Hazing at Texas Universities: A Comprehensive Legal Guide for Elkhart and Anderson County Families

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You Are Not Alone

A parent’s phone rings late at night. Their son, a freshman at a Texas university hours from their home in Elkhart, is slurring his words, confused, and saying he “just needs to sleep it off.” The details are fuzzy, but it involved a fraternity “big brother” event, a bottle of liquor, and pressure to keep up with older members. The parent feels a cold dread—this isn’t just a party. This is something worse. They’re right.

This scenario, and ones far more severe, unfold every year on campuses across Texas. Right now, in our own state, families are facing the unthinkable aftermath of hazing that has caused permanent injury, psychological trauma, and even death. If you are a parent in Elkhart, Anderson County, or anywhere in East Texas, and you suspect your child has been hazed, this guide is for you. We will explain what hazing truly looks like today, the Texas laws designed to protect your child, the sobering patterns of cases at our state’s largest universities, and—most importantly—the legal pathways to accountability and justice.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES:

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:
  • Call 911 for medical emergencies.
  • Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate help—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.
• In the first 48 hours:
  • Get medical attention immediately, even if your child insists they are “fine.”
  • Preserve evidence BEFORE it disappears: screenshot group chats and texts, photograph injuries from multiple angles, save any physical items involved.
  • Write down everything your child tells you while their memory is fresh.
  • Do NOT:
    • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
    • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
    • Post details on public social media.
    • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney: Evidence vanishes quickly. Universities and organizations move faster. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

The Stark Reality: A Current $10 Million Texas Hazing Lawsuit

To understand the gravity and complexity of modern hazing litigation, you need look no further than a case unfolding right now in Harris County. We represent Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston (UH), the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, the UH System Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity leaders.

This is not a historical case. This is active, serious litigation that demonstrates exactly what Texas families are up against. According to news reports from Click2Houston and ABC13, Bermudez’s fall 2025 pledge period involved degrading humiliation and extreme physical abuse that nearly killed him.

• The “Pledge Fanny Pack”: He was forced to carry a fanny pack 24/7 containing condoms, a sex toy, nicotine devices, and other humiliating items. Failure meant punishment.
• Systematic Hazing: This included enforced dress codes, overnight chauffeuring duties, hours-long “study” blocks, and weekly interviews under threat.
• Physical Torture: Hazing acts occurred at the UH Pi Kappa Phi house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park. They included:
  • Sprints, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, and “save-your-brother” drills.
  • Being stripped to his underwear in cold weather and lying in vomit-soaked grass.
  • Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding” with threats of actual waterboarding.
  • Being forced to consume massive quantities of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed by immediate sprints.
  • A November 3rd “workout” of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion from the pledge class.
• Medical Catastrophe: This abuse led Bermudez to develop rhabdomyolysis—a severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, could not stand without help, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces an ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.
• Institutional Response: After reports surfaced, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025. On November 14, the chapter members voted to surrender their charter, shutting it down. UH called the alleged conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary action and cooperation with law enforcement.

This case, which you can read about in the Click2Houston report and ABC13 coverage, is the flagship example of what we do. It shows the barbaric reality of modern hazing, the severe medical consequences, and the web of liability that extends from individual members to national headquarters and the university itself. For families in Elkhart and across Texas, it proves that hazing is not a “rite of passage”—it is a dangerous, illegal abuse that demands serious legal consequences.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like on Texas Campuses

Hazing has evolved far beyond stereotypical “pranks.” It is a calculated pattern of coercion and abuse designed to assert power and create loyalty through trauma. For parents in Elkhart and Anderson County, understanding its modern forms is the first step to recognizing it.

A Modern Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed against a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining status in a group, that endangers the student’s mental or physical health or safety. Crucially, under Texas law, a victim’s “consent” is not a defense.

