The University of Southern Mississippi and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. are facing a federal lawsuit from a student who was hospitalized after a hazing incident that resulted in surgery and a blood transfusion.

Rafeal Joseph filed a complaint Monday in federal court in Hattiesburg against the university; Valencia Walls, associate director of USM’s Office of Fraternity and Sorority life; Omega Psi Phi, a national Black fraternity organization; Nu Eta, USM chapter of the fraternity; and multiple other people.

According to the lawsuit, the abuse began in December 2022 when Joseph and other fraternity pledges for the Nu Eta chapter met in the library to have a “haze talk.” Members told pledges they would take their money and food and deprive them of sleep, and that the members would use int

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