A woman who attended Ramapo College two years ago claims she was lured into a frat party and raped by members of the fraternity
MAHWAH - A woman who attended Ramapo College two years ago claims she was lured into a frat party and raped by members of the fraternity and other students, according to a federal lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court.
The woman, identified in court documents as "Jane Doe" of Passaic County, claims she was 19 the night of Nov. 14, 2014, when members of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity fraternity called her into their party from a balcony at on-campus quarters known as "The Village Townhouses."
The theme of the frat party was "Date Night" and minors were there being served alcohol, according to the 61-page suit, which was filed Friday.
The lawsuit states that frat members "actively solicited, recruited, and persuaded random students outside of the apartment building to come to this party."
"They were calling down to recruit guests," the lawsuit alleges.
Other underage females were also called into the party, where they were greeted by a 24-year-old frat member in a tuxedo who pushed alcohol on them, the lawsuit claims.
Once intoxicated and passed out, "Jane Doe" was allegedly laid out on a bed as the frat members played the juvenile game of Rock, Paper, Scissors (to) determine who would get to sexually assault" her first, the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit claims several male fraternity members physically and sexually assaulted her while others stood outside the door and did not intervene.
"Incredibly, rather than helping, (the defendants) watched and celebrated the assaults," the lawsuit states.
After the initial sexual assault, the teen was involuntarily moved "without her shoes, underwear and jacket" across campus to Mackin Hall, where she was raped by others, the lawsuit claims.
The suit alleges some of the male students "were falling-down laughing hysterically while also videotaping the sexual assault" on a cell phone.
Cathy Davey, spokeswoman for Ramapo College, declined to comment.
"Ramapo College has not received notice of this law suit. As with any litigation, the College cannot comment," Davey wrote in an email.
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Five of the accused have been indicted in connection with the alleged attack: Christian A. Lopez, 26, of Secaucus; Nakeem Gardner, 20, of Paterson; Christopher Rainone and Justin Sommers, both 20 both of Staten Island; and Jordyn Massood, 20, of Wayne. Rainone, Sommers and Massood were charged with encouraging or aiding the assault, according to NorthJersey.com.
The status of their cases was not immediately known.
The lawsuit alleges that Ramapo College and/or PIKE Fraternity and Chapter representatives were aware of the events leading up to the assaults "but did nothing to intervene or stop them from unfolding."
"This includes Public Safety and security employees and representatives, including outside Campus Security staff on patrol and present in security booths and checkpoints, as well as the individual responsible for entry and exit at Mackin Hall," the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit claims the school failed to enforce their own alcohol policies and failed to deter underage drinking on campus.
The lawsuit accuses Ramapo College of negligence, "deliberate indifference," failing to render assistance to a victim and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The woman claims in the suit that her civil rights were violated and that the college failed to comply with U.S. Department of Education's guidelines prohibiting peer-on-peer sexual harassment and sexual assault, the Federal Campus Sex Crime Prevention Act, as well as other federal guidelines and policies.
The suit claims the college failed to supervise and monitor fraternities and failed to prevent and eradicate a "hostile educational environment for female students."
In addition to serious and permanent physical injuries, the woman claims she sustained permanent psychological injuries, emotional and mental distress as well as economic and other damages.
She claims she was unable to continue with her education at Ramapo and that "these events have derailed her future plans and will have a negative impact on her educational and vocational opportunities and future."
In addition to the alleged attackers, the lawsuit names members of the college administration and the national fraternity.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages and a jury trial.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.