The University’s sexual battery investigation into the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity was closed in early December due to insufficient evidence and lack of contact with the victim.
The initial report was filed by the female victim around 1 a.m. on Nov. 19, after the fraternity’s “PIKE’s Peak” party. The woman is not a student at the University. She was allegedly assaulted by a white male in the backyard of the fraternity house according to the LSUPD report. Reports of the investigation were made public on Nov. 21.
Dean of students Mari Fuentes-Martin said the victim’s choice to remain anonymous complicated the investigation because the investigators could not contact sources close to the victim to interview.
“We did interview individuals within the PIKE organization and they cooperated with our investigation,” Fuentes-Martin said. “But in the end there was insufficient information to have any findings in the case.”
As the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for students, Fuentes-Martin assembled a team of 14 University employees to serve as investigators for the case. The team determines whether the case is a violation of Permanent Memorandum No. 73.
The investigation team does not have jurisdiction when the accused party is not an LSU student. However, the team can investigate cases involving non-student victims as long asthe incident happened on campus. Fuentes-Martin said relying on an anonymous non-student proved to be difficult.
“Without a complainant, without details, without a victim — it was really hard to move forward to find an outcome on the case,” Fuentes-Martin said.
Media Relations Director Ernie Ballard said the LSUPD investigation is still ongoing, and due to the nature of the case, no details from that investigation can be shared. Pi Kappa Alpha President Peter Wilson did not respond to The Daily Reveille’s requests for a comment.
Fuentes-Martin said the cooperation of Pi Kappa Alpha aided in closing the investigation. Fuentes-Martin welcomes the chance to investigate all complaints she receives, andbelieves it’s important to make every student feel safe.
“I appreciate when we get a complaint and get the chance to investigate it. Even if it’s anonymous,” Fuentes-Martin said. “Even though there might not be an outcome this time, it helps us learn about what our concerns should be.”