Omega Psi Phi Faces 2 Lawsuits, Including One From Caleb Wilson’s Family – Blavity
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is facing two separate lawsuits in connection with hazing allegations. Both lawsuits were filed last week regarding incidents that each took place at the University of Southern Mississippi and Southern University in Louisiana.
A University of Southern Mississippi student alleges he couldn’t walk for months after being beaten during a fraternity event
Rafeal Joseph is a former Omega Psi Phi pledge who said he had to undergo surgery, relearn how to walk and suffered emotional distress after he was beaten during the Nu Eta chapter’s “Hell Night” event on April 16, 2023. Joseph filed a lawsuit last week, in which he alleges he and other pledges were struck repeatedly with a wooden paddle. This resulted in him being admitted to the hospital, where he underwent a blood transfusion and emergency surgery. Joseph was treated for bruised ribs, a hematoma, posterior compartment syndrome and rhabdomyolysis, a severe muscle injury, according to the Associated Press.
Joseph eventually dropped out of the University of Southern Mississippi as he suffered emotional distress and could not walk for months. The lawsuit also alleges that hazing started in December 2022, when fraternity members stole his food and money, prevented him from sleeping, and threatened him.
“We see violent incidents like these time and again across the nation but, instead of taking action, fraternity leaders and university officials alike sweep it under the rug and write it off as ‘boys will be boys,’” Joseph’s civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers said. “It’s criminal violence and abuse and it needs to end.”
The lawsuit also highlighted a second case of alleged abusive hazing, which left another student with a torn ACL in the fall of 2022.
At Southern University, student Caleb Wilson died after an alleged hazing incident
Southern University student Caleb Wilson died in February after allegedly being hazed at an off-campus fraternity event. His parents filed a civil lawsuit on Friday, seeking wrongful death and survival damages. The suit named Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., its local Beta Sigma and Lambda Alpha chapters, as well as the State of Louisiana through the Board of Supervisors of Southern University and A&M College, according to KBTX.
Wilson was a 20-year-old junior mechanical engineering student and a member of the “Human Jukebox” marching band. He attended an off-campus fraternity event on Feb. 27 during which he was repeatedly punched in the chest. The incident resulted in his death, authorities have stated.
The lawsuit alleges claims of negligence, gross negligence and intentional conduct, while saying the university and the fraternity failed to prevent illegal hazing. It also named 12 individuals as defendants, including Kyle M. Thurman, Isaiah E. Smith and Caleb M. McCray, who face charges of manslaughter and felony criminal hazing. All were previously arrested in connection with Caleb’s death.
Fraternity members allegedly dropped him off at the hospital, where they gave false information about his injury. Southern University has since suspended the Beta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi and has temporarily banned new members from joining Greek organizations.
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