CHICAGO _ Northwestern University is investigating anonymous reports that allege at least three students were sexually assaulted and may also have been drugged at fraternity houses in recent weeks, school officials said.
Administrators at the Evanston campus issued a security alert to students Monday after being told that as many as four female students may have been given a date-rape drug during an event Jan. 21 at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house. Two of those women believe they were then sexually assaulted, according to the report. It's not clear how the person who reported the alleged incidents knew of them.
The anonymous report was made last Thursday, a day before the university received a second anonymous report about a sexual assault at another fraternity house. According to the second report, the attack may have involved a date-rape drug as well.
School officials have not publicly identified the second fraternity. It's unclear if they know the identity of the female student involved in the incident.
Northwestern spokesman Bob Rowley said the university does not know the identities of the four women referenced in the Jan. 21 complaint. The university police department is aware of the allegation but has not opened a criminal investigation because there are no complaining witnesses.
The school's Sexual Harassment Prevention Office is looking into the reports, Rowley said.
"It's a very difficult situation," Rowley said. "We're not dealing with a victim's or an accuser's report against a perpetrator."
Federal law requires Northwestern to warn students and faculty members about alleged crimes on campus if they pose "an ongoing threat to the campus community." After receiving two allegations of sexual assaults involving date-rape drugs in as many days, they shared the information despite the many unknowns in both cases.
The school's response garnered praise from students Tuesday, many of whom believe it sent a message that Northwestern takes sexual assault allegations seriously.
"I feel like even if it's not completely confirmed, it's the university's responsibility to inform students about potential safety threats on campus," said sophomore Isabelle Zinghini.
SAE chapter president Manos Proussaloglou released a statement through Sigma Alpha Epsilon's headquarters, pledging the fraternity's cooperation with the university's investigation.
"Our Northwestern chapter of SAE is appalled and deeply concerned by the recent allegations of drug abuse and sexual assault," Proussaloglou said. "We take these allegations very seriously and are fully cooperating with the university's investigation as well as the investigation spearheaded by our national headquarters. We are committed to ensuring that it remains a safe haven for everyone on this campus."
The fraternity's national headquarters _ also based in Evanston _ released a statement Tuesday saying it will work with university officials and chapter members to glean more information about the alleged incident.
"Any form of assault or sexual misconduct by anyone, brother or not, college man or not, is completely unacceptable, and we do not tolerate actions that are inconsistent with our mission," the statement said. "Sigma Alpha Epsilon always is committed to the safety and well-being of our members and the guest with whom they interact, and that commitment includes making sure our members provide a safe, enjoyable environment in their homes. When incidents are brought to our attention, we take immediate action, and will not hesitate to take corrective actions or impose sanctions on any member or chapter that fails to follow the stringent guidelines we set forth."
