Lawsuit filed against Omega Psi Phi alleges hazing

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For many people in college joining a greek organization is part of the university experience.

But that experience turned traumatic for one University of Houston student.

Now his father is suing the Omega Psi Phi fraternity claiming his son was hazed.

The father is not only mad that his son was allegedly physically beaten by local members of the fraternity, but because he is a long-time member of the brotherhood.

“When he called and told me what had happened I was disgusted,” said Lee West Jr. over the telephone.

He doesn’t live in Houston, so 39 News spoke to him over the phone about a lawsuit he, along with his ex-wife and son, Lee West III, filed in Harris County court earlier this week.

“I think our fraternity should be further along than it is and we need to change our way in how we bring people into our organization,” he said.

According to court documents, the younger West had been accepted to join Omega Psi Phi fraternity at the University of Houston last February, along with two other men.

It said they were beaten multiple times, with paddles, broomsticks and a baseball bat, during three intake “meetings” held at the homes of two fraternity members.

The documents say the men were abused so bad one was asked not to return and West, a Junior at the time, suffered swelling and pain to his lower back, legs and buttocks area.

After a visit to the ER, West was diagnosed with a hematoma, which is internal bleeding causing severe bruising.

“None of this type of physical activity should go on in any type of instance in order to become a part of any organization or fraternity,” the elder West said.

In the court documents the local chapter has denied any wrongdoing, even saying there was no record of a pledging process taking place at the time. However, the West’s say membership dues were taken and they have receipts to prove it.

In the meantime, the elder West, who has been a member of the fraternity for 30 years, said he still loves the organization, but thinks this type of hazing has come to be accepted by many – and that’s why he ultimately decided to sue.

“It would have been a pleasure for my son to be a part of my fraternity, but what he went through there’s no way I would want him to be a part,” he said.

The University of Houston said it has zero tolerance for hazing, but beyond that would not comment about the pending lawsuit.

The national Omega Psi Phi fraternity’s attorney said the organization does not condone hazing, but had no further comment on the case.