H -°, L 23° | Tomorrow: 
H 23°, L 9°
On Wednesday, The Badger Herald news department reported the horrifying story of a University of Wisconsin student who was allegedly raped last October. After attending the UW football game against Ohio State, the victim went out with a few members of the Sigma Chi fraternity and later woke up at the fraternity’s Langdon Street house.
After having a resident of the house scream at her profusely, the victim went home and later found herself bruised and bleeding, and a doctor later determined she was raped by multiple individuals.
We cannot imagine the pain this victim has lived with over the course of the last five months. Her incredible courage in coming forth to tell her story shows her desire to see such disgusting acts come to an end.
In response to the Herald’s story, Greek community members were issued a gag order and told not to speak out on the issue. While the primary intention of the order is likely to prevent any interaction with the press, we urge anyone with information regarding the incident in question to come forward to the Madison Police Department. Sitting on information that could lead to a break in this case is cowardly and selfish.
We desperately hope the victim’s story leads to justice for what happened to her, but we also hope it leads to reform within and outside of the Greek community. For years, the Interfraternity Council — made up of UW fraternity members — has refused to divulge any information regarding criminal acts at their houses. It is time they open their meetings and, at the very least, release information both Greek members and the public deserve to know about, particularly those involving safety.
On the level of the UW administration, we urge Dean of Students Lori Berquam to appoint an assistant dean, not simply a liaison, to attend all Interfraternity Council meetings and enact harsher punishments for wrongdoings within the Greek system. Clearly a governing board solely comprised of students is not effective, as years of allegations and crimes have not led to any reform. Now is the time for change, and Berquam must be a part of it.
The victim of the alleged rape at Sigma Chi showed bravery in coming forth with her story. While her life will never return to normal, nor will she ever be able to erase the pain she has experienced and will continue to endure, the Greek community and UW administration owe it to her to see that change comes.
The Greek community has proven to be a wonderful experience for many students on this campus, but without addressing, solving and erasing the issues of sexual assault that have arisen, individuals will only be hurt in the future and a poor reputation will only endure.
IP hash: 4ae9feb3
I am mixed on this article. I believe when it comes to sexual crimes of this nature there must be greater pressure on members to provide relevant information. However when it comes to other criminal acts around drugs and underaged alcohol consumption I don’t feel UW administration should delve deeply into the Greek community to resolve issues. There is a lifestyle choice associated with many of the greek organizations that I think there should be protection for.
IP hash: 77dd8388
Please do some more research on the Greek system before making such assumptions. IFC and Panhel are not just students making unrestricted decisions. Both groups are watched over by advisors, mostly Barb Kautz. She has done an excellent job in her position and she knows exactly what she is doing. Like all criminal cases, it takes TIME. Greek Judicial Board/IFC/Barb cannot just kick a fraternity off of campus without making sure that it is backed up and bullet proof.
There is no doubt that this girl was violently raped and that she woke up in Sigma Chi—however, there’s still a chance that she could have been raped by a non Sigma Chi member (since they had a huge pre game before the OSU game that day, there were tons of people in and out of that house that weren’t from Sigma Chi).
IP hash: 407625bb
It’s amazing to me that these articles are published. Again it proves people are talking about things they’ve never tried to experience. The Greek system has a ton of events all year long open to the entire campus as well as a plethora of community service and charitable events. The governing board makes the organizations responsible to each other as well as this university and they take action when it is warranted. That being said the police department obviously isn’t doing much which would allow one to conclude that there isn’t enough evidence, though these articles sure say otherwise, to pursue any charges. If you went to a fraternity meeting all you’d hear was what events they had going on that week. Don’t be ridiculous if you have no idea how any of the greek system works.
IP hash: 5d04191b
Write what you know….I have lost almost all faith in the harold lately. I am going to be deduced to simply reading the shout outs because most of the articles ive read lately are comprised of 99% speculation passed over as fact. If you do not know what your talking about, choose to right about something else. To anyone who has ever been on IFC or a powerful position in the greek community this article is simply a joke. I understand the effort to make the system more transparent, but understand the system before you try to critique it.
IP hash: 2ea0071a
So I guess we are stuck with IFC because MPD’s major crimes capability is awful-to-nonexistent.
It’s a joke that you have a city of a quarter-million and virtually no ability to solve homicides, armed robberies or sexual assaults.
IP hash: fd56ce42
HUGE MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE GREEK SYSTEM: nobody gives a shit about IFC because they are a bunch of losers who are incompetent and cannot muster the energy to create an efficient meeting worth attending. If the dean sent a member of her staff to the meeting she would be utterly unimpressed by the dialogue during the meeting, and find it to be a waste of her time. Now maybe that is the greater issue. Either disband IFC, and rework it to be efficient and provide power to all fraternities so they take a collective interest, or get rid of it all together.
IP hash: 5f77d613
as a former member of the Greek community, I can attest to the fact that many ofthe stereotypes are true. Drinking, partying and other social events that are the primary area of interest. The charity work and community service mentioned are a complete joke. The reason many participate is because members would be fined or not allowed to attend social events. If partying is the main concern that is fine, dont lie about the good you do. Also take responsibility for the things that are wrong with the system instead of blaming the victim.
IP hash: 471d24e9
“and a doctor later determined she was raped by multiple individuals”
Legally a doctor doesn’t determine “rape”. He can only ascertain whether or not there was sex. Even a “rape kit” is a misnomer; it’s only an evidence-collection kit. Whether or not the sex involved amounted to “rape” or was consensual is for a jury to decide.
My entire sympathies if there was a victim in this instance; but waiting five months means that there will be no way for an accused defendant to prepare a defense. After five months how many witnesses will recall exactly the details necessary to determine if these alleged events were consensual or forced? Memory of events does not improve with the passage of time.
Finally, try to avoid a rush to judgment. I guess we don’t learn anything from the Scottsboro and Duke cases—members of unpopular social groups are accused of crimes which seem to confirm society’s view of them; and they are pursued relentlessly because society is certain of their guilt.
Wait for the courts to decide the issue. Time enough then to see justice done if the accused are guilty.
IP hash: 9032f4b4
clearly, people not in the greek system know NOTHING about it. don’t write about IFC or PANHEL when you just have no idea what it’s about. pretty ignorant if you ask me