Fraternity may face sanctions by University

Police uncover possible violations at Phi Gamma Delta party

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Posted: 5/6/08

A University fraternity may face disciplinary action from the Office of Judicial Programs following a report that a woman was possibly raped at one of their parties, according to a newspaper report.

The Athens Banner-Herald reported University police discovered possible violations of the University code of conduct as they talked to people who attended a Phi Gamma Delta party April 19.

University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said his detectives were assisting Athens-Clarke police in the sexual assault investigation, the newspaper reported.

A report on the investigation was turned over to Kimberly Ellis, head of OJP.

According to the Milledgeville Police Department's incident report of the possible sexual assualt, the woman attended the party with two friends, who said they lost track of her around 10 p.m.

The alleged victim said she woke up on a couch at the fraternity house around 11 a.m. the next day and was missing her underwear. She later discovered bruises on her hips and knees, according to the report.

After the woman returned to Milledgeville, she told her roommate what had happened to her. Her roommate, according to the report, advised the woman to go to the hospital and took her to Oconee Regional Medical Center. The hospital completed a Georgia Bureau of Investigation sexual assault kit on the woman, and Milledgeville police obtained the clothing she wore at the time of the incident for further investigation, according to the report. There has been no determination if a sexual assault took place, the Banner-Herald reported.

A female student who attended the party told The Red & Black it was an open party and males who were not brothers of Phi Gamma Delta were able to enter. She said there were members of other fraternities and non-Greek males present.

The student said there was "extremely strong" hunch punch made of ice cream, lime sherbet and "a lot of vodka" served from a tiki stand. The hunch punch was easily attainable, she said. She said she did not see anyone checking IDs. She saw two police officers at the fraternity house, but she said the officers were in the room with the band for most of the time.

The Athens Banner-Herald contributed to this report.