Fraternity brothers' story differs from party guests

Phi Gamma Delta may face University sanctions

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Posted: 5/14/08

A University police report states alcohol could be obtained for those under the age of 21 and IDs were not always checked during a fraternity party last month where a Georgia College and State University student claimed she was raped.

The Athens Banner-Herald reported Saturday that Athens-Clarke police have yet to determine if the woman was sexually assaulted because the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's State Crime Lab hasn't completed its report.

But Phi Gamma Delta remains under investigation by the University's Office of Judicial Programs for violating codes of conduct. No ruling has been made by the OJP as of yet, according to Mitch Clayton at the University's office for open records.

According to the documents obtained by the Banner-Herald, most Phi Gamma Delta fraternity brothers tell a different story from their guests. The report states "the victim in this incident stated that she obtained the alcohol that she drank from a residence and at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house. She stated that the majority of the alcohol that she consumed was at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house." The report goes on to say that a bar was outside the house, and that "she would ask a brother to make her a drink and they would comply. The victim in this incident is under the age of twenty-one" the report says.

The report goes on to say that the party, which took place on April 19, was open to a wide variety of individuals. The fraternity president, Kyle Meloney, said the fraternity placed a black tarp around the house with a gate at the eastern parking lot entrance to control who entered. Brothers were checking IDs and those under the age of 21 had a black X placed on their hand in marker.

One underage fraternity brother, however, said he didn't see "anyone with a black "x" on their hand at the party." Two others, who are also underage, said they were not required to wear the marking. And another brother "stated he 'may have' provided the victim and her under-aged friend with alcohol from the bar." The brother said "the victim and her friend" gained access through the Alpha Chi Omega sorority house's backyard.

One guest who is not in the fraternity stated he entered the party through the eastern gate and did not see "any type of divider set up to control access." He also said no one at the party had an x on their hand.

An underaged female student said no one checked her ID, and that her brother, who is in high school, also attended the party. She said at the party "she was aware that a lot of the girls were in high school."

The report ends by stating "the information provided by the brother of Phi Gamma Delta differed greatly from information obtained by non members."