Contact: Sammy McDavid
Mississippi State officials said today a university fraternity's charter is being suspended because of an alleged hazing incident in which a student was injured.
"We have notified the campus chapter of Omega Psi Phi that its official registration as a student organization is suspended immediately," said Dean of Students Mike White. "Also, we have informed the organization that a hearing soon will be held to afford fraternity officers an opportunity to respond to our action."
White said the action follows an investigation by his office of a "severe paddling" allegedly administered [Monday] at the fraternity's residence on campus. The incident became known when a pledge who had gone through the initiation process for full membership later had to seek medical attention for his injuries at the Longest Student Health Center.
"Doctors at the health center notified us that the student had sustained very serious injuries," White said. "The student later told us that the paddling was given by two active members as others, including chapter officers, looked on."
Currently, the Omega chapter has about a dozen members, White said.
Hazing is both a violation of university policy and Mississippi law. In the university's Official Policies and Regulations distributed to all students in the Bulldog Handbook, hazing is described as any action "which creates a substantial risk of physical injury" to a person being initiated into or becoming affiliated with an organization.
Omega Psi Phi, which received its campus charter in 1977, maintains a chapter residence at University Drive Apartments, which are located on school property just across the Highway 12 overpass on the thoroughfare linking campus with downtown Starkville.
"The MSU chapter adviser and national officials of the fraternity have been advised of the situation and concur with our actions," said Roy H. Ruby, vice president for student affairs.
"In fact, as late as last June, Omega's national headquarters announced plans to file legal action against members and potential members who participated in hazing incidents," Ruby said. "In their communications with local chapters, Omega's top leaders have left no doubt that hazing is expressly forbidden."
Omega Psi Phi was founded in 1911 at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
"Our Greek fraternities and sororities are some of the best in the nation," Ruby said. "Sadly, incidents such as this often tend to eclipse the many good things they regularly do for this campus and the larger community."