The Main Categories of Abuse Today:

1. Alcohol & Substance Hazing: The most common and deadly. This includes forced chugging, “lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, and coerced consumption of drugs. The national cases of Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha) and Max Gruver (Phi Delta Theta) are tragic examples.
2. Physical Hazing: This ranges from paddling and beatings to extreme, punitive calisthenics (“smokings”) that cause conditions like rhabdomyolysis (as in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case). It also includes sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements.
3. Sexualized & Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk,” “roasted pig”), degrading costumes, and acts with racist or sexist overtones. The Northwestern University football scandal revealed how this permeates athletic programs.
4. Psychological Hazing: Verbal abuse, isolation from friends and family, threats, and manipulation designed to break down a person’s identity and autonomy.
5. Digital/Online Hazing: A 2025 hallmark. This includes 24/7 demands via GroupMe or WhatsApp, forced participation in humiliating social media “challenges,” geo-tracking via apps, and public shaming in group chats.

Where It Happens: While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing is prevalent in:

• Corps of Cadets programs (as seen in lawsuits against Texas A&M’s Corps).
• Athletic teams (from football to swimming).
• Spirit and tradition groups (like the Texas Cowboys).
• Marching bands and performance groups.
• Other clubs and organizations where a power imbalance exists between new and old members.

The culture of “tradition,” secrecy, and social status keeps these practices alive, even when every member knows they are illegal.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: What Elkhart Families Need to Know

Texas has specific laws to combat hazing, but navigating them requires understanding both criminal and civil pathways. Our firm is admitted to practice in Texas state courts and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, giving us the breadth of experience needed for these complex cases.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 (Hazing):

• Definition: An intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers physical or mental health for purposes of initiation, affiliation, or membership.
• Criminal Penalties:
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Key Protections:
  • Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): Even if your child “agreed,” it is still a crime.
  • Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): Those who report hazing or call for medical help in good faith are protected from liability.
  • Organizational Liability (§37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose university recognition.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Tracks to Accountability

• Criminal Case: Brought by the state (DA’s office). Aim is punishment (jail, fines, probation). Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, or manslaughter.
• Civil Case: Brought by the victim or their family. Aim is financial compensation for damages and institutional accountability. This is where we help families recover for:
  • Medical bills and future care.
  • Lost earnings and educational delay.
  • Physical pain and suffering.
  • Emotional distress, trauma, and humiliation.
  • Wrongful death damages (funeral costs, loss of companionship).

The two cases can proceed simultaneously. A criminal conviction is not required to win a civil case; we prove our case under a different standard of proof.

Federal Overlay: The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) requires universities to improve transparency and prevention. If hazing involves sexual harassment, Title IX obligations are triggered. The Clery Act may also mandate reporting.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Lawsuit?

1. Individual Students who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter as a legal entity.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters for negligent supervision and failing to stop known patterns.
4. The University for deliberate indifference or negligent oversight (though public universities like UH and Texas A&M have certain immunity hurdles we know how to navigate).
5. Third Parties like landlords of unsafe properties or bars that overserved alcohol.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: A Data-Driven Look for Elkhart Families

At Attorney911, we don’t rely on guesswork. We maintain a proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from public records, to understand the full landscape of Greek life liability. This investigative depth is what sets us apart and gives our clients a decisive advantage.

For families in Elkhart and Anderson County, your children may attend universities close to home or across the state. Understanding the network of organizations behind the Greek letters is critical.

Where Elkhart and East Texas Families Send Their Kids:

• Regional Campuses: University of Texas at Tyler, Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches), Texas A&M University-Commerce, LeTourneau University (Longview).
• Major Statewide Hubs: University of Houston, Texas A&M University (College Station), University of Texas at Austin, Baylor University (Waco), Southern Methodist University (Dallas). These schools draw students from every Texas community, including ours.

Public Records Directory: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations in Texas

The following are real examples from public IRS filings and business records, illustrating the complex web of legally responsible entities we investigate in every hazing case. This is just a snapshot of the over 1,400 Greek-related organizations we track across 25 Texas metros.

