The Complete Guide to Fraternity & Sorority Hazing in Texas: A Resource for Charlotte Families

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You’re Not Alone—We Can Help

The phone call no parent in Charlotte, Texas, ever wants to receive comes late at night. Your child, who you sent off to college with pride just months ago, is whispering from a fraternity house bathroom. They’re describing forced drinking, humiliation, and pain. They’re afraid—afraid of the older members, afraid of being kicked out, afraid of what you’ll think. You feel 250 miles away from the University of Houston campus, powerless and terrified. The university’s generic email about “student conduct processes” offers little comfort. You need real answers, real accountability, and someone who knows how to navigate this nightmare.

This scenario isn’t hypothetical. Right now, just a few hours north of our Atascosa County community, a Charlotte family’s worst fear became reality. In late 2025, Attorney911 filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student, against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The allegations are stomach-turning: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and extreme physical workouts that led to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—a life-threatening condition that hospitalized Bermudez for four days. As reported by Click2Houston and ABC13, this isn’t ancient history—it’s what’s happening now on Texas campuses.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for parents and families in Charlotte, Atascosa County, and across South Texas who need to understand the brutal reality of modern hazing, Texas law, and what legal options exist when institutions fail to protect our children. Whether your student attends UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any Texas campus, the patterns are distressingly similar—and the need for experienced, determined legal representation has never been greater.

If This Just Happened: Immediate Steps for Charlotte Families

EMERGENCY SITUATION:

Call 911 immediately if your child is injured, intoxicated, or in danger
Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for immediate legal guidance
We provide 24/7 emergency response—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™

FIRST 48 HOURS—EVIDENCE PRESERVATION IS CRITICAL:

Get medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor
Preserve digital evidence BEFORE it disappears:
- Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage)
- Photograph injuries from multiple angles with a coin for scale
- Save any videos or photos shared in chats
Write everything down—names, dates, locations, witnesses
Secure physical evidence—clothing, receipts, any objects used

WHAT NOT TO DO:

Don’t confront the fraternity/sorority directly (they’ll destroy evidence)
Don’t let your child delete anything “embarrassing”
Don’t sign anything from the university or their insurance
Don’t post details on social media

TIME IS CRITICAL: Evidence disappears within days—deleted group chats, coached witnesses, destroyed paddles. Contact us within 24-48 hours to protect your child’s rights and begin the investigation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like Beyond the Stereotypes

For families in Charlotte’s close-knit community, the word “hazing” might conjure images of harmless pranks or old-fashioned initiation rituals. The reality in 2025 is far more dangerous, sophisticated, and digitally enabled. Hazing today is a calculated system of control, humiliation, and abuse that adapts to avoid detection while causing profound physical and psychological harm.

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing (The Gateway)
These behaviors establish power imbalances and often get dismissed as “just tradition”:

24/7 digital control: Mandatory GroupMe responses at all hours, location tracking via Snapchat Maps
Servitude requirements: Acting as personal drivers, cleaners, or errand-runners for older members
Social isolation: Being cut off from non-member friends, requiring permission to socialize
“Voluntary” events: Late-night “study sessions” that interfere with sleep and academics

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing (The Escalation)
This creates hostile, abusive environments:

Sleep deprivation: 3 AM wake-up calls for “mandatory meetings,” multi-day events with minimal sleep
Food/water manipulation: Forced consumption of spoiled food, hot sauce, or excessive bland items
Public humiliation: Being forced to wear degrading costumes in public, perform embarrassing acts
Extreme “conditioning”: Hundreds of push-ups, wall sits until collapse, sprints in extreme weather

Tier 3: Violent Hazing (The Crisis Point)
These activities have high potential for death or permanent injury:

Forced alcohol consumption: “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, drinking games with wrong-answer penalties
Physical beatings: Paddling, punching, kicking—often framed as “tradition”
Sexualized abuse: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, “roasted pig” positions
Dangerous environments: Being locked in freezing rooms, forced to swim while intoxicated

