A University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ student has been charged with sexual assault in connection with an August incident at a fraternity, records show.
David Lipan, 19, is facing one felony count of sexual assault, according to Pima County Superior Court records. He was indicted by a grand jury in February. The next hearing in the case is on April 2.
Shortly after arriving at the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity house Aug. 24, a UA freshman says she drank a shot of alcohol and followed it with something from a Gatorade bottle, according to the UAPD police report. The woman told police that she and a friend went into Lipan’s room and had a few more drinks, after which the woman’s friend left the room, the report said.
Lipan locked the door, climbed on top of the woman and pinned her wrists above her head while she asked him to “please stop†and said she was “too drunk to do this,†according to the woman’s interview with police.
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After the alleged assault, the woman told police she ran out of the room and fraternity, leaving her shoes behind in her haste, according to the report. Police noted visible marks and bruising on the woman’s neck and collected her clothing as evidence before taking her to the hospital, the report says.
The Star does not generally name victims of alleged sex crimes.
The woman was unsure if she wanted to press charges at the time, according to the report.
The woman’s attorney, Lynne Cadigan, filed a notice of claim against the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on Feb. 9.
UA spokesman Chris Sigurdson said he was unable to comment on pending litigation.
The judicial page of the UA’s fraternity and sorority programs website shows that Sigma Alpha Mu is in good standing. A review of UA’s fraternity disciplinary records shows that Sigma Alpha Mu had four code of conduct violations during the 2017-2018 school year, including endangerment and alcohol.
The woman wants the UA to protect students from sexual abuse, predatory fraternities and “dangerous illegal drinking and drug parties,†the claim says.
The woman had only been on campus for five days when the alleged assault occurred and has since suffered constant anxiety, nightmares and “fear of trusting anyone or anything,†the claim says.
The woman is fearful of retaliation by fraternity members, according to the claim.
The claim seeks $2.5 million to settle with the UA. The UA has 60 days to respond to the claim before the woman can pursue the case in court.
“We can’t comment at this time because of student privacy considerations, but we’re aware of the arrest,†said UA spokesman Chris Sigurdson.
David Lipan
Contact reporter Caitlin Schmidt at cschmidt@tucson.com or 573-4191. Twitter: @caitlincschmidt
