The University of Virginia fraternity at the center of a gang-rape allegation detailed in a Rolling Stone article issued a statement rebutting the story Friday following an apology made by magazine, which acknowledges discrepancies in the report.
In its statement, the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity said it did not hold any social events at the frat house on the date of the reported rape and no members were working as lifeguards at the time — a description given of one of the perpetrators in the magazine article.
“Our initial doubts as to the accuracy of the article have only been strengthened as alumni and undergraduate members have delved deeper,” reads the fraternity statement.
The fraternity and U.Va. campus were flung into the national spotlight last month when Rolling Stone published the explosive article, in which a student named Jackie gave her account of her 2012 rape by seven men at the school’s Phi Kappa Psi house.
The article also focused on the university’s botched response to the allegations, and prompted fierce backlash from alumni and students.
But others criticized the article’s author, contributing editor Sabrina Rubin Erdely, for failure to reach out to the men accused of the attack.
SEE ALSO: Rolling Stone apologizes for U.Va. rape article, admits ‘misplaced’ trust in evidence
On Friday, Rolling Stone Managing Editor Will Dana apologized in a letter to readers for the “discrepancies” in the accuser’s story.
The statement from Phi Kappa Psi said the fraternity “has been working tirelessly and openly with the Charlottesville Police Department as they investigate the allegations detailed in the November 19, 2014 Rolling Stone article.”
“We continue to be shocked by the allegations and saddened by this story. We have no knowledge of these alleged acts being committed at our house or by our members,” it states.
The statement goes on to point out three key discrepancies in the report:
“First, the 2012 roster of employees at the Aquatic and Fitness Center does not list a Phi Kappa Psi as a lifeguard. As far as we have determined, no member of our fraternity worked there in any capacity during this time period.
“Second, the Chapter did not have a date function or a social event during the weekend of September 28th, 2012.
“Third, our Chapter’s pledging and initiation periods, as required by the University and Inter-Fraternity Council, take place solely in the spring semester and not in the fall semester. We document the initiation of new members at the end of each spring. Moreover, no ritualized sexual assault is part of our pledging or initiation process. This notion is vile, and we vehemently refute this claim.”
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.