Amid that trend, the investigation into the allegation at TKE — which the fraternity’s president contends was likely perpetrated by an outside party attendee, rather than its own member — stands as a sort of outlier.

In fact, the report alleging sexual assault at TKE was one among six reports of hazing and sexual assault at different fraternities recently released to The State News by MSU in response to a public records request. Asked which, if any, of those reports had been investigated by ELPD, Lt. Adrian Ojerio said, "I can confirm that ELPD has investigated at least one of those complaints," before indicating the report involving TKE. 

"The East Lansing Police Department does investigate all criminal complaints that are reported to us," Ojerio said. "If no one reports the complaint to the East Lansing Police Department, we would not be able to investigate it."

MSU spokesperson Amber McCann has previously said it is standard protocol for MSU Police to refer reports of criminal conduct at fraternities that it receives to the East Lansing Police Department, as that is the department with jurisdiction over such cases.

But ELPD's claim that it only investigated one report among the six MSU Police reports of fraternity hazing and sexual assault obtained by The State News would seem to undercut that assertion. The discrepancy raises questions about how exactly the university handles reports of the sort. 

It also seems to represent further disharmony between MSU and ELPD after the department refuted McCann's claim in a January State News article that MSU Police referred a hazing report filed by university administrators against the "Pike" fraternity to ELPD. 

ELPD denied a public records request filed by The State News with the department seeking the full case file of its investigation into the sexual assault allegation at TKE, citing that the investigation is "open and active" and that disclosure would "interfere with law enforcement proceedings." 

What the report said

An MSU Police report dated Sept. 23, 2024 said that two days prior, the campus police’s special victims unit received an email from one of its own officers and an East Lansing Police officer notifying it of the alleged sexual assault. 

The report said an MSU Police officer was called to Wonders Hall and spoke to a person there about criminal sexual conduct that had "just occurred" at the TKE fraternity. An East Lansing Police officer was contacted to respond for reporting in connection to the allegation.

The MSU Police report continues that ELPD filed its own report of criminal sexual misconduct in relation to the allegation of criminal sexual misconduct at the TKE fraternity house.

The report shows that the alleged victim’s identity was known; however, it’s unclear if that person was the same one questioned by officers. 

That uncertainty is significant given the trend wherein decisions about whether to investigate reports like this one depend on if alleged victims are known and willing to participate. 

TKE president defends fraternity

The fraternity’s president, Logan Thurber, said the first he had heard of the allegation was when a State News reporter contacted him about it. 

Upon reviewing the report, which was shared with Thurber by a State News reporter, he said he launched an "internal investigation." That consisted of consulting all fraternity members to see if they knew anything of the allegation or were at all involved. 

Upon the investigation’s conclusion, Thurber said he determined “This was not one of our members that did this.” He added it was “most likely” an outside attendee at one the fraternity’s "open events."

Based on "how the dates lined up," Thurber said the alleged sexual assault would have occurred during a "White Lies" party the fraternity threw on Sept. 20, 2024.

TKE has historically kept its parties open to all members of the campus community in an effort to be "welcoming," Thurber said, though he conceded that not regulating who is let in can lead to parties becoming chaotic. 

"That's definitely something we've thought about too," he said. "I mean, it's never our intention for things to get out of hand at all. We haven't had any sort of issues in the past." 

Thurber said the fraternity will not be holding any more open events for the reminder of the year as it develops plans to make parties safer going forward.

No fraternity members have been contacted by East Lansing Police in the course of its investigation, Thurber said. 

Asked if that was true, Ojerio said, "In any case, there are many reasons why a suspect may not be contacted."

"Was (Thurber) part of the allegations?" Ojerio said. "Why or how would he know if someone else was or was not contacted?"

It’s unclear what came of East Lansing Police’s investigation, or whether it has concluded. 

Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane — whose office prosecutes criminal conduct occurring in East Lansing — said he could not confirm whether the case has been referred to his office in order to bring charges. 

That’s because the copy of the report The State News shared with Dewane documenting the allegation redacts victim and suspect names, making it impossible for him to search for the case in the ICPO’s case management system, he said. 

