Omega Psi Phi Suspended at Southern U.

By Janene Tate
Black College Wire

Southern University has suspended the Beta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. for three years after a prospective member told police that fraternity members struck him.

Graphic by Douglas Toussaint/Southern Digest

The order was issued by Robert Bennett, dean of student life, despite a "not guilty" verdict from the Southern University Pan-Hellenic Council Judiciary Committee. The chapter is appealing the suspension.

In explaining his action, Bennett said the protocol was that "the committee hears the allegations brought against an organization and make[s] a recommendation to me. I either agree or disagree with the verdict. In this case, I disagreed."

Bennett said he was sending out the message that, "We will not tolerate hazing."

The judiciary committee, responsible for enforcing rules and regulations of the Greek letter organizations on campus, includes two members from each fraternity or sorority. Southern has nine such organizations on campus: Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, Iota Phi Theta, Omega Psi Phi, Sigma Gamma Rho and Zeta Phi Beta.

According to a committee member who requested not to be identified, the "not guilty" verdict stemmed from "contradicting testimony of the witness."

The fraternity is prohibited from participating in any organizational activities, wearing Omega Psi Phi paraphernalia or colors and initiating any membership recruiting.

Photo credit: Southern University Robert Bennett overruled students' judiciary committee.

According to Bennett, the allegation against Omega Psi Phi is that twice between Jan. 25 and 27, members took an apparent prospect to a hotel in nearby Port Allen, La., and to a wooded area in Zachary, La. The prospect, whom the university did not identify, was said to have been struck repeatedly on the buttocks, shoulders and back at both locations. He later reported his attacks to campus police and to police in Port Allen and Zachary. He since dropped criminal charges against the fraternity.

The committee, like Bennett, had access to photographs of the accuser's deep, gash-like wounds, to police reports and to records of the alleged victim's complaints.

"I disagreed with their verdict because of the overwhelming evidence from this case." Bennett said. "It doesn't matter that the committee found the fraternity not guilty. It doesn't matter that the man dropped the charges. They (the fraternity) were in violation of this university's Code of Student Conduct on hazing."

The fraternity also was wrong for acting before the date that Bennett had approved for beginning its intake activities, Bennett said.

"If they had even had a meeting prior to their official date to begin, it would have been misconduct," the dean said.

Fraternities and sororities have a maximum of three weeks for intake of new members, according to Southern's Pan Hellenic Council.

Pan-Hellenic members and their advisers were required to attend a hazing/judicial workshop in November. Bennett said the university tries to conduct such workshops twice a year.

Members of the Beta Sigma chapter could not be reached for comment. But Melvin Robinson, adviser to the chapter, called it "a regrettable situation. Unfortunately, rules and regulations were not observed, even after they had attended hazing workshops," he said.

The Lambda Alpha graduate chapter advises Beta Sigma, and Robinson, a member of Lambda Alpha, said the organization constantly reminds the undergraduates of the consequences of misconduct.

Robinson said Beta Sigma is also suspended from the District 9 portion of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., which includes chapters in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, and is now subject to punishment from the national division of Omega Psi Phi.

Janene Tate is a student at Southern University who is editor-in-chief of The Southern Digest.

Posted Feb. 22, 2005