A Texas Parent’s Complete Guide to Hazing: Understanding Rights, Risks, and Recovery

For families in Luling, Caldwell County, and across Texas, sending a child to college is a proud milestone. It’s a time of new independence and growth. But for some, that promise is shattered by a phone call no parent ever expects—a call revealing their child has been hurt, humiliated, or endangered in the name of “tradition.” Hazing is not a relic of the past; it is a present, dangerous reality on campuses across Texas, including the universities where our Luling students often enroll.

Right now, our firm is actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in the country, right here in Texas. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered catastrophic injuries during his fall 2025 pledge period with the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. His lawsuit alleges a horrifying pattern of abuse: forced consumption of food until vomiting, extreme physical workouts, humiliating “pledge fanny pack” rules, and being sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding.” The conduct led to rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization and posing a risk of permanent damage. This is not an isolated scandal from another state; this is happening now at a major Texas public university.

This guide is for you—the parents, grandparents, and families in Luling, Lockhart, and throughout Caldwell County. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, your legal rights under Texas law, the sobering history of national fraternities and sororities, and what you can do if your child has been harmed. Our goal is to provide clarity, empower you with knowledge, and show you the path to accountability.

Immediate Help for a Hazing Emergency

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call us immediately: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason.

In the First 48 Hours – Critical Actions:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek a medical evaluation. Internal injuries like rhabdomyolysis may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Digital Evidence: This is the most critical step. Help your child screenshot ALL group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord), text messages, and social media DMs before they are deleted. Take photographs of any visible injuries from multiple angles.
3. Document Everything: Write down everything your child tells you—dates, times, locations, names of involved individuals—while their memory is fresh.
4. Secure Physical Items: Save any clothing worn during the incident, receipts for forced purchases, or objects used.
5. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or club directly.
   • Sign any documents from the university or an insurance company.
   • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
   • Post details about the incident on public social media.

Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney: Evidence disappears with terrifying speed. Universities and national organizations move quickly to control the narrative. We can help you navigate this crisis from the very first moment. Call 1 – 888 – ATTY – 911 for a free, immediate, and confidential consultation.

What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025

Hazing has evolved far beyond stereotypical “pranks.” It is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership. Crucially, under Texas law, the victim’s “consent” is not a defense.

The Modern Hazing Playbook

1. Alcohol & Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and deadliest form.

• Forced consumption during “Big/Little” reveals, “family tree” drinking games, or lineups.
• Coercion to use drugs or unknown substances.
• The national cases of Timothy Piazza (Penn State), Max Gruver (LSU), and Stone Foltz (Bowling Green) all follow this fatal script.

2. Physical & “Endurance” Hazing:

• Extreme, punitive calisthenics (“smokings”)—like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats alleged in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case.
• Paddling, beatings, or forced fights.
• Sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, or exposure to extreme elements.

3. Sexualized & Degrading Hazing:

• Forced nudity or simulated sexual acts.
• Humiliating costumes or roles.
• Activities involving racist, sexist, or homophobic themes.

4. Psychological & Digital Hazing:

• Verbal abuse, threats, and isolation.
• 24/7 digital control: Mandatory group chats with instant response demands, social media policing, and location tracking via apps.
• Public shaming through manipulated photos/videos on TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat.

Where Hazing Happens

While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing permeates many groups:

• Fraternities & Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural councils).
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading).
• Spirit & Tradition Organizations (like Corps of Cadets programs).
• Marching Bands, Performance Groups, and Academic Clubs.

The common thread is a dynamic of power imbalance, secrecy, and a warped sense of tradition that overrides safety.

The Texas Legal Framework: Criminal Penalties and Civil Liability

Texas takes a firm stance against hazing through Chapter 37, Subchapter F of the Education Code. Understanding this law is the first step in understanding your family’s rights.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code §37.151-§37.156)

• Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the physical or mental health or safety of a student for the purpose 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.
• Organizational Liability: Fraternities, sororities, and other groups can be fined up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): It does not matter if the victim “agreed” to participate. The law recognizes the coercive power of peer pressure and group dynamics.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Individuals who report hazing in good faith to authorities are protected from civil or criminal liability stemming from the report.