Digital Hazing: The 2025 Innovation

Today’s hazing lives on smartphones:

Group chat terrorism: Constant notifications, demands for immediate responses, public shaming in digital spaces
Social media coercion: Being forced to post humiliating TikTok videos, Instagram stories with degrading hashtags
Evidence creation and destruction: Members film hazing for entertainment, then systematically delete evidence
Geographic evasion: Using Airbnb rentals, remote properties, or member family homes to avoid campus oversight

What Charlotte parents must understand: The “it was just partying” defense is exactly that—a defense strategy. These are calculated, repeatable patterns that national fraternities have documented for decades in their own risk management files.

Texas Hazing Law: What Charlotte Families Need to Know

Texas has some of the nation’s strongest anti-hazing statutes, but understanding how they apply requires cutting through legal complexity. As Atascosa County families, you need to know both the black-letter law and how it plays out in real Texas courtrooms.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Foundation

§ 37.151 Definition:
Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that:

Endangers mental or physical health or safety AND
Occurs for purposes of pledging, initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership

Key points for Charlotte families:

Location doesn’t matter: Off-campus houses, Airbnb rentals, remote retreats—all covered
Mental harm counts: PTSD, severe anxiety, depression qualify alongside physical injuries
“Reckless” is enough: They don’t need to intend harm—just be recklessly indifferent to risk

§ 37.155 Consent Is NOT a Defense:
This is crucial: Even if your child “agreed” or “wanted to fit in,” Texas law explicitly states consent is not a defense. Courts recognize that power imbalance, peer pressure, and fear of exclusion mean true voluntary consent doesn’t exist in hazing contexts.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Dual Track

Criminal Prosecution (The State’s Case):

Brought by: District Attorney’s office
Goal: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
Potential charges: Hazing (misdemeanor or felony), assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, manslaughter in death cases
Reality check: Local prosecutors may hesitate without overwhelming evidence; criminal cases can take years

Civil Litigation (Your Family’s Case):

Brought by: Victims/families through attorneys like us
Goal: Compensation, accountability, institutional reform
Claims: Negligence, gross negligence, negligent supervision, wrongful death, emotional distress
Strategic advantage: Lower burden of proof, broader discovery, multiple defendant targets

The critical insight: You don’t need to wait for criminal charges. Some of the largest hazing recoveries—like the $10M+ settlements in the Stone Foltz and Max Gruver cases—happened through civil litigation while criminal cases were pending or even without criminal charges being filed.

Who Can Be Held Liable? The Defendant Universe

When we investigate hazing cases for Charlotte families, we look at every entity in the chain:

Individual Members:
- Those who planned, executed, or covered up hazing
- Chapter presidents, pledge educators, risk managers
Local Chapter:
- The campus organization itself (if incorporated)
- Chapter housing corporations
National Headquarters:
- Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, etc.
- Their knowledge of prior incidents creates “foreseeability”
University & Administration:
- UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, etc.
- Liability based on knowledge, control, and failure to protect
Property Owners & Third Parties:
- Landlords of off-campus houses
- Bars that overserved alcohol
- Security companies that looked the other way

Federal Law Overlay: Title IX, Clery, and the Stop Campus Hazing Act

Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based abuse, universities have specific investigation obligations. We’ve successfully used Title IX to compel document production and witness cooperation.

Clery Act: Requires crime reporting and transparency—hazing incidents with assault or alcohol crimes often trigger Clery obligations.

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires universities receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents by 2026. We’re already using its framework to demand more transparency from Texas schools.

The Leonel Bermudez Case: Why This Matters for Charlotte Families

Let’s examine the UH Pi Kappa Phi case not as distant news, but as a template for what Charlotte families might face. This case demonstrates exactly how we investigate, whom we hold accountable, and what recovery looks like.

