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Woman who says she was raped sues fraternity

By ASSOCIATED PRESS   Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - 9:55 a.m.
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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A woman who says she was drugged and repeatedly sexually assaulted at a fraternity house in Madison is suing Sigma Chi.

The woman’s lawsuit says the Sigma Chi fraternity and the alumni organization that owns the house had an obligation to ensure the safety of visitors.

The 21-year-old Milwaukee area woman is seeking damages for physical pain and emotional distress resulting from the alleged assault last fall.

Madison police say investigators are working on the case, but no criminal charges have been filed. The lawsuit says as many as 80 people live in the four-story fraternity house.

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Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com




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(11)
JVLtech
Jul 22, 2009 at 10:29 p.m.
Suggest removal

Every fraternity in existence has a similar mission statement. The problem is that despite the efforts of good fraternities and campus chapters to remove the "frat boy" image, some chapters create a culture that leads to actions like this one. It looks bad on all fraternity members no mater which one they belong to. I can't tell you how often I am asked about hazing, drinking, rape etc. when I wear my letters. People have a hard time believing that I was involved in a fraternity that did not haze, or cause other problems such as this one. I truly feel sorry for this woman if the accused actions did indeed occur. It is an embarrassment to fraternities everywhere when something like this happens. If these actions did take place this group should be removed from campus indefinitely and its members punished to the full extent of the law.

chemical_6
Jul 22, 2009 at 4:25 p.m.
Suggest removal

I got this from Wikipedia... seems like quite the opposite...
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"Sigma Chi's purpose is to promote the concepts of Friendship, Justice, and Learning; its mission statement is to develop values-based leaders committed to the betterment of character, campus and community. Sigma Chi's vision statement is "to become the preeminent collegiate leadership development organization—aligned, focused and living our core values"."

916WI
Jul 22, 2009 at 3:49 p.m.
Suggest removal

Got it......a little bit more info makes it quite a bit clearer as to why she's going after who she is.......

buckyfan
Jul 22, 2009 at 12:39 p.m.
Suggest removal

If you read the Journal Sentinel story, it makes a couple points to clarify why she's suing the frat.

First, about 80 people live at the frat house.

Second, she woke up after a day/night of partying "partially clothed, bruised and bleeding." She went to the hospital, where a doctor told her she had been raped multiple times (she believes she was drugged and apparently does not know who raped her).

Third, she was told by a woman later that month that the other woman also was raped at the frat house on a different occasion.

Fourth, the frat nationwide also has been involved in other sexual assaults, showing a pattern of inappropriate behavior.

greengina8
Jul 22, 2009 at 12:17 p.m.
Suggest removal

916WI-In order for any student organization to be registered and active in Wisconsin, the student leaders of said organizations must complete a hazing tutorial and a sexual harrassment tutorial, take a quiz, pass by minimum 80%, and sign a contract with the University stating they and their organization are responsible for all actions deemed to be hazing or sexual harassment. If any member of the organization violates these contractual agreements made by the student org leaders, hazing or sexual harassment, the entire organization is held liable/ responsible for the actions of the one (or more in this case).

woodsman
Jul 22, 2009 at 11:58 a.m.
Suggest removal

Even if they get convicted,they are probably pillars of the community,like the kid in milton & get a slap on the hand. That was still wrong!

916WI
Jul 22, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.
Suggest removal

I don't understand the rationale of suing the fraternity? Suing those that assaulted her, absolutely. To put the responsibility on the fraternity organization itself, makes no sense to me. It seems in the "sue happy" world we live in, people just sue everyone hoping it'll stick to the one with the deepest pockets.......

truecitizen
Jul 22, 2009 at 11:19 a.m.
Suggest removal

If this woman is telling the truth, and probably is I would amagine. She shouldn't stop until all the perps are finished. If it's not concented, she is a victim, and should seek damages. Police should check this case vigorously.

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