each other, our guests, and our community at all times. We must continue to work to uphold that value and ensure that those inside and outside of our organization are made to feel safe. Every AEPi member receives mandatory training on these standards, which staff and volunteers reinforce through chapter visits and national and regional events. Violations may lead to expulsion. AEPi staff and volunteers provide the same oversight and support to chapters whether or not their universities recognize them.”