Lawrence Police: Investigation continues in Kappa Sigma sexual assault allegations

Detectives continue to investigate sexual assault allegations at the Kansas University chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity about a month after KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little placed the fraternity on interim suspension, Lawrence Police Department spokesman Trent McKinley said Tuesday.

“At this point there are no updates to release,” McKinley said. “I would anticipate the next release would be at a time where affidavits are sent for charging review and/or at the time when an arrest is made.”

The investigation comes after a KU student reported to Lawrence Police on Sept. 29 that a sexual assault happened at a party at Kappa Sigma, 1045 Emery Road, on the night of KU’s homecoming football game on Sept. 27, McKinley said. He said the allegation included “references to sexual contact having occurred while the victim was impaired.”

The fraternity’s attorney, Charles T. Schimmel, announced Oct. 17 that Kappa Sigma’s national headquarters is conducting its own investigation of what occurred at the party Schimmel referred to as an “informal and unsanctioned social gathering.”

“Unsanctioned” is a term that greek houses use to indicate that an event is not sponsored by a fraternity or sorority.

Schimmel also said the Kappa Sigma board banned alcohol consumption in the house following the allegations “to ensure the safety of its members, as well as any guests or visitors to the house.”

Gray-Little said that there were multiple “serious and disturbing” allegations, while McKinley in an Oct. 1 news release mentioned a single sexual assault reported at Kappa Sigma. McKinley said earlier this month that he had referred to only one assault because the incident is still under review.

McKinley said the LPD’s investigation will “likely be ongoing for some time.”

The interim suspension KU has imposed on Kappa Sigma expires Friday, according to university spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson. At that time KU administrators will decide what to do next, which could include extending the interim suspension and investigating further or pursuing longer-term sanctions.