Civil Lawsuits: The Path to Accountability and Recovery

A criminal case is brought by the state to punish wrongdoing. A civil lawsuit is brought by the victim and family to recover compensation for harms suffered and to hold all responsible parties accountable. These cases often proceed simultaneously.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Case?

1. Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, conducted, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As an organization that fostered the environment.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to adequately supervise, train, or intervene despite known patterns of abuse across their chapters.
4. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations (if the hazing is sex-based).
5. Third Parties: Property owners, landlords of off-campus houses, or alcohol providers.

The Federal Overlay: Title IX and the Stop Campus Hazing Act

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, universities have a legal duty to respond promptly and equitably.
• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to increase transparency in hazing reporting and strengthen prevention programs, with full implementation by 2026.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Repeat in Texas

Tragically, hazing incidents are not unique. They follow predictable, repeating scripts. The cases below are not just national news—they are blueprints for the negligence arguments used in Texas courtrooms.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): A bid-acceptance night with forced drinking led to fatal falls. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case resulted in massive criminal charges and Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking. His death spurred Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, creating felony hazing penalties.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge forced to drink a bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event. His family reached a $10 million settlement with the fraternity national and university.

The Physical Endurance & Ritual Script

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a violent, blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): A “pledge dad reveal” led to catastrophic alcohol poisoning and permanent, severe brain damage. His family settled with 22 defendants.

The Athletic Program Script

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to numerous lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements, proving hazing is not confined to Greek life.

The Takeaway for Luling Families: These are not anomalies. They are evidence of foreseeable risk. When a fraternity at UH or Texas A&M uses the same “Big/Little” drinking script that killed Stone Foltz, the national organization cannot claim ignorance. This “pattern evidence” is powerful in court.

The Texas University Landscape: Where Luling Families Send Their Kids

Families in Luling and Caldwell County have deep ties to Texas higher education. Students commute to nearby schools, attend regional universities, or head to major flagship campuses. Understanding the specific environments and histories of these schools is crucial.

University of Houston (UH) – A Current Crisis

Our firm’s active litigation against UH and Pi Kappa Phi makes this a critical focus for all Texas parents.

The Leonel Bermudez Case – A Flagship Example:
In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of UH transfer student Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, its Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The suit, detailed in Click2Houston and ABC13 reports, alleges a brutal pledge period:

• Humiliation: Required to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, a sex toy, and other degrading items.
• Physical Torture: Sprints, bear crawls, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.
• The Breaking Point: A November 3 “workout” of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats led to rhabdomyolysis. Bermudez passed brown urine, could not stand, and was hospitalized for four days with acute kidney failure.
• Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025. Members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, effectively shutting it down. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

What This Means: This case demonstrates that severe, life-threatening hazing is happening now at a major Texas public university. It shows the universe of defendants we pursue: from individual members to national headquarters to the university itself.

Texas A&M University – Corps Culture and Greek Life

Many Central Texas students are drawn to the tradition and network of Texas A&M. Its unique Corps of Cadets and large Greek system present specific hazing risks.

Recent History and Litigation:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged they were doused with a mixture including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Allegations (2023): A cadet sued the university, alleging degrading hazing that included being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth.
• Kappa Sigma Rhabdomyolysis Case (Ongoing): Allegations of extreme physical hazing leading to the same severe muscle breakdown injury seen in the UH case.

For Luling Parents: The Aggie network is powerful, but so is the culture of tradition that can mask abuse. Hazing in the Corps or in fraternities is often defended as “character building.” The law and medical facts say otherwise.

University of Texas at Austin – Transparency and Repeated Violations

UT Austin operates one of the more transparent hazing disclosure systems in the state at hazing.utexas.edu. This public log is a powerful tool for families and attorneys.

Documented Patterns:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Multiple Spirit Groups: Organizations like the Texas Wranglers have faced sanctions for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Lawsuit (2024): An Australian exchange student alleged an assault at an SAE party resulted in a dislocated leg, broken nose, and fractured tibia.

