STATE COLLEGE, PA-- Five members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, 200 E. Beaver Ave., have been charged with a grand total of ten counts of sexual assault, thirteen counts of indecent assault, and eight drug charges in connection with the alleged rape of a Penn State student. According to police documents, the following events occurred the night of September 2:

Above: The scene of the crime: the SAE house on Beaver Avenue.

             The victim, 20-year old Laura Murphy (sophomore-economics), arrived at SAE at around 11 PM with two other friends after having some drinks at her apartment. After flashing the bartender to get more drinks, Murphy went to socialize with members of the fraternity in the bedroom of Steve DiPaolo (senior-marketing). The other people in the room soon left, leaving Murphy and DiPaolo alone. DiPaolo began kissing Murphy, who told him to stop. He became violent and forced sexual intercourse on her, then asked if she wanted to talk. Murphy immediately left the room to look for the friends she had come with.

             Murphy was told that her friends were in the room of another brother, William McDonald (junior-business). Upon reaching the room, Murphy found only McDonald. He could tell she was upset and asked what was wrong. She quickly told the story of what had happened, to which McDonald replied, “Let the healing begin!” He then proceeded to force sexual intercourse on her despite her pleas for him to stop. When he was done, McDonald said “sit tight baby, I’ll be right back.”

             Murphy left his room and started roaming the house in search of her friends. She ran into fraternity brother Paul Hartman (senior-advertising), who offered to lead her to them. Instead, Hartman let Murphy into his room and locked the door behind him. He then began kissing Murphy, who said “this isn’t right” because she had become attached to her previous rapist. Hartman forced her down with his body weight, forced sexual intercourse on her, and left the room.

             At this point Murphy became hysterical and began sobbing. She attracted the attention of yet another brother, Ron Dawson (sophomore-MIS). He tried consoling her, but she insisted that he find one of her friends. He responded by unzipping his pants and saying “found one.” He proceeded to force sexual intercourse on her and also left the room.

             Murphy then realized she had left her purse in DiPaolo’s room, and returned there to get it. When she reached the room, she encountered a fifth brother, Sean Harper (junior-English). Murphy asked Harper “let me guess, you’re going to rape me too?” Harper responded, “sure, why not?” and forced sexual intercourse on her. Murphy reclaimed her purse and left the house.

             The next morning, her friends asked her if she had as much fun at SAE as they did. She explained the whole story, and they escorted her to the police so she could file charges.

             Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity could not be reached for comment.