UC Berkeley Greek groups shut down parties after sexual assaults

In an unusual move, student leaders, not administrators, at UC Berkeley have suspended on-site social events held by university Greek organizations, days after back-to-back reports of sexual assaults at off-campus fraternity parties. Two female students reported separate sexual assaults near campus last weekend at fraternity functions, according to the UC Berkeley Police Department. The day after the troubling allegations became public, the IFC announced their decision to halt parties at the school ahead of Friday night’s conference matchup between the California Golden Bears football team and the visiting University of Oregon Ducks. An email from Saedi and Panhellenic Council President Divya Thomas to leaders in Berkeley’s Greek community acknowledged how the suspension could disappoint students who have traditionally drank at fraternity and sorority functions before and after football games. Since May 1, there have been 56 instances of sexual assault reported near the UC Berkeley campus, according to an online crime-mapping website, including three sexual assaults at the same sold-out Mad Decent Block Party at the school’s Greek Theatre in September.