Organizations with Texas IRS Filings (B83):

• Frank Heflin Foundation, EIN 20-3507402, Canyon, TX 79015 (IRS B83 filing) – Phi Delta Theta alumni fund.
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 13-3048786, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 filing).
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (Theta Rho), EIN 81-2525354, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 filing).
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation, EIN 37-1768785, Missouri City, TX 77459 (IRS B83 filing).
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing).
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 74-6084905, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 filing).
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 filing).
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (UT Austin Chapter), EIN 46-3831593, Austin, TX 78723 (IRS B83 filing).
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (Epsilon Kappa Chapter), EIN 74-6064445, Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 filing).

Metro-Level Organizations (from Cause IQ Data):

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ Metro listing, Dallas-Fort Worth).
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity – Texas Rho Corp., Austin, TX (Cause IQ Metro listing, Austin-Round Rock).
• Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Houston, TX (Cause IQ Metro listing, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land).
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Mu Epsilon Chapter, Beaumont, TX (Cause IQ Metro listing, Beaumont-Port Arthur).

This directory proves a crucial point: behind every social Greek chapter are legally registered entities—housing corporations, alumni associations, educational foundations—that often hold insurance and bear financial responsibility. When we take a case, we already know how to find them.

Hazing Realities at Major Texas Universities

Patterns of hazing and institutional response vary by campus. Here is what Elkhart parents should know about the schools their children may attend.

University of Houston (UH)

For Elkhart Families: While Houston is a drive from Anderson County, UH attracts students from all over East Texas. Its large, urban Greek life scene has been the site of severe incidents.

• Recent Major Case: The ongoing Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit, detailed above, is the most serious current example.
• UH’s Policy & Reality: UH prohibits hazing on and off-campus. Yet, the Bermudez case alleges the university knew or should have known about systemic abuse in the Pi Kappa Phi chapter. Reporting goes through the Dean of Students and UHPD.
• Legal Pathway: Cases often involve UHPD and Houston Police Department. Liability can extend from individual members to the national fraternity and the university itself.

Texas A&M University

For Elkhart Families: Texas A&M’s culture, including its renowned Corps of Cadets, is a draw for many Texas students. This culture also has a documented history of hazing risks.

• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A former cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. He sought over $1 million in damages.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being doused with industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and a lawsuit was filed.
• Legal Pathway: A&M cases can involve unique defendants, including the Corps and its alumni networks, alongside traditional Greek life entities.

University of Texas at Austin (UT)

For Elkhart Families: UT Austin is a flagship destination. It also maintains one of the most transparent public hazing violation logs in the state.

• Public Hazing Log: UT’s website lists sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha (2023, for forced milk consumption and strenuous calisthenics) and various spirit groups.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (2024): An Australian exchange student sued an SAE chapter after an alleged assault at a party left him with a dislocated leg, broken nose, and fractures.
• Legal Advantage: UT’s public log provides invaluable pattern evidence for civil lawsuits, showing prior knowledge and inadequate corrective action.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

For Elkhart Families: These private, prestigious universities have active Greek systems and their own unique challenges.

• SMU – Kappa Alpha Order (2017): The chapter was suspended for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.
• Baylor – Baseball Team Hazing (2020): 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation, showing the problem extends beyond Greek life.
• Legal Pathway: As private institutions, SMU and Baylor have fewer sovereign immunity protections than public schools, but they also fiercely protect their reputations.

National Fraternity Patterns: Why History Matters in Your Case

When a chapter at a Texas school hazes, it is rarely an isolated incident. National organizations have histories—sometimes decades long—of similar abuses across the country. This “pattern evidence” is legally powerful. It shows that the national headquarters knew or should have known their chapters were at high risk for this exact conduct.

