Lang
9/1/21
The Johnson County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa City Police Department are requesting the public’s assistance in further investigating the sexual assault alleged to have occurred last year at the Iowa Phi Gamma Delta, or FIJI, fraternity house on Ellis Avenue.
The two issued a joint news release Wednesday asking that anyone with information on the alleged incident contact the ICPD at 319-356-5275. The release also says that while providing and showing support for sexual assault survivors is important, violence and property damage diminishes the message of the protest and may further deter survivors from reporting sexual assaults. That’s a reference to Tuesday night protests at the Fiji house and an alleged Fiji “party house” on Iowa Avenue during which some protestors turned to vandalism. Damage included graffiti, broken windows and doors, and cars being turned over.
No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made. However, the ICPD is seeking information on the property damage at both properties. Anyone with information, including security camera or cell phone footage, is asked to contact Iowa City Police at 319-356-5275.
The protest was planned after reports that Fiji members drugged and raped a sophomore student on September 5th of 2020, with members allegedly recording and photographing the incident with their phones. A petition on change.org calling for the fraternity to be removed from campus also claims no one in the fraternity said anything to stop the incident, and members were reportedly told to delete any proof.