UC Berkeley fraternities suspend social events after sexual assault reports
SAN JOSE, Calif. _ Leaders of the University of California, Berkeley's Greek system have taken the unusual step of suspending social activities in the wake of reports that two students were sexually assaulted at fraternity parties last weekend.
Calling the incidents "vile and unjust," the campuswide fraternity council announced the decision this week on its Facebook page.
"The (Interfraternity Council) has voluntarily decided to suspend all social events until we can re-evaluate our risk management practices and care for those who have been affected," the statement said.
One woman told Berkeley police she was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance on the morning of Oct. 15. Another reported "unwanted sexual conduct" on Oct. 14, according to an alert from UC Berkeley's campus police department.
The Berkeley Police Department is investigating both cases. Campus police issued two crime alerts in close succession Monday evening.
While sexual assault is known to be vastly underreported, a wave of activism at UC Berkeley and other college campuses in recent years may have encouraged more victims to come forward. Annual crime statistics updated this month show UC Berkeley received 45 reports of rape and other sex offenses in 2015, compared to 23 in 2012.
_The Mercury News
