University police are continuing to investigate the sexual assault that took place on July 10 at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house, although no one had been arrested as of Friday.
However, police are looking at someone who is a possible suspect, said UCPD Sgt. Robert DeFrancesco.
He said police are investigating and conducting interviews with witnesses regarding the person of interest, although he cannot yet reveal the name of the possible suspect without violating the individual’s civil rights.
“We don’t want to make any claims,” DeFrancesco said.
The assault occurred on the north-side patio of the Gayley Avenue fraternity house during a party, when a man came up behind a female student, pushed her against the wall and sexually assaulted her, according to the police report.
The Interfraternity Council is also addressing the situation since the assault took place in a fraternity house, said IFC president Ramzi Dudum.
“We’re working to build and gather information,” Dudum said, although he could not give any details on how information was being gathered or what had been found.
Dudum said no disciplinary action will be taken against the fraternity until the police investigation is complete and he knows if the house broke any IFC rules.
“We don’t want to rush,” Dudum, a fourth-year study of religion student, said.
Berky Nelson, director of the Center for Student Programming, said there could be a number of outcomes.
If the person who committed the assault is a student, he will be individually dealt with by the Office of the Dean of Students, Nelson said. If not, the crime will solely be a police matter.
As far as the fraternity, Nelson said even if the alleged suspect was living in the house, it is not clear whether or not he is a member of the fraternity, since fraternities often rent out rooms to non-members to keep the house full.
“I’ll just simply say that we’re looking very closely at the fraternity,” Nelson said. “Certainly if the individual was a member of the fraternity, that does not bode well for the fraternity.”
Either way, he said there are questions that need to be addressed.
“If (it was not a member of the house), you have to ask “¦ how did the person get in there?” Nelson said. “I don’t take this lightly, nor does anybody. It’s reprehensible, and it’s a criminal act.”
Anyone who has information about the assault should contact UCPD at 310-825-1491.