UBC frat social events suspended, RCMP investigating after students reportedly roofied

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Social events at UBC fraternities have been suspended and the RCMP is investigating after reports that students were allegedly drugged over the weekend surfaced on Twitter.

A tweet from a professor on Tuesday prompted a conversation on the social media platform that came to the attention of the administration and police.

In the tweet, Doctor Marina Adshade said one of her students spent the weekend in the hospital after being drugged in a Vancouver bar on Friday night.

“On Saturday morning there were six (6!!) women with her who had been drugged in the fraternities on UBC campus,” she wrote, adding “and people ask me why I am opposed to the frat houses?”

She noted “many other universities have either banned [fraternities] or removed them from campus,” and wondered why UBC doesn’t do the same.

One of my students spent the weekend in the hospital after being drugged in a Vancouver bar on Friday night. On Saturday morning there were six (6!!) women with her who had been drugged in the fraternities on UBC campus.

And people ask me why I am opposed to the frat houses?

— Dr. Marina Adshade, Ph.D. (@MarinaAdshade) October 1, 2019

Meantime, Vancouver Coastal Health says it hasn’t been able to verify the cases with its emergency departments.

Another update on allegation 6 women were drugged at @UBC fraternities and hospitalized over weekend:@VCHhealthcare tells me it hasn’t been able to verify the cases with its emergency departments.@University_RCMP is currently investigating claim. pic.twitter.com/wauoHyuJk2

— Monika Gul (@MonikaGul) October 2, 2019

The tweet sparked a conversation on social media about safety at fraternities, with some saying they should be banned and one woman saying she’ll be offering self-defense seminars.

In one of the replies, a Twitter user thanked Adshade for sharing the story, adding their daughter is a student at UBC and has been to frat parties, but that they had “heard noting of this from UBC.”

In response to another user, Adshade said hospital staff had apparently told her student what had happened “was very common and this issue out of UBC has been happening ‘all month.'”

Women's safety on @UBC campus must be guaranteed. I will be offering self-defence seminars soon at the Friedman bldg for students, staff & faculty. Pls PM me for details

— Dr. Annalijn I. Conklin (@AnnalijnConklin) October 2, 2019

As the conversation escalated, the school and fraternities on campus were asked to account for the reports.

The school’s Vice President of Students says they received information about the incidents via Twitter, and the University RCMP is now investigating.

“At the time of this request, I can confirm UBC RCMP have not received any complaints of druggings last weekend,” Ainsley Carry says. “I can also confirm that UBC Campus Security has not received any reports of druggings over the weekend in the Fraternity Village.”

Carry adds the school is working with the fraternities and police to find out exactly what happened, and none of the potential victims who come forward will be punished for drinking.

UPDATE: @UBC has released statement regarding report six women were allegedly drugged last weekend at @UBCFraternities.

School became aware of the alleged druggings through Twitter and is asking @University_RCMP to investigate claims. @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/ILa6Gy9R88

— Monika Gul (@MonikaGul) October 2, 2019

He says the information that has been shared online is being taken very seriously, and will be fully investigated.

“Our focus is what may have happened to them as a result of someone else’s behaviour,” he says. “Anyone who believes they may have experienced this – they should not have any fear of us taking any action against them for reporting a crime that has happened against them while they were having something to drink. This is not permission for anyone to take advantage of anyone else.”

Carry emphasizes that drugging someone is a crime, and adds the school will not contact students’ parents if they come forward.

In a statement, UBC Fraternities said all social events have been suspended indefinitely while the investigation is underway.

“The IFC has been in contact with fraternity leadership and the University regarding drugging allegations from this past weekend,” the statement says. “We take any issues concerning the safety of the UBC community and the community at large very seriously.”

UPDATE: @UBCFraternities has released statement on allegations 6 women were drugged over weekend.

All social events have been suspended indefinitely. The UBC Interfraternity Council is urging anyone with information to report it to @University_RCMP. pic.twitter.com/rLle6PlF6l

— Monika Gul (@MonikaGul) October 2, 2019

Students react

While details haven’t been confirmed, some students say it’s not the first time they’ve heard about similar incidents.

“We’ve heard rumours coming into UBC,” one student tells NEWS 1130, while another says she’s “definitely heard of it before.”

However, one woman, who’s part of a sorority at UBC, says if women were drugged at frat houses, it wouldn’t have been by the men involved with fraternities.

“Just from my personal experience at the fraternities. I’ve never experienced anything like that, and I know that the guys work really hard to keep a safe environment.”

UBC has 10 international social fraternities, which promote leadership, service, brotherhood, and scholarship. The school has eight sororities.

If you have information on the alleged drugging incidents, you’re asked to contact the University RCMP at 604-224-1322.