USF fraternity chapter suspended while hazing claims investigated

TAMPA - Omega Psi Phi is an African-American National Fraternity boasting plenty of powerful members, including Reverend Jesse Jackson and Michael Jordan. The name was derived from the initials of the Greek phrase meaning "friendship is essential to the soul."

But the USF chapter of the fraternity is tangled in a criminal hazing investigation.

Police say someone complained that alumni hazed a handful of student pledges at a West Busch Boulevard strip mall on two nights last week.

The allegations forced USF to suspend the fraternity.

"The very first thing that always comes, if any of the allegations are true: Are any of our students injured?" said Dr. Jennifer Meningall, USF’s VP of Student Affairs.

"We'll do everything we can to help students to understand the severity," said Meningall, who says the University will likely take more action when police finish their investigation.

Which may be ongoing for some time. "One of the things that's made it a time consuming investigation is the suspects in question are no longer students at the university," said Laura McElroy, Tampa Police Spokesperson.

Omega Psi Phi is known for community service and building leaders on USF’s campus.

The same national fraternity has been sued before by a former University of Louisville student, who won a million dollar settlement after he says he was beaten and suffered kidney failure from a hazing incident.