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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police are investigating reports of a sexual assault at a University of Utah fraternity house.
University administrators responded Monday afternoon by suspending all activities at Pi Kappa Alpha "until further notice."
The University of Utah announced Monday that its police department was notified over the weekend of a possible sexual assault at Pi Kappa Alpha, 1431 E. 100 South, on Thursday.
"A student reported going to the fraternity house with friends. The victim remembers feeling sick, nauseous, and as if they had been drugged. They were taken to a local hospital where they reported being sexually assaulted," according to a safety warning issued by the University Safety Department.
Because the fraternity house is located off campus, Salt Lake police were contacted to handle the investigation. Salt Lake Police Sgt. Mark Wian confirmed Monday that one of their officers had taken a report from a woman who went to the fraternity house with friends about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, reported feeling as if she were "drugged" and sexually assaulted.
Wian said detectives are waiting for toxicology and other lab tests to be completed to determine whether the woman was drugged. As of Monday, no one had been arrested. Police are asking anyone who may have been at the fraternity house at that time to contact them at 801-799-3000.
The school released a statement Monday afternoon regarding the investigation. In it, school administrators emphasized that all reports of sexual violence are taken seriously.
"It takes great courage to report these crimes, and we encourage survivors to reach out in the wake of these notifications for support from friends, victim advocates, counselors and/or law enforcement," the school stated.
The school is also working with Pi Kappa Alpha and its national organization, who are "complying and working with the university to respond to the incident," the school stated.
"The university's focus remains creating a safe environment for all students and holding those accountable who infringe and violate the safety of others," said Jason Ramirez, dean of students. "In the interest of safety, all social events will be suspended for Pi Kappa Alpha until further notice."
Earlier this year, all fraternity and sorority activities were suspended at the U. for two weeks following two reports of sexual assault at fraternity houses. In 2010, Pi Kappa Alpha received a yearlong suspension from the university for alleged hazing of new members.
University officials remind students who are victims of sexual assault to contact the school's victim-survivor advocates at 801-581-7776 or email them at advocate@sa.utah.edu. Wian said Salt Lake police are also providing victim advocates and other resources for the woman and anyone else who needs them.
Contributing: Lauren Steinbrecher KSL-TV
Correction: In an earlier version, Pi Kappa Alpha's address was incorrectly reported as 1431 E. 1000 South. The correct address is 1431 E. 100 South.