A Sample of National Histories:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, 2021 – $10M settlement), David Bogenberger (Northern Illinois, 2012 – $14M settlement). Pattern: alcohol hazing on “Big/Little” nights.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Multiple deaths and severe injuries nationwide. Includes the traumatic brain injury case at the University of Alabama and the chemical burns case at Texas A&M.
• Phi Delta Theta: Max Gruver (LSU, 2017 – $6.1M verdict). Pattern: “Bible study” drinking games.
• Pi Kappa Phi: Andrew Coffey (Florida State, 2017). Pattern: forced consumption during “Big Brother” events.

In court, we use these national patterns to attack the defense that “this was a rogue chapter.” We subpoena national headquarters’ records to show they received prior complaints, had inadequate training, and failed to enforce their own anti-hazing policies. This can establish negligence and open the door to punitive damages.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Our Approach

Winning a hazing case requires transforming a traumatic experience into a legally compelling narrative. Our process is methodical, aggressive, and rooted in our dual experience as plaintiffs’ advocates and former insurance defense insiders.

Critical Evidence We Secure:

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord logs are the modern “smoking gun.” We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages.
2. Photos & Videos: Content shot by members themselves, often shared in group chats or on social media.
3. Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” emails, and risk management reports from the national organization.
4. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same group, obtained through discovery or public records requests.
5. Medical Records: Documentation of injuries, from ER visits for alcohol poisoning to long-term treatment for rhabdomyolysis, PTSD, or traumatic brain injury.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and RAs.

Our Strategic Advantages:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers undervalue claims, use delaying tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar institutions, deep-pocketed insurers, or teams of defense lawyers. We’ve faced them before.
• Full Economic Damages Analysis: We work with economists, life-care planners, and vocational experts to calculate the true lifetime cost of an injury—whether it’s lost earning potential from a brain injury or ongoing therapy for PTSD.
• Trial-Ready Posture: We prepare every case as if it will go to trial. This readiness is what forces fair settlements. Universities and nationals know which law firms will actually see them in court.

Practical Guide for Elkhart Parents & Students

For Parents – Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue or sleep deprivation.
• Sudden personality changes: anxiety, withdrawal, depression.
• Secrecy about group activities (“I can’t talk about it”).
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Financial requests for unexplained “fines” or “dues.”

For Students – If You Are Being Hazed:

• Your Safety Comes First: If you are in danger, call 911.
• You Have the Right to Leave: “Consent” is not a defense in Texas. You can quit.
• Preserve Evidence: Screenshot everything. Do not delete messages.
• Report It: Tell a trusted adult, the Dean of Students, or use an anonymous hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE).
• Seek Medical Care: Get checked out and tell the doctor what happened.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case:

1. Deleting evidence (texts, photos, group chats).
2. Confronting the organization directly, giving them time to destroy evidence.
3. Signing university “resolution” agreements without an attorney.
4. Posting details on social media, which the defense will scour for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting to see what the university does while the statute of limitations ticks and evidence disappears.

Why Choose The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who combine relentless investigation with genuine compassion. We are Texas-based hazing litigation specialists who serve families in Elkhart, Anderson County, and across the state.

We offer:

• Immediate Response: We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™. Call 1-888-ATTY-911, 24/7.
• Contingency Fees: You pay nothing unless we win your case.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Se habla español.
• A Proven Record: From multi-million dollar wrongful death settlements to complex institutional litigation, we have the experience to win.
• A Commitment to Accountability: We fight not just for compensation, but to force change that protects the next generation of students.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has hurt your child, you do not have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved have teams of lawyers. You deserve dedicated, expert advocates on your side.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We will listen to your story, explain your legal options in clear terms, and help you decide the best path forward for your family. Everything you tell us is confidential.

Call Attorney911 Now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com

We serve families throughout Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Let us help you fight for justice.

Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Hazing laws are complex and fact-specific. If you believe your child has been hazed, please contact us or another qualified attorney for a consultation on your specific situation. The information is current as of late 2025.