Fraternity meets in Nashville to forge regional agenda

Talks to include possible return of banned TSU chapter

By Jonathan Babalola
Diversity Institute fellow

03.30.06

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Vincent Dixie is beaming with pride as he greets a familiar group of people in the spacious lobby of the Millennium Maxwell Hotel where the Omega Psi Phi fraternity is holding its District 5 Conference.

“I’m always happy to see these black men,” the Nashville native said. “It’s time for another great weekend of brotherhood.”

But in addition to socializing and discussing business matters, the members will address the suspension of the Tennessee State University undergraduate chapter.

In 2001, the Rho Psi chapter at TSU was placed on a five-year suspension due to the hazing death of student Joseph Green.

District 5 representative Horace Chase, who said he will meet with some of the organization’s top members to discuss reinstating the chapter, said the plan is to phase the fraternity in slowly once the punishment is lifted.

“The chapter is on suspension until the end of May,” Chase said. “We’ll look into the visibility factor when the time comes … but there will be restrictions.”

Ron Myles, director of student activities at TSU, said just because the suspension is scheduled to expire soon, the fraternity still has a long road ahead to reinstatement.

“They’ll have to go through the national chapter and the local graduate chapter, as well,” Myles said. “But the bottom line is the university will have to be amenable to allowing them to return to campus.”

The absence of Omega Psi Phi has been felt throughout the TSU community, as well.

“Oh yeah, they’re missed,” said Eddie Cole, Jr., editor-in-chief at The Meter, the school’s student newspaper. “You always hear people on campus say things would be different among the fraternities if the Omegas were here. People are always asking when they’re coming back.”

Chase said he realizes that although the organization contributes to the community through activities such as blood drives, voter registration and scholarships, those programs will not matter if the chapter finds itself in trouble again. He said he hopes to find quality men who can restore Omega pride back to the Tennessee State campus.

“All organizations have had things happen they’re not proud of,” Chase said. “I’m looking for good, strong leadership to bring Rho Psi back into the fold at TSU. We don’t want to fall into any more problems because, quite honestly, it’s an embarrassment to our organization.”

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