Philadelphia Police are not releasing any details regarding the reported sexual assault of a female Penn student early Thursday morning at a Center City bar.
Police said the case is still under investigation.
Chi Omega President and College junior Laura Fluharty said the alleged victim was attending a crushing party at Fiso Lounge, located at 1437 South St., when she was assaulted.
"Everyone is obviously still concerned, but we're trying to get back to our daily lives," Fluharty said. She added that the sorority is working with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs to organize a sexual-assault prevention workshop.
The alleged victim's identity was not disclosed to the sorority, she said, adding that she is unsure whether the woman has returned to classes.
Philadelphia Police Sgt. Jim Pauley has said that the victim likely knew her attacker.
Last week's incident was the second reported sexual assault involving the University this year. In January, police reported that there was a sexual assault inside a building near 36th Street and Locust Walk.
These two reports likely do not constitute the total number of rapes that occurred on campus during that time, said Sandy Ortman, director of special programs at the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault. She added that more rapes occur on college campuses than are reported.
Statistics from the U.S. Department of Education show that no one affiliated with the University reported being sexually assaulted off-campus from 2002 to 2004.
A December 2000 U.S. Department of Justice report indicated that for every 1,000 women at a higher education institution, there may be 35 incidents of rape per academic year.
The same study stated that although attacks occur both on and off campus, the majority take place off campus, including at student-run events off campus.
After reviewing surveillance tapes from Thursday night, Fiso Lounge bar manager Tracy Brennan said she did not see the incident captured on film. The bar's backyard has a camera overlooking the area in which the attack allegedly took place.
But Ortman said that in her experience, false reports of sexual assault are rare.
"You're putting yourself out there in quite a serious way to get back at somebody," she said.
Statistics provided by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape indicate that fewer than 5 percent of rapes or attempted rapes of college women are reported to police.
A hotline counselor for Women Organized Against Rape, a crisis center located at 1233 Locust St., said that whether a victim chooses to report the attack largely depends on the individual.
"They don't know how to detach themselves from that friendship," she said.
Assault Statistics - Department of Justice report says that for every 1,000 women in higher education institutions, there may be 35 rapes per year - Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape reports that fewer than 5 percent of rapes or attempted rapes at colleges are reported to police
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