A fraternity at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is believed to have used a colour-coding system to roofie women guests at a house party.
Police were notified of the instance after several women who had attended a party at the Tau Kappa Epsilon frat house arrived back at their halls of residence unable to stand with severe memory lapses. Three of the women were sent straight to hospital – all who had been marked with a red X on their hand.
One man, who had a black X on his hand, was also sent to the hospital suffering the same symptoms. He later admitted to police to drinking from one of the girl’s cups.
According to reports from the local Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, police discovered guests were marked with a black or red X upon entrance to the party. Women were also encouraged to purchase $8 cards that allowed them to receive free drinks all night.
The Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel noted that one woman told police officers that you “have to be hot” to get one of these cards, which granted the women access to a specific bar in the house.
Party-goers grew suspicious when members of the fraternity would not allow women to mix their own drinks and noticed that some shots looked cloudy.
Officers noted that women who attended the party with the red X on their hand were unable to speak clearly or walk. The man who was hospitalised was found vomiting with little ability to speak when questioned about the events of the night.
The university has suspended the fraternity while the investigation continues, commenting that “the safety of our students is our top priority.”
The same fraternity was investigated last year in connection with three reports of sexual assault, although no formal charges were filed.
