In a demonstration that differed markedly from the previous two nights of protests outside the Phi Gamma Delta house, University of Nebraska-Lincoln students and supporters largely shifted their attention away from the fraternity on Thursday night and toward one another.

For more than two hours, speakers who had signed up in advance shared deeply personal testimonies from the steps of the Nebraska Union — directly across from the Fiji house at 1425 R St. where a sexual assault was reported to have happened Monday night.

After two evenings of tense gatherings that included chants and demands focused on the fraternity and the 19-year-old member who is accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl and UNL student, the tone and nature of Thursday’s demonstration changed, focusing instead on survivors of sexual assault.

More than a dozen activists, students and supporters took turns speaking to the crowd on Thursday, including Omaha state Sen. Megan Hunt and representatives of student government.

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Third night of Fiji protests focuses on survivors, continues call for cultural reckoning at UNL (Lincoln, Nebr. Journal-Star)

I’m a 35 year old mom who never went to UNL and even I have heard the word of mouth warnings about the fraternities she mentioned. These open secrets are a big clue @UNLincoln https://t.co/1S1l76m2fN

— Senator Megan Hunt 😷 (@NebraskaMegan) August 27, 2021

[Chancellor Ronnie] Green temporarily suspended Fiji — already on probation for previous violations of university policy — on Wednesday afternoon, about 36 hours after the sexual assault was reported.

The fraternity was put on probation in 2015 for reports of reckless alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct among its members, and it was later suspended from 2017-20.

Fiji members were linked with confrontations with individuals taking part in the January 2017 Women’s March in Lincoln, which led to a campus Title IX investigation.

The alleged assault that prompted the protests was the 103rd rape reported to UNL Police since 2005 — and the 78th such incident reported since 2015, according to data reviewed by the Journal Star. Another rape was reported to campus police hours after the one alleged to have happened at the Fiji house.

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Republican state senators continue to insist it’s high property taxes which cause young Nebraskans to leave the state.