Omega Psi Phi chapter suspended at University of South Florida The University of South Florida chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity [was] suspended while detectives investigated allegations of two nights of off-campus hazing. The hazing took place about 11:30 p.m. Aug. 22 and 23, police said. 10 News has learned several pledges were taken to a closed business off campus and badly beaten over a period of a couple of days. A business at [the location at which the beatings took place] is the storefront office of J&G Tax. A call to the business’ number was not returned. A week after the last of the incidents, a row of folding chairs lined one wall of the tax office, with a large open space on the floor in front of them. The manager of a neighboring restaurant said he wasn’t aware of any trouble at the office. Since then, detectives have conducted interviews with potential victims, suspects and witnesses, [a police spokesperson] said. None of the potential suspects is a current USF student, and no one received medical treatment as a result of the incidents, [the spokesperson] said. Nationwide, Omega Psi Phi boasts an impressive roster of alumni, including Bill Cosby, poet Langston Hughes, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Florida Democratic Senate nominee Kendrick Meek. But the fraternity also has landed in the news over allegations of hazing. In May, Purdue University suspended the fraternity’s chapter. In April, a University of Houston senior sued the fraternity and several members, contending that hazing put the student in the emergency room. In 2003, the fraternity itself expelled 13 members in Huntsville, Ala., following hazing allegations. And in 2000, the fraternity agreed to pay $1 million to a former University of Louisville student beaten in a hazing incident in 1997. As soon as USF administrators learned of the allegations, USF took what [the university president] described as the “severest possible action.” The Omega Psi Phi chapter was suspended, and the chapter’s national organization was notified so that it could begin an investigation. The suspension means that the chapter is not recognized by USF. “They can’t meet. They can’t rent rooms. They can’t operate on this campus,” [a USF spokesperson] said. What was it we said about the Kappa Alpha Psi story? For the love of Zeus? Yes, that. Let’s look at some of the real problems with this story. First, the part where the news outlet so kindly lists for us the previous hazing allegations of the fraternity. For those Busted! readers who are not yet parents, let us translate this for you. It says, “Hey, moms and dads, whatever you do absolutely do NOT let your sons get involved with this fraternity. Because if it can happen in Indiana and Alabama and Texas and Kentucky and Florida, it can happen in your state, too.” Forget that argument that undergraduates love about it being one rogue member or grad doing all the harm. This appears systemic. Whether it is becomes irrelevant. Notable, however, not the most concerning piece for sure.
Second, let’s just go ahead and repeat ourselves, shall we? Beating is not okay. Not. Okay. We realize kindergarten was a long time ago, but “no hitting” was one of those lessons that was taught way back then, if it hadn’t been mastered already. And that was with people who weren’t necessarily family! These men are supposed to be your brothers. Again, for the love of Zeus. Third, let’s really get to it shall we? “None of the suspects is a current USF student.” Did you catch that? None. Once upon a time we believed we needed to police undergraduates because they were the ones making all the poor choices. Blame the college mindset. Blame youth. Blame something temporary. But it sure doesn’t sound like that’s an out here. Sure, maybe some of these “not current USF students” are traditional college age. If they are, it’s likely they’re men from a chapter on another campus. Well, how kind of you to take your hazing show on the road. More likely, given the location (a BUSINESS in Tampa), the perpetrators are graduate members of the organization. That’s hella scary. That’s not Bill Cosby’s kind of fraternity. Presumably, what we have here is a case of grown men who need to abuse younger men to feel powerful and important. Absolutely ludicrous. At the very least these men should be removed from Omega Psi Phi permanently. They should also be in jail. Now, typically at Busted! when we refer to the best part of the story, we’d be providing the reader with sarcasm. Here, not so much. Possibly the best part of the unfortunate Omega Psi Phi tale is the news that some of the USF students themselves busted the fraternity for tarnishing the good name of fraternity and sorority done right. As the state attorney’s office reviews allegations of hazing on at USF, students from other fraternities and sororities held an anti-hazing rally on campus Thursday afternoon. Armed with dozens of posters, buttons on their chest, and their favorite Greek gear, the students say they are fighting back. “We do not support it, we do not condone it, we do not partake in hazing, and it’s absolutely not acceptable,” said [a sorority member]. Organized in just two days, the rally is in response to accusations that at least one Omega Psi Phi fraternity pledge was beaten at an off-campus gathering last month. As Tampa police continue investigating, the students who gathered Thursday want it known that hazing is not what they’re all about. [The sorority member] put the rally together in part because she was disgusted by the allegations, and also to raise awareness about the school’s anti-hazing policies. She concedes, though, this story of hazing is probably not an isolated case. “I think students are very scared to come out and speak about these hazing incidents, and I do think it happens more often than reported,” [the sorority member] said. May we just say: “Thank you!”
(2010, Apr. 30) Student: ‘Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity hazing put me in the hospital’. Retrieved from: http://newsone.com/nation/news-one-staff/student-kappaalpha-psi-fraternity-hazing-put-me-in-the-hospital/
References
Danielson, R. and Rossetter, S. (2010, Aug. 31). USF suspends Omega Psi Phi fraternity amid hazing allegations. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved from: http://www. tampabay.com/news/education/college/usf-suspends-omega-psi-phi-fraternityamid-hazing-allegations/1118490
Kamm, G. (2010, Aug. 31). Update: Police investigate beating of USF Omega Phi Psi fraternity pledges. WTSP 10 News. Retrieved from: http://www.wtsp.com/ news/mostpop/story.aspx?storyid=143516&provider=top
Freeman, A. (2010, Sept. 2).Following fraternity suspension, USF holds anti-hazing rally. WTSP 10 News. Retrieved from: http://www.wtsp.com/includes/tools/print. aspx?storyid=143895
Landeros, P. (2010, Aug. 31). USF Fraternity pledges beaten. WTSP 10 News. Retrieved from: http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/story. aspx?storyid=143490&catid=250