Sigma Chi Accused of Multiple Sexual Assault and Drugging Allegations, Suspended as Investigations Are Ongoing

CW: Sexual Harassment

The Sigma Chi fraternity chapter at UC San Diego is under suspension while multiple allegations of sexual harassment and drugging are under investigation.

UCSD served cease and desist orders to the chapter at 9 p.m. last Thursday, followed by an interim suspension from the Sigma Chi National Chapter the next day. At least six allegations of sexual assault have been made against members of Sigma Chi, according to several sources with knowledge of the incidents.

“Our chapter supports this action and we intend to work collaboratively and cooperatively as may be requested,” said 2018-19 UCSD Sigma Chi Chapter President Erik Mumm. “We expect all of our chapter members to adhere to the high standards of Sigma Chi. We are committed to justice and accountability and we absolutely do not tolerate sexual misconduct of any kind.”

The suspension came after the UCSD Panhellenic Council (PHC), which governs 12 sororities, announced a social prohibition against the chapter last Tuesday. A social prohibition against the fraternity blacklists its members from participating in social and philanthropic events. Panhallenic leaders made the announcement and read a letter detailing the allegations to members at chapter meetings last week.

Multiple sorority members have described the prohibition as a stand in solidarity with survivors, in hopes that the allegations will be addressed.

“[T]he way this scandal has transpired is absolutely sickening to some members of the community, not only because of the assaults themselves, but the response by both the fraternity in question and Panhellenic sororities that are blindly deciding to side with their favorite frat guys over their Panhellenic sisters,” said former 2018 Alpha Chi Omega President Lauryn Johnson in a reddit thread.

PHC executives have not responded to questions from The Triton and have told members to not speak to the press. According to multiple sorority members, chapter leaders and Greek Life advisers normally decide how to address allegations of harassment.

Similar allegations of harassment and drugging against the Sigma Chi chapter at UC Berkeley prompted Cal’s Interfraternity Council (IFC), the governing body for fraternities, to put the chapter under social prohibition. The IFC at UCSD has not responded to questions from The Triton.

UCSD encourages anyone with knowledge of events related to these allegations to contact the Office for the Prevention of Harassment at (858) 534-8298 or online at OPHD@ucsd.edu.

Mo Al Elew is a Senior Staff Writer for The Triton. You can follow him on twitter @SoloMune. Sahana Narayan is a Staff Writer for The Triton.

Correction: This article was updated at 7:50 p.m. on June 6, 2019. A previous version of this article listed Lauryn Johnson as the 2018-19 Alpha Chi Omega President. We updated the article to clarify that Johnson was president in 2018.