JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A University of North Florida fraternity at the center of a rape investigation kept partying despite orders from the school forbidding them from hosting parties, according to records obtained by the News4Jax I-TEAM. As the I-TEAM previously reported, the Kappa Sigma fraternity was removed from campus in July after an investigation into a complaint that a member of the organization raped a 19-year-old student at an off-campus fraternity party in February 2019 and members of the same fraternity later pressured her to keep quiet about it. She said she did not pursue criminal charges at the time because she did not wish to relive the ordeal. Afterward, the woman said, she was approached by members of the fraternity who wanted her to deal directly with the organization instead of the university. The panel found the fraternity and two students were responsible for sexual misconduct, harassment and endangerment, among other allegations.

But attorneys with knowledge of similar cases tell News4Jax that she can still file a case against her accused attacker and others involved. RELATED: UNF fraternity expelled after sex assault investigationThe I-TEAM learned that UNF finished an internal investigation in late July, finding the fraternity and two students responsible for sexual misconduct, harassment, endangerment, among other allegations. As a result, a UNF student conduct board expelled the fraternity from campus, a decision the fraternity is appealing. “It’s not surprising honestly,” said attorney Belkis Plata, who has represented clients in similar sexual assault cases. Other attorneys contacted by News4Jax agreed that the young woman has both criminal and civil cases against her attacker, if she decides to go that route.

According to documents obtained by the News4Jax I-TEAM, a UNF investigation found that a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity was found to be responsible for sexual misconduct, harassment, endangerment and conspiracy, among other allegations. As a result, Kappa Sigma was permanently removed from UNF without the possibility of re-establishment more than two weeks ago. This is an ongoing student conduct matter and UNF cannot comment or discuss details of individual student conduct matters, a school spokeswoman responded on Aug. 19. UNF said that student conduct investigation materials are largely exempt from public record. However, the spokesperson said the legal team could review the records for possible release for a fee. News4Jax tried to reach the local members of the Kappa Sigma fraternity as well as leadership at the national office but they did not immediately respond.