“We will nottolerate hazing.”
This is themessage Robert Bennett, Southern University dean of student life, hopes will beheard by Greek letter organizations on the campus in the wake of his suspensionof the Beta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
The fraternitywas accused of inflicting wounds on a prospective member between Jan. 25 andJan.27. The man filed police reports in Port Allen and Zachary, where the twoseparate incidents allegedly occurred. He has since dropped all criminalcharges against the fraternity.
On Wednesday, inan official letter from Bennett, the fraternity was notified of a three-yearsuspension. The fraternity is prohibited from participating in anyorganizational activities, wearing Omega Psi Phi paraphernalia or colors, andinitiating any membership. Bennett imposed the order after he reviewed a “notguilty” verdict handed down by the Southern University Pan Hellenic CouncilJudiciary Committee.
“(It is protocolthat) the committee hears the allegations brought against an organization andmake a recommendation to me. I either agree or disagree with the verdict. Inthis case, I disagreed,” Bennett said.
The judiciarycommittee, responsible for enforcing rules and regulations of the Greek letterorganizations on campus, is comprised of two members from each fraternity orsorority. Southern has nine organizations of the like on campus: Alpha PhiAlpha, 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 acommittee member who requested not to be identified, the “not guilty” verdictstemmed from “contradicting testimony of the witness.”
The committee,like Bennett, had access to photographs of the accuser’s deep, gash-likewounds, police reports and records of the alleged victim’s complaints.
“I disagreedwith their verdict because of the overwhelming evidence from this case.”Bennett said. “It doesn’t matter that the committee found the fraternity notguilty. It doesn’t matter that the man dropped the charges. They (thefraternity) were in violation of this university’s Code of Student Conduct onhazing.”
The fraternityalso displayed misconduct by participating in an action before the officialbeginning date of their intake approved by Bennett.
“If they hadeven had a meeting prior to their official date to begin, it would have beenmisconduct,” Bennett said.
Fraternities andsororities have a maximum of three weeks for intake of new members, accordingto the Southern University Pan Hellenic Council.
Theseorganizations should not be a stranger to the consequences of unsatisfactorybehavior, especially hazing, said Raymond Downs, Vice Chancellor for StudentAffairs.
“We have beenconcerned for some time about hazing,” Downs said. “We (Student Affairs) had aworkshop in Dec. 2004 to discuss the problem and the impact of this action. Ipersonally instructed those in attendance that it would not be tolerated bythis university and if hazing did occur, that they would be dismissed from thiscampus.”
Bennettconcurred.
“Sororities andfraternities have a privilege to even be on this campus. We want them here, butwe don’t have to have any of them.”
In March 2002,the Beta Psi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. was placed on ayearlong probation in response to 12 undergraduate and one graduate memberhazing three potential members. This is the second time since 2002 that theBeta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi has been under suspension. In April 2002the chapter was placed on a one-year suspension for two separate occurrences ofpublic fighting.
“This is aregrettable situation,” said Melvin Robinson, adviser to the Beta Sigma chapterof Omega Psi Phi, of the recent suspension. “Unfortunately, rules andregulations were not observed, even after they had attended hazing workshops.”
The Lambda Alphagraduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi is the advising chapter of the Beta Sigmachapter. Robinson, who is a member of Lambda Alpha, said the organizationconstantly advises the undergraduate chapter on the consequences of misconduct.
According toRobinson, the Beta Sigma chapter is also suspended from the District 9 portionof Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. District 9 is comprised of chapters inLouisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
The Beta Sigmachapter is now subject to punishment from the national division of Omega PsiPhi.
“The national(officials) can choose to suspend or even expel the fraternity or individualsas they see fit,” Robinson said.
No members ofthe Beta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi could be reached for comment at presstime.
The suspendedchapter utilized their right to appeal Bennett’s decision within the regulatory48-hour time period to do so in such a situation. According to the Code ofStudent Conduct, the dean of student life (Bennett) determines whether theorganization shall be granted an appeals hearing based on “sufficient reason(s)shall be new evidence, discrepancies in the judicial procedures, and/orinappropriate sanction or unfairness.”
Once an appealhas been granted, a hearing will be held within seven days in which theorganization may present reasonable new evidence or arguments to show themerits of the appeal.
“We arecurrently reviewing their request for appeal and will be responding shortly,”Downs said.
