news article - Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine

crlie I mperia{Counci{
Ancient Egyptian Arabic: Order Nohles ,\,~vsNc Shrine of
North and Soulh America and its Jurisdictions, [nco
Oliver Wa hin!!lon. Jr. Offit:c: 335-271-1111
38'h IMPERIA~L POTESTA TE Cdl: 334-636-1939
400 Eastern Blvd. - Suite =303 Fax: 334-271-:002
\tlonlgomel). AL 361 17
Email: oliwas65@gmail.com
November 17, 2009
TO ALL CONSTITUENT TEMPLES THROUGHT THE IMPERIAL DOMAIN
Re: Imperial Council has a strict No Hazing Policy
Illustrious Potentate:
Please read the enclosed document received, regarding a Phi Beta Sigma pledge at Prairie
View A&M University, at the next regular meeting, in its entirety.
Please be reminded that NO HAZING is to take place during any creation ofthis Imperial
Councilor consequences oftheir actions will be imposed.
Fl1aJf.Jf-
Oliver Washington, Jr.
38 th Imperial Potentate
www.aeaonms.org
Committed to Serve

Page 1 of2
A 20-year-old Phi Beta Sigma pledge at Prairie View A&M University underwent systematic
hazing - including a strict bread-and-water diet, paddling and mandatory rigorous exercisesthat
intensified until it culminated in his death, a lawsuit filed by his parents states.
Donnie Wade n, a biology major studying to become a doctor, died Oct. 20
following a pre-dawn exercise session with a group of his pledge brothers,
investigators said.
While the autopsy is not yet complete, Wade's mother, Katrina, blames hazing
for taking her only son from her.
"I will not rest until J am sure no other families will go through what we have,"
she said.
Her husband, Wade J, is an associate pastor of the Dallas-area Oak Cliff Bible
Fellowship.
$97 million
The wrongful death lawsuit, filed Friday in Dallas County, seeks as much as $97
million in damages from the national fraternity based in Washington, D.C., the
pledge trainer, Marvin Jackson, and Prairie View A&M.
Prairie View's spokeswoman Sheleah Hughes said the university is continuing its
probe into the incident and could not comment on the lawsuit.
Similarly, Phi Beta Sigma did not return phone caBs. But in a recent Web site
posting, the organization stated: "Hazing does not represent the tradition and
principles of the 95-year history of our fraternity" and expressed its condolences
to Wade's parents.
The parents hired a private investigator, who took statements that led to the filing
of the lawsuit, said the family's attorney, Kevin KeJley of Dallas.
The suit states that the younger Wade paid his $900 initiation fee and was given
his acceptance letter from the Dangerous Delta Theta chapter of Beta Sigma Phi,
as were nine other pledges.
'The dreadful day'
Immediately afterward, Wade was subjected to "instant, systematic and
continuous hazing incidents," the suit states.
This included older pledges requiring him to run errands and purchase items
including alcohol, a period where he could eat only bread and water, paddlings
and finally exercise sessions.
The second and last exercise session - before all initiations into Prairie View
organizations were indefmitely halted after Wade's death - was referred to in
the lawsuit as "the dreadful day." An hour of nearly nonstop exercise included an
"Indian run" in which the pledges must run in a line, with the last one required to
sprint to the front of the pack and this process continues over and over around the
track.
Witnesses said Wade fell behind the pack and the others had to help him cross
the finish line, the lawsuit alleged.
When that exercise ended, the group was ordered to do the "snake," which
involved running up and down the bleachers, the lawsuit said.
Although Wade showed signs of "fatigue and over exertion", the exercising
continued with pushups and jumping jacks.
Drove him home first
The last exercise before Wade collapsed was called "6 inchers," during which he
was required to hold his legs 6 inches off the ground while lying on his back.
After the first set, Wade was unable to stand and told his trainer that he was
"hurting," the lawsuit said, and his fellow pledge members questioned whether
Wade should continue.
The trainer, saying Wade was "just tired," laughed at the pledges assisting Wade
aboutblank 11/17/2009

Page 2 of2
by checking his pulse and splashing water on his face as he collapsed a second
time, the lawsuit said.
A bystander offered to call 911 for an ambulance, but was told that would not be
necessary, the lawsuit said, and instead the group carried Wade, who had passed
out, back to a car.
Then they drove Wade to his home, but after arriving, decided he didn't look well
and two members drove him from Waller County to a hospital in Harris County.
ME's report due soon
Wade's parents found none of the fraternity members at the hospital when they
arrived and none contacted them about his death until telephoning to ask if they
could attend the funeral a week later. The family's attorney told the fraternity
members that they would not be welcome there.
Hempstead Police Detective R.D. Martin, who is looking into the death, said
video cameras at the hospital showed at least three members from the group came
inside the hospital and stayed until learning Wade was dead.
The hospital report states Wade was dead when he arrived, but did not state the
cause, leaving that to be determined by the autopsy, Martin said. Wade had no
pre-existing medical condition, the family said.
Martin said he is expecting to receive the medical examiner's report on the cause
of death within a few days.
about:blank 11/17/2009