Southern University in Louisiana on Thursday announced that it was suspending all membership intake activities involving campus organizations after a 20-year-old student died during an alleged fraternity “ritual” that took place off-campus.
Per WAFB, the announcement by the University came less than 24 hours after Caleb Wilson passed away while he was partaking in an alleged Omega Psi Phi fraternity ritual. A source told the news outlet that Wilson collapsed while pledges had formed a line during a ritual being executed by the fraternity members.
The off-campus incident occurred at the North Sherwood Forest Community Park, and Wilson was ultimately taken to the Baton Rouge General Hospital by his friends in the early hours of Thursday. The 20-year-old was unresponsive at the time, and he was later pronounced dead.
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Wilson was said to be part of the school’s marching band, the Human Jukebox. His father is also a senior law enforcement officer in the New Orleans enclave, WAFB reported.
“On behalf of Sheriff Joseph Lopinto, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office extends its condolences to Deputy Corey Wilson and his family following the heartbreaking loss of his son Caleb. Dep. Wilson retired last year as a sergeant after serving 35 years with the JPSO,” the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
“Dep. Wilson’s commitment to public service has continued with him currently serving in our Reserve Division. The JPSO stands in support of Dep. Wilson and his family. We ask that their privacy be respected as they mourn this unimaginable loss.”
An investigation into Wilson’s death has since been launched. “Southern University and A&M College is aware of an off-campus incident that may have resulted in the death of student Caleb Wilson, a junior from New Orleans majoring in mechanical engineering. The campus community extends condolences to his family, classmates and loved ones,” the university said in a statement.
“Southern is cooperating fully with the Baton Rouge Police Department, which is in charge of the investigation. No further information is available at this time.”
Meanwhile, some students who spoke with the news outlet welcomed the university’s decision to suspend all campus organization activities until further notice.
“That’s definitely needed because if everything was just to go on and they have their lines come out, it just looks like nobody cares about anything,” Freshman Kevin Iverson Jr. said.
“I feel like everyone’s a little upset about that, but when it’s such a high profile thing like someone literally has lost their life, I feel like its okay we can stop some of this stuff for a minute or just go into mourning or be a little respectful, or maybe just take some time to have a moment of silence,” Lola Saunders also said.