Also unclear is what ELPD’s investigation means for TKE’s standing with the university.

McCann did not respond at the time of publication to questions from The State News on the university’s protocols when a sexual assault allegation reported to have occurred at a fraternity event is investigated by law enforcement.

Reports at other frats

The report of sexual assault at TKE was one of several fraternity hazing and sexual assault reports recently released to The State News in response to a public records request. 

The State News also obtained similar reports raising concerns about Sigma Pi, Zeta Psi, Phi Kappa Sigma, Psi Upsilon and Theta Chi. 

Those reports, by contrast to the one involving TKE, went uninvestigated by East Lansing Police, which has jurisdiction over reports of criminal conduct occurring at MSU’s fraternities. 

It’s unclear to what extent the university itself investigated these reports, with a spokesperson largely declining to answer questions from The State News. 

A September 2024 report describes a 2020 drugging at a Sigma Pi "Wine Wednesday" event. 

"On 2/14/2020 (redacted) took me to Sigma Pi 2/19/2020 for 'Wine Wednesday,'" the report said. "(Redacted) was roofied so our DD offered to drive (redacted) home."

The report says that MSUPD closed the case because the "claimants did not directly provide any statements to MSUPD about the reported incident for the purposed (sic) of investigation, and also has not personally named or identified any suspects to police."

Sigma Pi's listed president, Chad Beckeman, did not respond to emails from The State News. 

Another September 2024 report details an assault by members of the Zeta Psi fraternity. It was filed with MSU’s Office of Institutional Equity and then forwarded to MSU Police. 

"My name is (redacted). I was assaulted by two members of the Zeta Psi Fraternity on Wednesday morning around 12:30AM located on Michigan Ave in East Lansing, MI," the report said.

It seems this particular allegation was investigated by the university's Office of Institutional Equity, which is tasked with protecting students' civil rights, though details are obscured by redactions.

McCann declined to answer whether the university’s Office of Institutional Equity investigated this particular report. 

Zeta Psi President AJ Damone did not respond to emails from The State News. 

Yet another September 2024 report details an anonymous report of drugging and sexual assault at Phi Kappa Sigma. It was filed with the Office of Institutional Equity and then forwarded to MSU Police. 

"It was reported that Respondent (redacted) drugged Unknown Claimant (redacted) and took advantage of Unknown Claimant sexually," the report said. "Claimant reports that they believe (redacted). Claimant remembers being penetrated (redacted) and also reported (redacted)."

Phi Kappa Sigma's listed president, Seth Hildebrand, did not respond to emails from The State News.

A heavily redacted report the from the next month, October, details hazing during Psi Upsilon’s "hell week" in 2019.

"The alleged conduct is described as forcing the Claimant, (redacted) to (redacted) in front of members and (redacted). It is also alleged that Psi Upsilon members (redacted). The Reporting Party states (redacted)."

Reached for comment, Psi Upsilon President Tyler Hahn referred questions to the fraternity’s national organization. 

"Psi Upsilon Fraternity has addressed the allegations concerning the New Member Education program at our Michigan State Chapter," said Psi Upsilon Executive Director Thomas Fox in an emailed statement.

"We have collaborated with the University and our current chapter to reach a constructive resolution aimed at preventing any recurrence of the reported behavior."

A Nov. 18, 2024, report details alleged hazing at Theta Chi that seemingly was investigated by the university.  

The report — which was received by the university’s Investigation, Support, and Resolution department (formerly the Office of Institutional Equity) and then forwarded to MSU Police — said "it was reported that Theta Chi pledge members were forced to (redacted) as part of a hazing ritual."

The report then includes an excerpt from the Michigan law against hazing. 

The report was filed the same day the university confirmed it was investigating Theta Chi over an alleged act of hazing. The fraternity was suspended days later following that investigation’s conclusion.

A video clip said to depict the hazing act in question was circulated on social media around that time, drawing speculation and rumors that the pledges were being forced to eat eggs. 

Theta Chi's listed president, Nolan Thomson, did not respond to emails from The State News.