Sexual Assault at Wesleyan Beta Theta Pi Fraternity

Case Details

– United States District Court, District of Connecticut, Case No. 3:12-cv-01428

Who: Jane (Doe) was a college student who attended a Halloween fraternity party on campus, unaware that the Beta Theta Pi fraternity chapter had a history of misconduct, including allegations of sexual assault against women.

What Happened: At the party, Jane was targeted and secluded in a bedroom of the fraternity house and sexually assaulted. In the lawsuit against Beta Theta Pi and Wesleyan University, both defendants argued they had no legal responsibility. Wesleyan University claimed it had no obligation to publish disciplinary records of fraternities—even though it had threatened to shut down the chapter the semester before the assault because the chapter’s conduct was unsafe. The fraternity chapter argued the sexual assault, if it occurred, was not authorized and was committed by a member who violated its rules.

Results

Jane prevailed against both the university and the fraternity, reaching a substantial settlement that compensated her for her injuries and damages.

Impact

The case underscored that universities and fraternities cannot avoid accountability when they fail to address known safety risks. It reinforced the duty of institutions and chapters to share disciplinary information and protect students, contributing to broader recognition that silence or inaction in the face of misconduct can have grave consequences.