HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - The University of Southern Mississippi and a fraternity now face a federal lawsuit after a student says he suffered injuries from hazing incidents.

The lawsuit claims USM did not properly handle hazing violence that sent a former student, Rafeal Joseph, to the emergency room twice.

According to the lawsuit, his injuries required at least one surgery, a blood transfusion and left him unable to walk.

Court documents state the abuse began in December 2022 when Joseph pledged with USM’s Nu Eta chapter of Omega Psi Phi.

The lawsuit goes on to state the abuse ended in April 2023 with the fraternity’s “Hell Night” ritual.

In the suit, the plaintiff said members beat him so severely, he spent nearly 11 days in the hospital and had to relearn how to walk.

The entir

See Full Page