The Timeline of Abuse

September 2025: Bermudez accepts a bid to Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter
September-October: The system begins:

Mandatory “fanny pack” containing condoms, sex toys, nicotine devices
Enforced dress codes, weekly interrogation-style interviews
Overnight chauffeuring duties, sleep deprivation

October 13: Another pledge is hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour while members prepare for a meeting

November 3: The catastrophic workout:

Bermudez forced through 100+ push-ups, 500 squats
Creed recitation under threat of expulsion
Leaves unable to stand without help

November 6-9: Medical crisis:

Brown urine (classic rhabdomyolysis symptom)
Hospitalization with critically high creatine kinase levels
Diagnoses: Rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure
Four-day hospitalization with ongoing kidney damage risk

The Legal Response

Our lawsuit names 17 defendants across the liability chain:

University of Houston and UH System Board of Regents
Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters
Beta Nu housing corporation
13 individual fraternity leaders (president, pledgemaster, risk manager, etc.)

Institutional reactions:

November 6: Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspends Beta Nu chapter
November 14: Chapter members vote to surrender their charter—chapter closed
UH statement: Conduct “deeply disturbing,” promises disciplinary action up to expulsion, cooperation with law enforcement

What This Means for Your Family

Pattern recognition: The “forced consumption until vomiting” at UH mirrors allegations at Texas A&M, UT Austin, and nationally
Medical urgency: Rhabdomyolysis requires immediate treatment—delays cause permanent kidney damage
Multiple defendants: We don’t just sue the obvious targets; we trace liability through housing corporations, alumni associations, and national insurers
Digital evidence: Group chats planning these events were critical to our case

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: What Charlotte Families Are Really Dealing With

Through our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database of 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros—we maintain real-time awareness of the entities behind campus letters. This isn’t theoretical research; it’s the investigative foundation we use for every Texas hazing case.

The San Antonio Metro Connection to Charlotte

While Charlotte itself doesn’t host major universities, families here are deeply connected to the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area, which contains 86 Greek organizations according to our Cause IQ data. When your child joins a fraternity or sorority at UTSA, Texas A&M-San Antonio, or other area schools, they’re connecting to a network that includes:

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Mu Epsilon Chapter (Beaumont, but with San Antonio metro connections)
Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Lamar University Chapter (academic honor societies with statewide presence)
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – San Antonio Alumnae (graduate chapter supporting undergraduate activities)

The IRS Backbone: Official Texas Greek Organizations

Our IRS B83 data reveals 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs)—meaning they’re formal entities that can be sued, insured, and held accountable. These aren’t just student clubs; they’re legal organizations with assets, insurance, and liability. Examples relevant to schools Charlotte families attend include:

Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc (EIN 133048786) – College Station, TX 77845
Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 462267515) – Frisco, TX 75035
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter (EIN 746064445) – Nederland, TX 77627
Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter (EIN 746084905) – Houston, TX 77204
Texas Rho Chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity (EIN 741942292) – Waco, TX 76706

Where Charlotte Families Send Their Children: Campus Realities

Local & Regional Options:

Texas A&M University-San Antonio (Bexar County) – 45 miles from Charlotte
University of Texas at San Antonio (Bexar County) – 50 miles from Charlotte
Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Kleberg County) – 85 miles from Charlotte

Major Texas Hubs (Common Destinations):
4. University of Houston – Where the Bermudez case unfolded
5. Texas A&M University (College Station) – Significant Greek life and Corps hazing history
6. University of Texas at Austin – Transparent hazing violation reporting
7. Baylor University (Waco) – Religious context, significant Greek presence
8. Texas State University (San Marcos) – Growing Greek system

The Critical Insight: The same national fraternities that have caused deaths and injuries at Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana schools have active chapters at all these Texas campuses. Their national headquarters know the risks—they’ve paid millions in settlements elsewhere—yet the patterns continue here.

Building Your Case: The Attorney911 Investigative Method

When Charlotte families come to us after a hazing incident, we don’t start from scratch. We deploy a proven investigative framework honed through catastrophic injury cases, wrongful death litigation, and our unique insurance defense insight.

