A woman reported being raped at a Johns Hopkins University fraternity house over the weekend, and the Baltimore Sun is pushing for more information as police refuse to release a report on the incident.
According to the JHU Police crime blotter, the incident was reported about 1:30 a.m. Sunday at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity House in the 2900 block of St. Paul Street.
The woman, who is not affiliated with the university, was assaulted by two men while attending a party at the frat house, the police report states. She was transported to Mercy Hospital for treatment. According to the JHU police report, it appears the two suspects are not affiliated with the university, either.
Hopkins students held a rally last week to “end campus rape culture.” At the event, students focused on 2013 allegations of a gang rape at the Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) house. PIKE was suspended for a year following the incident.
“We, the students of Johns Hopkins University, demand a just, robust, transparent and rapid response to the administration’s tolerance of rape culture on campus,” a Facebook page advertising the event stated.
In the wake of the case at Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Hopkins officials told the Sun that the frat was ordered to cease activities — including parties — while the school investigates. Earlier this year, the fraternity ended its pledging process for new members as a result of a nationwide increase in hazing-related deaths, according to the JHU Newsletter. In place of traditional pledging, SAE implemented a new program to join the fraternity called a “True Gentleman Experience.”
Sun reporter Justin Fenton tried to get more information about the weekend incident from Baltimore Police, who are now handling the criminal investigation. But the police refused to release a report, saying it would “compromise the integrity of the ongoing rape investigation.” In a tweet, Fenton said police denied to make “even a redacted version” available.
For further reading on the subject, Fenton also posted a 2009 article from the Washington Post in which David Simon recalls his time as a Sun reporter educating the police on Maryland public records law. When confronted with such situations, Simon says he called a judge at home.
“Everything in an initial incident report is public,” the judge would say. “If the report has been filed by the officer, then give it to the reporter tonight or face contempt charges tomorrow.”
