Female student says she was raped in UA fraternity house

University police were withholding the student's name and that of her 18-year-old alleged assailant Sunday pending further investigation, said Cmdr. Brian Seastone of the University of Arizona Police Department. No one had been charged in the incident.

According to police reports, the alleged victim went to an off-campus party Nov. 14 with the Beta member, a man she had reportedly known for two weeks, Seastone said. The two returned to her home Nov. 15 at 12:30 a.m., met another couple and then went to a second party.

Seastone said the woman, who is a member of a UA sorority, told police she and the Beta member returned from the party to the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house, 645 E. University Blvd., and later drank some champagne.

"She told him she was dizzy and wanted to lay down," Seastone said. "She said she lay down with him and that she felt a buzz."

According to reports, the student told officers she awoke in the middle of the night to find the man on top of her.

"When she woke up, she felt she had had sex with him but wasn't sure," Seastone said, adding the alleged victim went to University Medical Center for tests. Results had not been completed Sunday.

Seastone said officers had contacted the alleged assailant and the investigation remains open.

"We've got a lot more follow-up to do," Seastone said. "It's one person's word against another person's word."

Contacted at home Sunday, Beta Theta Pi President Christopher Klecka said most Beta members went out the night of Nov. 14 and that he had not been apprised of any rape allegations.

"Honestly, this is the first I've heard of it," Klecka said, adding that he stayed home to watch movies with his girlfriend and was unable to recall if any members were home early Sunday morning accompanied by a female companion.

Klecka added he did not know if any fraternity member had started a new two-week relationship with anyone.

"I've not heard a single thing," Klecka said.

Seastone said police would continue their investigation and a number of things could occur. The case may be taken to the County Attorney to see if an arrest should be made, or police could refer the case to the Grand Jury, which could issue an arrest warrant for the alleged suspect.

If confirmed, the Nov. 15 incident would be the first reported rape since school began in mid-August, Seastone said.

University police reported five sexual assaults during 1997, and 16 sexual assaults were reported during the five years prior.

Liz Dailey can be reached via e-mail at Liz.Dailey@wildcat.arizona.edu.