This frat is under investigation for telling girl to ‘stop talking’ about her sexual assault

A fraternity is being investigated after trying to gag a student from speaking out about her sexual assault, babe can reveal. James Madison University is looking into its local chapter of Phi Chi Theta, a co-ed business frat, after they demanded a female member stop "spreading a one-sided story." The experience was so difficult that she transferred from JMU and is now attending a different college.

Sally, a former member of Phi Chi Theta, reported her sexual assault on February 2nd 2018 to her fraternity's leadership (she asked us to change her name as she is involved in the ongoing investigation). The rising junior described how after a night of drinking, another student in her fraternity sexually assaulted her when she was too drunk to consent.

Sally told babe that shortly after reporting it to the fraternity President, Christian Caruso, began telling her to shut up about it. She says Caruso began messaging and calling her repeatedly to tell her to stop talking about the incident with her friends. "When I first told him, he was super supportive, super nice. He asked if he wanted me to report it or take action. I said no, I didn't want anything to happen – I wasn't ready for that. But I was talking about it with a few other people – this was something I thought people should know. They went on and reported to the Exec."

That's when, according to Sally, Caruso emailed her to say: "We urge you not to spread the story of what occurred any further."

He added: "We understand that disclosing your feelings to your close friends and confidants is a natural response, and we do not discourage that. However, as we are sure you know, there is a line between finding comfort in your friends, and spreading a one-sided story."

He then cited wanting to keep his fraternity out of trouble, writing: "The latter is what we are trying to protect against, especially in such a closely intertwined organization."

Caruso sent Sally a follow-up message, cc'ing Maria DiGilio, the chapter Vice President. He described how he would announce the situation at a fraternity-wide meeting that night.

"While we will not be mentioning your or [redacted]'s name in our disclosure, nor the exact details of what transpired, the members who already know only one side of the story may have the sight to piece it together," Caruso wrote, adding he thought he had no option but to discuss this sensitive matter in front of the entire membership. "The risk that this situation brings to the reputation of… Phi Chi Theta, Delta Sigma has left us no choice."

"We have received reports of more brothers hearing solely one side of the story as well as receiving direct information that you shared them the private email that we sent you last week," Caruso said. "This continuous spreading of the story after we specifically asked you to refrain from this behavior has lead us to the decision that we will be informing the brothers of the facts (anonymously), as well as our formal actions, at our General Body Meeting on tonight."

"They had no empathy whatsover," Sally said. "They actually made me feel like I was a burden in the fraternity."

Caruso has seen our requests for comment, but did not respond.

A rep for JMU confirmed to babe that Phi Chi Theta was under investigation, but could not comment about the details of the case due to privacy laws.

Saundra Finley, the Executive Director of Phi Chi Theta, said she was aware of the situation and was investigating. "We have been contacted by the university," she said. "They have opened up an investigation and we are co-operating fully, so we can get to the bottom of it as well."

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