Evidence Collection: The 72-Hour Protocol

Digital Forensics (Priority One):

Group chat recovery: We work with digital forensic experts to recover deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, Signal messages
Social media preservation: Instagram stories, Snapchat memories, TikTok drafts—even “disappearing” content leaves traces
Metadata analysis: When messages were sent, from what locations, using which devices
Financial trails: Venmo transactions for alcohol purchases, chapter dues payments

Physical Evidence Documentation:

Medical record acquisition: We obtain complete records from first complaint through ongoing treatment
Scene investigation: Photographing locations, measuring spaces, documenting conditions
Object analysis: Paddles, bottles, costumes—everything tells a story

Witness Development:

Other pledges: Often afraid but willing to talk with proper protections
Former members: Those who quit or were expelled frequently have critical insights
Roommates & neighbors: Uninvolved observers provide credibility
Medical providers: Documenting causation between hazing and injuries

Damages: Understanding What’s at Stake

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses):

Medical expenses: Emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, ongoing treatment
Future medical needs: Physical therapy, psychological care, potential organ transplant
Educational losses: Tuition for semesters missed, lost scholarship value
Earning capacity reduction: For permanent injuries affecting career prospects

Non-Economic Damages (Human Losses):

Pain and suffering: Physical pain from injuries
Emotional distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation
Loss of enjoyment: Can’t participate in sports, social life, college experience
Reputational harm: Social stigma that follows publicized hazing

Wrongful Death Damages (When the Unthinkable Happens):

Funeral and burial costs
Loss of financial support to family
Loss of companionship, guidance, love
Parents’ and siblings’ emotional trauma

Punitive Damages (When Conduct Is Egregious):

For particularly reckless, malicious, or repeated conduct
Designed to punish wrongdoers and deter future hazing
Available under Texas law in appropriate cases

Overcoming Defense Strategies: Our Insider Advantage

Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney at a national defense firm gives us unmatched insight into how fraternity and university insurers will fight your claim:

Defense Tactic #1: “The Pledge Consented”

Our counter: Texas law § 37.155 says consent isn’t a defense; power imbalance and coercion negate true consent

Defense Tactic #2: “National Didn’t Know”

Our counter: We subpoena national incident databases showing identical patterns at other chapters

Defense Tactic #3: “It Happened Off-Campus”

Our counter: Location doesn’t eliminate duty; nationals collect dues and exercise control regardless of venue

Defense Tactic #4: “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”

Our counter: Policies without enforcement are meaningless; we prove they knew and didn’t act

Defense Tactic #5: “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”

Our counter: Negligent supervision claims may trigger coverage; we identify all potential policies

Practical Guide for Charlotte Parents: Step-by-Step Response

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed

Physical Indicators:

Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries with inconsistent explanations
Extreme fatigue beyond normal college stress
Weight changes from food manipulation or stress
Signs of alcohol poisoning even if they don’t typically drink

Behavioral Changes:

New secrecy about organizational activities
Withdrawal from family and non-member friends
Personality shifts: anxiety, depression, irritability
Constant phone anxiety—fear of missing group chat demands

Academic Red Flags:

Grades plummeting suddenly
Missing classes or chronic exhaustion
Losing scholarships or academic standing

Digital Patterns:

24/7 GroupMe monitoring
Geo-tracking app requirements (Life360, Find My Friends)
Social media posts showing concerning activities

The Conversation: How to Talk to Your Child

DO:

“I’m worried about you—you seem exhausted/stressed/different”
“Is there anything happening that makes you uncomfortable?”
“Your safety matters more than any organization”
“We’ll support you no matter what—you can always come home”

DON’T:

“Why did you agree to this?”
“You should have known better”
“Just quit and come home” (without safety planning)
Confrontational accusations that make them defensive

Immediate Action Checklist

Within First 24 Hours:

Medical evaluation (even if they resist)
Evidence preservation screenshotting
Document everything they tell you
Contact Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911

