Omega Rickey Smiley condemns D9 hazing

Ricky Smiley directly addresses the severe psychological impact of hazing, stating that many individuals carry Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and mental health issues for the rest of their lives as a direct result of their pledging experiences. He frames this as a profound betrayal of brotherhood.

Smiley states, 'members of all these fraternities...walking around and for the rest of their life they have posttraumatic stress disorder, from pledging, got mental health issues for the rest of their life from pledging.'

Both speakers reject the notion that hazing is a valid tradition, instead labeling it a 'generational curse' and a 'cult.' They argue that the historical practice does not make it correct, especially when it leads to death and trauma.

Smiley asserts, 'we just have to get in a point in all of our organizations...where we can break the generational curse. It's a curse. It's a cult.' Roland Martin adds, 'It's kind of stupid to pledge then your ass on scholastic probation.'

Roland Martin reveals a critical vulnerability: only one insurance company currently provides coverage for all Divine Nine organizations. He warns that continued lawsuits and liabilities stemming from hazing incidents could lead to the withdrawal of this coverage, effectively ending the fraternities and sororities due to unaffordable risk.

Martin states, 'One insurance company is representing the divine nine. Only one. If this keep going on and that insurance goes away, it's over. Over. Because the organizations cannot afford the liability.'

Roland Martin challenges the 'paper' vs. 'pledged hard' debate, arguing that the true measure of a member's greatness in any fraternity or sorority is their accomplishments and contributions after college, not the duration or severity of their pledge process.

Martin says, 'You can't name a single great alpha or great omega or great member of any other fraternity or sorority based upon how they pledged, how long they pledged, where they pledged, or even what they accomplished in college. No, we assign greatness as members on what they did after they got out of school.'

Both speakers empower individuals to stand against hazing. Roland Martin explicitly states that pledges have the right to refuse physical harm, and current members have a responsibility to intervene when they witness hazing.

Martin states, 'You do you have the right to tell somebody you ain't touching me. You not going to hurt me.' Later, he adds, 'If you a fraternity member or a sorority member and you see another member who about to do something, you snatch they ass and say, "No, you ain't doing this."'