Rape at Fraternity Party Alleged : Pi Kappa Alpha Man Sought; House Suspended by SDSU

San Diego State University police are seeking an arrest warrant for a Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity member accused of raping an 18-year-old woman student at an off-campus fraternity party early Friday.

The police also are investigating claims that the alleged assault on a Delta Gamma sorority member involved more than one person, said SDSU Police Chief John J. Carpenter. “We are still investigating other possible charges and other possible suspects,” Carpenter said. He would not elaborate.

Fraternity officers referred questions about the incident to an attorney, who said there was no rape at the party. “No rape occurred,” said San Diego lawyer Richard Peterson. “I think when everything is known about the evening, the fraternity will be exonerated from any criminal liability and, I hope, from any disciplinary liability.” Peterson, who said he has conducted his own investigation, would not elaborate.

SDSU placed the fraternity on “interim suspension” pending the outcome of investigations by police and the university’s division of student affairs, said Sue Raney, the school’s communications manager. The suspension deprives the fraternity of the privileges of its association with the university, including use of the school’s name, the right to schedule activities on campus and membership in the Interfraternity Council.

Carpenter said the victim identified the fraternity member in a photo lineup. Police have not found him at his off-campus residence and are seeking an arrest warrant charging him with rape, he said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. William Collins said that if evidence and the victim’s statement support the accusation, he would issue a warrant today.

Raney said that the woman told police she was raped in a private room at the fraternity house, 5071 College Ave., between 2 and 4 a.m. Friday at a party attended by 100 to 120 people. Raney said students were drinking alcoholic beverages at the party.

The woman reported the alleged assault to the Student Health Services Center about 3 p.m. Friday. She was taken to Grossmont Hospital for examination and released, Raney said.

“There is no indication at all that there was any willingness on her part based on the (medical) examination, her testimony and (testimony of) witnesses, at this point,” Carpenter said.

He said evidence gathered during a search of the fraternity house Friday is being analyzed at the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s crime laboratory.

Pi Kappa Alpha, one of 17 fraternities at SDSU, was awarded the Dean’s Trophy as the outstanding fraternity on campus in 1983, said Rick Moore, news manager for the school. Moore said the fraternity is “very active” in student life and is considered prestigious.

“If you want to be in a fraternity, this is one of the ones to be in on this campus,” he said.

The suspension is the second in two weeks for an SDSU fraternity. Last week, Tau Kappa Epsilon was suspended after members hazed a group of sleeping pledges by creating a loud disturbance. The fraternity had just ended a one-year probation for a hazing incident.

In September, 1984, Delta Sigma Phi fraternity was forced to remove a two-way mirror that had been installed in the door of a bathroom frequently used by female visitors.