A University student reported she was raped by a known individual at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, according to University Police.

The victim reported alcohol was involved in the incident, and refused to have it investigated or prosecuted.

“The female individual came to our police station in the early morning hours,” University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said Wednesday. “After some discussion, she decided she didn’t want to pursue this any further.”

Pi Kappa Alpha released a statement Wednesday that said: “This type of alleged behavior is not condoned by our chapter and is not representative of our organization. Both our members and advisers are offering full cooperation with the University and local authorities in any investigation of this very serious matter.”

Efforts to reach Trevor Brightwell, president of the Interfraternity Council, were unsuccessful.

Williamson said people reporting rapes often choose not to press charges. This marks the second student rape reported this semester where the alleged victim has not pursued charges.

“Forty percent of the time they decide after working with us this is something they don’t want to pursue,” he said. “If you use national statistics, they say only one in 10 [rapes] are reported, anyway.”

Williamson said there are a number of reasons someone would choose not to have the incident investigated.

“For as many incidents that occur, there’s probably just as many reasons,” he said.

Victims worry their trauma will become public or they will be blamed for the incident, and often they don’t want to relive the event through things like court testimonies, Williamson said.

Larry Gourdine of the University’s Office of Violence Prevention said he sees roughly five student rape victims each semester.

“There’s lots of things going on that a survivor has to go through – whether it’s fear, embarrassment, shame,” he said. “A lot of survivors want to report what happened, but they don’t want anything done.”

Gourdine serves as the relationship and sexual violence prevention coordinator for the OVP. His is responsible for helping students who report victimization.

Gourdine said most rapes are committed by a person known to the victim.

“It makes the dynamics of the relationship kind of more challenging,” he said.

When victims and their assaulters share the same friends, Gourdine said victims worry about being blamed for what happens to the offender, or even for the crime itself. If a student is victimized by another student and afraid their trauma will become public, Gourdine said students can deal with the issue privately through the University’s Office of Judicial Programs.

“The accuser in that situation has to write a written statement of what happened,” he said. “The OJP will meet with the student and see if there’s possibly any violation of the Student Code of Conduct.”

If a student is found in violation of the code, he or she can be suspended or even expelled, Gourdine said. Although University sanctions would not lead to jail time, Gourdine said the sanctions can be helpful to victims.

“The alleged perpetrator may be in the same residence hall, or that person may be in the same class, or you just happen to see this person every day,” he said. “That can be a re-victimization of the student altogether.”

Gourdine said his main job is to help victims overcome their trauma by getting them in contact with counselors, recommending they visit the health center, and talking to teachers to ensure they’re not penalized for falling behind in class as they deal with their trauma.

“I just want the student to know that someone cares and someone is here to help them,” he said.