As a member of Omega Psi Phi since Fall 2000, I’ve seen the evolution of our traditions and the ongoing discussions about pledging, hazing, and brotherhood. Recent events have made me reflect deeply on our responsibilities as men and as an organization. These days, my life is filled with baseball and soccer games, and I’m enjoying every minute with my family. The tragic death of Caleb Wilson has made me pause and consider my fraternity, our traditions, and the responsibilities we have as men.
I’ve often thought about whether my sons will have the opportunity to join Omega one day. Naturally, that leads to deeper conversations about the difference between pledging and hazing. I’ve served as both DP and ADP in my years as a Que. For my grad neos, I was running a program informed by my years—but not attempting to replicate my “process.” My goal was always to create an environment where we could learn from one another and grow together, not to reenact anything just because it happened to me. Tradition matters, but so does accountability.
In conversations with various brothers, I’ve heard perspectives that deeply resonate with me. There’s a shared pain in knowing that we are dealing with these tragedies in 2025; while simultaneously living through the rise of fascism and White Christian Nationalism in these "United States of America." But that's another conversation.
Some have asked, Where do we draw the line? That’s a question worth sitting with. The reality is, the line has been drawn—it’s just that too many times "we" have collectively been habitual lemon pepper line steppers.
In this case, I believe we saw young brothers attempting to define what "pledging" looks like in this era. Instead of “wooding ‘em up” (because that’s hazing), they thought punching their little brothers with boxing gloves wasn’t. But it still is. This tragic situation, once fully understood, might finally force the D9, HBCU bands, and others to get out of the hazing game for good. Time will tell. District and regional meetings, along with conclaves, boules and nationals are on the way, and I know these conversations will be tough—but they need to happen.
Beyond the immediate tragedy, I believe we need to take real steps to ensure something like this never happens again. That starts with education—not just about what not to do, but about how to respond when things go wrong. Do students and student leaders know CPR? Do they have mental health first aid training? Can they recognize the signs of a stroke, heart attack, or panic attack? These are skills that can mean the difference between life and death.
I’ll end with this: Piss-poor preparation promotes pain. And right now, we are in the midst of an incredibly painful situation. I keep thinking about Caleb Wilson’s family—especially his father—along with his LBs, his bandmates, and his big brothers. They are all carrying this weight in real time.
I wish Caleb was "owt" serving and celebrating in his neo year, roadtripping with his LBs right now, instead of being mourned.
About the Author:
George "Chuck" Patterson is the founder of MS Black Pages and the MS Black Business Expo. Chuck is also a Fall 2000 initiate of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., through the Rho Epsilon Chapter at Tougaloo College. He remains an active member through the Sigma Alpha Alpha Chapter in Moss Point, MS. A business strategist, media producer, and community advocate, he is passionate about mentorship, leadership, and building a better Mississippi.
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