Days 2-7:

Follow-up medical care
Formal evidence organization
Strategic reporting decisions (with legal guidance)
University communication protocol establishment

Week 2+:

Comprehensive investigation launch
Defendant identification
Damage assessment
Litigation strategy development

University Navigation: Realistic Expectations

What Universities Will Do:

Launch “internal investigation” that protects the institution
Offer counseling services (helpful but not accountability)
Suggest “student conduct process” that may punish your child too
Delay, hoping you’ll graduate or give up

What You Should Do:

Document every communication
Ask specific questions: “What prior incidents involved this organization?”
Request policies and procedures in writing
Never sign anything without attorney review
Remember: The university’s interests and yours are not aligned

Why Attorney911 for Charlotte Hazing Cases

Our Texas Roots, Your Local Understanding

While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas—including Charlotte and Atascosa County. We understand the unique dynamics of South Texas communities: the family values, the pride in educational achievement, the devastation when trusted institutions fail our children.

The Insurance Insider Advantage

Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers:

Value (and undervalue) hazing claims
Use delay tactics to pressure families
Deploy “independent medical exams” to minimize injuries
Fight coverage under intentional act exclusions

This isn’t theoretical knowledge—it’s battle-tested insight we use to counter their every move.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience

Managing Partner Ralph Manginello’s background includes:

BP Texas City explosion litigation—facing billion-dollar defendants
Federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas)
HCCLA membership—understanding criminal hazing charges
25+ years of serious injury and wrongful death practice

When we sue UH, Texas A&M, or a national fraternity, we’re not intimidated by their budgets or attorneys. We’ve been here before.

The Data-Driven Difference

Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—built from IRS records, campus data, and metro analysis—means we don’t start investigations from zero. We already know:

Which housing corporations hold insurance
What prior incidents national headquarters knew about
How the same patterns repeat across campuses
Where to look for hidden assets and coverage

Bilingual Services for Hispanic Families

Se habla Español. Mr. Peña is fluent in Spanish and understands the cultural considerations important to many South Texas families. We ensure language is never a barrier to justice.

Your Next Steps: Contact Attorney911 Today

If you’re reading this from Charlotte, Pleasanton, Jourdanton, or anywhere in Atascosa County, and you suspect your child has been hazed, time is your most precious—and vanishing—resource.

What Your Free Consultation Includes:

Confidential Listening: We hear your story without judgment
Evidence Review: We examine what you’ve preserved and advise on next steps
Legal Options Explanation: Criminal reporting, civil litigation, both, or neither
Realistic Timeline: What to expect in coming weeks and months
Cost Transparency: Contingency fee basis—we don’t get paid unless we win
No Pressure Decision: Take time to discuss as a family

Contact Information:

24/7 Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct Office: (713) 528-9070
Cell: (713) 443-4781
Email: ralph@atty911.com (Ralph Manginello), lupe@atty911.com (Lupe Peña)
Website: https://attorney911.com

Spanish Services:

Hablamos Español – Contact Lupe Peña directamente para una consulta en español.

Plain Text Resource Links

News Coverage of Leonel Bermudez Case:

Click2Houston investigation: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
ABC13 detailed timeline: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
Hoodline case summary: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

Using your phone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
Texas statutes of limitations explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
Client mistakes that can ruin your case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
How contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Our Practice Areas Relevant to Hazing Cases:

Wrongful death experience: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/
Criminal defense capability: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/criminal-defense-lawyers/
Ralph Manginello’s background: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/
Lupe Peña’s insurance defense insight: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/

Legal Disclaimer

This guide provides general information about Texas hazing law and litigation. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every hazing case involves unique facts, evidence, and legal considerations. Outcomes depend on specific circumstances, applicable law, and many other factors.

Texas hazing laws and university policies change. Information here is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments.

If your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with an experienced Texas hazing attorney to discuss your specific situation and legal options.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Houston • Austin • Beaumont, Texas
Call 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com
Se habla Español