Former Omega Psi Phi pledge sues USM, fraternity over hazing

JACKSON, Miss. — A former Omega Psi Phi pledge has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Nu Eta chapter at the University of Southern Mississippi and multiple others of hazing that left him severely injured and unable to walk for months.

According to the suit, Rafeal Joseph and other pledges were struck repeatedly with a wooden paddle made from a two-by-four on April 16, 2023. Joseph required a blood transfusion and emergency surgery for bruised ribs, a hematoma, posterior compartment syndrome and rhabdomyolysis, a severe muscle injury. The filing says he could not walk for months and ultimately left the university.

The lawsuit alleges hazing began in December 2022, including stealing food and money, depriving pledges of sleep and threats. It also describes a separate incident during fall 2022 in which another student sustained a torn ACL as a result of Nu Eta hazing. The filing says the University of Southern Mississippi did not investigate the incidents or take action against the fraternity. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity declined to comment on the litigation. The University of Southern Mississippi was not immediately available for comment.

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,' the civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers, who is representing Joseph, said in a press release.

This story has been corrected to say that the lawsuit was filed against the University of Southern Mississippi, not the University of Mississippi.