OGDEN, Utah — A former Utah State University student has sued the school, claiming officials knew about reports of sexual assault and heavy drinking at fraternity parties but failed to take serious action before she was raped by a fraternity brother who had been accused multiple times before.
The lawsuit filed last week contends women were sexually abused at the parties even after USU pledged to crack down on Greek-community excesses following the alcohol-poisoning death of a fraternity pledge in 2008.
USU spokesman Tim Vitale declined to comment Monday on the allegations but said a lawsuit only contains one part of a story.
The Associated Press is not naming the woman who filed the lawsuit because it generally does not identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault.
The suit says five other women previously reported to the school being sexually assaulted by the same man.
Criminal charges were filed in two cases and police said earlier this year they investigated a third allegation, though charges weren’t filed in that case. The other allegations did not result in criminal charges, according to Utah court records.
Jason Relopez, 28, is serving a year in jail after pleading guilty to reduced charges of attempted rape and attempted forcible sexual abuse in the attack on the plaintiff in 2015.
