After alleged rape, a University of Iowa student’s journey for justice

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) - Four years after publicly accusing members of a University of Iowa fraternity of raping her then sharing photos of it, Makena Solberg says she’s glad she never gave up looking for justice.

“I don’t give up and I didn’t give up,” Solberg told TV9 during an exclusive interview. “I fought and fought until the resolution and am very very thankful for my supporters who have been in my life through the start.”

Solberg first spoke with TV9 in 2021 when she initially made her case public. She spoke again with TV9 this month following the conclusion of the civil cases she brought against the Phi Gamma Delta, or Fiji, fraternity and two former members over what happened.

Her journey started in 2020 when she says she blacked out at a party at the Fiji House on the University of Iowa campus. According to her lawsuit, two members of the fraternity sexually assaulted her while she was incapacitated. They took photos of it and then shared them.

An Iowa City Police investigation initially did not result in charges. Then an online petition shared Solberg’s story and sparked outrage on campus, leading to protests outside the Fiji House.

A new investigation again led to no charges related to the sexual assault but prosecutors charged Carson Steffen with harassment for sharing photos of it on Snapchat. His trial is set for December.

The two men she says raped her left campus. Solberg stayed and graduated.

“You didn’t run,” KCRG-TV9 anchor Beth Malicki noted during the interview.

“I thought about it,” Solberg responded. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it. Drop out of here and go somewhere else that felt a little better. But I took it as a challenge. This was my dream to come here and to get my bachelor’s and I did that despite of everything that I’ve gone through and went through.”

Instead, Solberg took what she felt was her last option. She filed civil lawsuits against the two men, the national Fiji fraternity as well as the University of Iowa chapter. Those lawsuits all ended with agreements reached through mediation.

“I am satisfied that it got resolved, I am,” Solberg now says.

Does resolve mean “give up”?

“No, not at all,” Solberg is quick to respond. “It means I pushed and pushed and fought as much as I could until the last resolution that I had to take and that’s what I did.”

Solberg’s attorney, Eashaan Vajpeyi, says he is seeing more women seeking the same route to justice that Solberg took.

“I would say that I do receive several calls I have received several calls from survivors who are expressing frustration with the criminal system,” Vajpeyi said.

The burden of proof is higher in criminal court. Solberg and her attorney say while perceptions of sexual violence have evolved, they’re still a barrier to victims getting justice through the court system.

“We largely have not moved past tropes and stereotypes around victim blaming, around ‘this is just the way it is’ type mentality in terms of college and parties and being a woman in society,” Vajpeyi said.

Solberg earned a degree in finance from the University of Iowa in December. She’s working as an accountant in Coralville. But the experience marred what she expected from her life in college.

“I had such a different experience it kind of ruined a lot of things that I was excited to do and go through as a college kid but I couldn’t.”

Solberg could easily look back on her experience solely as a victim. Instead, she sees the woman who never stopped fighting for her own justice.

“I really stand up for myself now,” Solberg reflects “I’m not 19 and scared anymore, I’m 23 and moving on and knowing I did the right thing, because I know that was a fear of mine at first.”

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