The UT Advantage: The public violation log helps establish pattern and notice. When we investigate a case at UT, we start with this record to show the university and specific organizations were on notice about hazing risks.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) and Baylor University

• SMU: As a private university with a affluent student body and strong Greek life, hazing incidents often involve significant resources on both sides. Past incidents, like a 2017 Kappa Alpha Order suspension for paddling and forced drinking, show recurring problems.
• Baylor: Following its high-profile Title IX scandals, Baylor’s handling of hazing in programs like baseball (which saw a 2020 hazing suspension of 14 players) remains under scrutiny.

The Common Thread: At every Texas university, from large public flagships to prestigious private schools, hazing persists because systems of secrecy and institutional protection often outweigh individual safety—until dedicated legal action forces change.

The Greek Ecosystem in Texas: A Web of Liability

Fraternities and sororities are not just social clubs; they are complex networks of legal entities. Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—built from IRS public filings, university reports, and national data—we map this ecosystem to ensure no liable party escapes accountability.

Public Records Insight: The Organizations Behind the Letters

For Luling parents, understanding that a fraternity is often backed by multiple legal entities is key. For example, our data shows numerous Texas-registered organizations that support Greek life:

• Pi Kappa Phi – Beta Nu Housing Corporation Inc. (EIN 462267515) – Frisco, TX 75035
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc. (EIN 741380362) – Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (EIN 364091267) – Waco, TX 76710
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M University (EIN 900293166) – College Station, TX 77843
• Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi (EIN 746047117) – Austin, TX 78705

Statewide, our engine tracks over 1,400 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metro areas, with 188 in the Houston metro alone. This is not guesswork; it is a data-driven directory we use to identify every potential source of insurance coverage and liability.

National Histories, Local Consequences

The fraternities on Texas campuses are chapters of national organizations with documented, tragic histories. This matters in court.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): National pattern of fatal alcohol hazing (Stone Foltz, David Bogenberger).
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Multiple deaths and severe injury lawsuits nationwide, including at Texas A&M and UT.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The national organization named in our UH lawsuit and the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State.
• Phi Delta Theta: The Max Gruver death at LSU.

When a Texas chapter repeats these known dangerous practices, the national headquarters can be held liable for negligent supervision and failure to prevent foreseeable harm.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

If your family is facing this nightmare, you need to know how a serious law firm builds a case for maximum accountability. It is a meticulous process of investigation, expert consultation, and strategic legal argument.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

1. Digital Forensics: Deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text messages can often be recovered. Social media posts, location tags, and shared photos/videos are critical.
2. Internal Chapter Records: Pledge manuals, “tradition” documents, emails, and meeting notes obtained through discovery.
3. University Files: Prior conduct reports, Clery Act logs, and internal investigation records that show a pattern of ignored warnings.
4. Medical Evidence: Comprehensive records documenting the acute injury (e.g., ER reports showing high creatine kinase for rhabdomyolysis) and long-term psychological trauma (PTSD, depression diagnoses).
5. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and advisors.

We have a detailed video guide on how to use your phone to document evidence. This initial preservation is vital.

Recoverable Damages for Victims and Families

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and punish egregious conduct. Potential damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, future therapy), lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of love, companionship, and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly reckless or malicious conduct, courts may award extra damages to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

Overcoming the Standard Defenses

We anticipate and dismantle the common defenses used by fraternities and universities:

• “They Consented”: Texas law (§37.155) explicitly nullifies this. We explain the coercive power dynamics.
• “Rogue Individuals, Not the National Org”: We use pattern evidence from other chapters to prove foreseeability and negligent supervision.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: Liability is based on control and sponsorship, not just property lines. Nationals and universities still have duties.
• “We Have an Anti-Hazing Policy”: We prove policies were window-dressing, not enforced, pointing to prior unaddressed incidents.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Luling Families

For Parents: Warning Signs and Steps

Red Flags Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, constant exhaustion, or drastic weight change.
• Becoming secretive or anxious about group activities.
• Financial stress from unexplained “fines” or purchases.
• Personality shifts: withdrawal, depression, or intense irritability.
• Phone constantly buzzing with group chat demands at all hours.

