The University of Chicago is warning students about suspected drinking

Since late September, the University of Chicago has received seven separate reports of students suspected of having drugs spiked into their drinks at off-campus parties, prompting the university to alert the campus community in a message sent Thursday.

On Tuesday, an undergraduate student reported to a member of campus security that they may have been sexually assaulted on Oct. 28 in a dormitory. According to the report, the victim suspected their drink had been spiked at a party they were attending.

According to Jeremy Monier, a spokesman for the University of Chicago, the seven alleged student drug use incidents occurred mostly off campus and there is no clear pattern. No police reports were filed in either incident, Manier said.

“Except for the probable sexual assault incident described in the alert, no sexual assault was reported in any of the other incidents,” Magnier said in an email.

Campus Security Authorities are officials with a legal obligation to inform the university about crimes that occur on University properties, under the federal Clery Act. For example, CSAs include members of the university police department, residential college staff, and athletic coaches.

Afternoon briefing

Every day

Top articles from Chicago Tribune editors delivered to your inbox every day.

At the victim’s request, CSA may omit identifying information from the report, including names, initials, and contact information.

In a community alert, the University urged students to report all incidents of misconduct.

The University of Chicago has deans of sexual abuse on call, a confidential resource available at any time for survivors of gender-based violence that students can access by calling UCPD Dispatch or texting the UChicago Safe App. The program’s website says the administrator is trained in trauma-informed sexual assault crisis intervention.

Students can also access the University’s Center for Awareness, Clearance, Education and Support, which focuses on preventing and responding to sexual misconduct, harassment and discrimination. UChicago Student Wellness provides confidential medical and mental health services.

To reduce the risk to students, the alert also encouraged students to drink from covered drinks, avoid open containers or punch bowls, and never leave a drink unattended.

“Victims of crimes are not responsible for the crimes committed against them,” the warning notes. “We want to help members of our community reduce their risk where possible and watch out for others.”

mellis@chicagotribune.com