?We will not tolerate hazing.? This is the message Robert Bennett, Southern University dean of student life, hopes will be heard by Greek letter organizations on the campus in the wake of his suspension of the Beta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. The fraternity was accused of inflicting wounds on a prospective member between Jan. 25 and Jan.27. The man filed police reports in Port Allen and Zachary, where the two separate incidents allegedly occurred. He has since dropped all criminal charges against the fraternity. On Wednesday, in an official letter from Bennett, the fraternity was notified of a three-year suspension. The fraternity is prohibited from participating in any organizational activities, wearing Omega Psi Phi paraphernalia or colors, and initiating any membership. Bennett imposed the order after he reviewed a ?not guilty? verdict handed down by the Southern University Pan Hellenic Council Judiciary Committee. ?(It is protocol that) the committee hears the allegations brought against an organization and make a recommendation to me. I either agree or disagree with the verdict. In this case, I disagreed,? Bennett said. The judiciary committee, responsible for enforcing rules and regulations of the Greek letter organizations on campus, is comprised of two members from each fraternity or sorority. Southern has nine organizations of the like 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 committee, like Bennett, had access to photographs of the accuser?s deep, gash-like wounds, police reports and 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 displayed misconduct by participating in an action before the official beginning date of their intake approved by Bennett. ?If they had even had a meeting prior to their official date to begin, it would have been misconduct,? Bennett said. Fraternities and sororities have a maximum of three weeks for intake of new members, according to the Southern University Pan Hellenic Council. These organizations should not be a stranger to the consequences of unsatisfactory behavior, especially hazing, said Raymond Downs, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. ?We have been concerned for some time about hazing,? Downs said. ?We (Student Affairs) had a workshop in Dec. 2004 to discuss the problem and the impact of this action. I personally instructed those in attendance that it would not be tolerated by this university and if hazing did occur, that they would be dismissed from this campus.? Bennett concurred. ?Sororities and fraternities have a privilege to even be on this campus. We want them here, but we don?t have to have any of them.? In March 2002, the Beta Psi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. was placed on a yearlong probation in response to 12 undergraduate and one graduate member hazing three potential members. This is the second time since 2002 that the Beta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi has been under suspension. In April 2002 the chapter was placed on a one-year suspension for two separate occurrences of public fighting. ?This is a regrettable situation,? said Melvin Robinson, adviser to the Beta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi, of the recent suspension. ?Unfortunately, rules and regulations were not observed, even after they had attended hazing workshops.? The Lambda Alpha graduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi is the advising chapter of the Beta Sigma chapter. Robinson, who is a member of Lambda Alpha, said the organization constantly advises the undergraduate chapter on the consequences of misconduct. According to Robinson, the Beta Sigma chapter is also suspended from the District 9 portion of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. District 9 is comprised of chapters in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The Beta Sigma chapter is now subject to punishment from the national division of Omega Psi Phi. ?The national (officials) can choose to suspend or even expel the fraternity or individuals as they see fit,? Robinson said. No members of the Beta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi could be reached for comment at press time. The suspended chapter utilized their right to appeal Bennett?s decision within the regulatory 48-hour time period to do so in such a situation. According to the Code of Student Conduct, the dean of student life (Bennett) determines whether the organization shall be granted an appeals hearing based on ?sufficient reason(s) shall be new evidence, discrepancies in the judicial procedures, and/or inappropriate sanction or unfairness.? Once an appeal has been granted, a hearing will be held within seven days in which the organization may present reasonable new evidence or arguments to show the merits of the appeal. ?We are currently reviewing their request for appeal and will be responding shortly,? Downs said.
