Omega Psi Phi members at JCSU accused of hazing

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Johnson C. Smith University fraternity is in a lot of trouble after six of its brothers were charged with hazing.

Police say the men, part of the Omega Psi Phi house, hazed a victim over a two-month stretch from November to January, both on and off campus.

"When they're around campus they seem pretty cool, but I never thought they would do something like this," said sophomore Tatyana Wright.

Police say the frat brothers hazed another student who was looking to join their organization.

The suspects arrested have been identified as:

• Edward Droshon Alexander, 26
• Clifton Kyle Gregg, 23
• Nickalos Duran Hayden, 22
• Touangaheofa J. Langi, 26
• Patrick Joseph Philogene, 24
• Carlton Alexander Richardson, 28

Richardson, the sixth suspect, had been missing. He turned himself in Friday.

"Hazing that's like, kind of foul that you would even do something like that and it's kind of irrelevant to the success of the fraternity," said freshman Harrison Bates.

JCSU suspended the frat and sent a cease and desist order for all activities.

The school's statement reads:

Johnson C. Smith University is committed to ensuring the safety, health and well-being of our students. We take all allegations of hazing very seriously, and we have been conducting an internal investigation in addition to cooperating with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in its investigation. Hazing is not aligned with the ideals and principles of higher education or Johnson C. Smith University. Therefore, it has no place on our campus, and the University has a zero tolerance for hazing in academic life, student life or athletics.

The University sent a cease and desist order to Rho Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., for all activities, and the organization has been suspended from campus. Additionally, the Sixth District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. has issued a notice of interim suspension to Rho Chapter of the fraternity. We will continue our internal investigation, and all students involved will face the University's judicial process.

JCSU will remain steadfast in our lack of tolerance for hazing, and we will continue to emphasize our campus-wide education efforts to ensure that all students are aware of and abide by the anti-hazing policy in our Student Handbook.

Knowing that pledging could lead to being hazed is one of the reasons freshman Marvin Woodward chose not to join one last fall.

"That was one of the things it was kind of a little part of it, but the hazing does explain why it's really not that big here on campus," Woodward said.

The victim told police he was struck with an object on several occasions and his injuries got severe enough that he had to go to the hospital for treatment. Novant Presbyterian reported the injuries to police. Woodward hopes this incident is a wake-up call for the other Greek-life organizations.

"Everybody should just tone it down," Woodward said. "It shouldn't have you going to the hospital to be a part of it."

While the police have charged these guys, the school says they'll continue their internal investigation and each of these students will go through the University's Judicial process.