What to Do:

• Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “How are things really going with the pledge process? Is anything making you uncomfortable?”
• Prioritize Safety: If there is immediate danger, call 911.
• Preserve, Don’t Confront: Collect evidence first. Do not alert the organization.
• Seek Experienced Counsel Early: The university’s priority is limiting its liability. You need an advocate whose only priority is your child.

For Students: Is This Hazing?

• You feel scared, coerced, or degraded.
• Activities are hidden from advisors, parents, or the school.
• You are forced to consume anything or endure pain to “belong.”
• Remember: “Tradition” is not a legal defense. Your safety is paramount. Texas law provides immunity for good-faith reporting in emergencies.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case

We detail common pitfalls in our video on client mistakes that can ruin an injury case. Key errors include:

• Deleting digital evidence.
• Giving a statement to a university or insurance adjuster without a lawyer.
• Signing a university “resolution agreement” that waives your right to sue.
• Waiting too long and allowing the statute of limitations to expire. Learn about Texas statutes of limitations here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue a public university like UH or Texas A&M?
A: Yes, though sovereign immunity presents hurdles. We use exceptions for gross negligence, intentional acts, and sue individual employees. Even with immunity, universities often settle to avoid public exposure.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: Generally, two years from the date of injury in Texas, but exceptions exist. Do not wait. Evidence and witness memories fade quickly.

Q: What will this cost our family?
A: We handle hazing cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront attorney fees. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you. See our explanation of how contingency fees work.

Q: Will my child’s name be public?
A: We strive to protect our clients’ privacy. Many cases settle confidentially. If a lawsuit is filed, we can use pseudonyms in certain circumstances and seek protective orders for sensitive information.

Why The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911 for Your Texas Hazing Case

When your family is facing the trauma of hazing, you need advocates who are not intimidated by powerful institutions, who understand the deep complexities of these cases, and who fight with both compassion and relentless skill. That is who we are.

Our Proven Advantage for Texas Families

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge – We Know Their Playbook.
Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, use delay tactics, and fight coverage. This insider perspective is invaluable in building leverage and maximizing recovery. You can learn more about Mr. Peña’s background at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/.

2. Complex Institutional Litigation Experience – We’ve Faced Giants Before.
Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on a billion-dollar corporate defendant. We apply the same rigorous, resource-intensive investigation and litigation strategy to hazing cases against national fraternities and university systems. See Ralph’s full profile at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/.

3. Active, High-Stakes Texas Hazing Litigation – We’re in the Fight Right Now.
We are not theoreticians. We are currently lead counsel in the $10 million Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are on the front lines, deposing officers, battling national legal teams, and fighting for justice for a Texas family. This is not hypothetical experience; it is current, relevant, and proven.

4. A Data-Driven Investigation Engine.
We don’t start from scratch. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—with its database of thousands of Greek organizations, EINs, and addresses—allows us to immediately identify all potentially liable entities, from local house corporations to national alumni boards. We turn data into leverage.

5. Comprehensive Damages Analysis.
We work with life-care planners, economists, and medical experts to fully quantify the impact of catastrophic injuries—whether it’s the lifelong care needed for a brain injury or the lost earning potential of a young life cut short or forever altered.

6. Spanish-Language Services.
Hablamos Español. Mr. Peña is fluent Spanish, ensuring we can serve all Texas families with comfort and clarity.

A Final Word to Luling and Caldwell County Families

Hazing thrives in silence and shame. It relies on victims and families feeling isolated, confused, and powerless against prestigious institutions. You are not powerless, and you are not alone.

The path forward begins with a conversation. We offer a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation to listen to your story, review the facts you have, and explain your legal options clearly and honestly. We will help you understand the process, the potential challenges, and the strategies we would use to seek accountability and justice for your child.

If hazing has impacted your family—whether at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, Baylor, or any Texas campus—reach out to the Texas hazing litigation specialists at The Manginello Law Firm.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 Today

Call our 24/7 line: 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 (Se habla Español)

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Your first step toward accountability starts with a phone call.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Each case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and law. For advice on your specific situation, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC for a consultation.