UVa. Suspends Greek Activities After Report on 2012 Sexual Assault

The suspension led 200 people to protest; four were arrested

All University of Virginia fraternities and sororities and associated social activities have been suspended until January after a 2012 alleged sexual assault incident was highlighted in a "Rolling Stone" article.

The suspension led about 200 people to protest Saturday outside the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house, the location of the alleged rape detailed in the Rolling Stone article. Four protesters were arrested.

In an email message to the university community on Saturday, school President Teresa Sullivan called the actions in the article, “appalling,” and said the community as a whole needed to reexamine their responsibilities to stop rape and sexual assault on campus. Sullivan has also asked the Charlottesville Police Department to investigate the assault described in the article.

In the article published on November 19, a student named Jackie describes being raped by a group of people at a Phi Kappa Psi fraternity party while she was a freshman at the University of Virginia in 2012.

The article describes the pressure she faced from other students after the incident not to report it, as well as the university’s response to the issue.

The school is one of 86 under federal investigation for inadequately handling sexual-violence complaints, and one of a dozen under a proactive probe launched by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, according to the report. "They are targeted efforts to go after very serious concerns," says Office of Civil Rights assistant secretary Catherine Lhamon in the article. "We don't open compliance reviews unless we have something that we think merits it."

In her email to the university community, Sullivan said she has heard the opinions and reactions from the "Rolling Stone" article, and is imploring the community uphold the honor of the University and bring the truth of the 2012 incident to light.

“I write you today in solidarity. I write you in great sorrow, great rage, but most importantly, with great determination,” Sullivan wrote. “Meaningful change is necessary, and we can lead that change for all universities.”

She announced that all fraternity organizations and associated social activities -- which, The Washington Post reported, includes sororities and other Greek organizations -- have been suspended immediately until January 9. The Inter-Fraternity Council voluntarily suspended social activities this weekend.

The Board of Visitors is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to discuss the University’s policies regarding sexual assault as well as the 2012 incident, according to the email.

“We are united in our compassion, resolve, and determination," Sullivan wrote. "Compassion for survivors of assault; resolve to make our community better; determination to begin to solve this problem here and now.”

While the "Rolling Stone" report highlighted one woman’s plight on campus, a subsequent piece published on November 21 cast a spotlight on the university’s behavior toward other women – students and alumni – who said they suffered sexual assault on UVa.’s campus.

To read the initial "Rolling Stone" report, click here. To read the second story, click here.

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