The Complete Guide to Hazing in Texas: A Resource for Families in the Town of Combes

If your child is away at college, the moments you fear most often happen far from home. Picture this: a promising student from Combes, eager to find their place at a Texas university, attends an off-campus fraternity event. What starts as “pledge education” spirals into forced drinking, physical exhaustion, and cruel humiliation. Phones capture the ordeal, but no one calls for help, fearing they’ll “get the chapter in trouble.” Hours later, that student from Cameron County is rushed to the ER, their health—and future—forever altered. This is not a hypothetical. It is happening right now to Texas families, including those in our community.

As hazing lawyers serving the Town of Combes and all of Texas, we have seen the devastating reality behind the Greek letters and campus traditions. This comprehensive guide is written specifically for you—parents, guardians, and students in Combes and across Cameron County. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, break down Texas and federal law, examine patterns from national tragedies, and provide a detailed look at the campuses where your children study. Most importantly, we will outline the legal pathways to accountability and recovery.

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 the student insists they are “fine.”
  • Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
    • Screenshot group chats, texts, and DMs immediately.
    • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
    • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects).
  • Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
  • Do NOT:
    • Confront the fraternity or sorority.
    • Sign anything from the university or insurance company.
    • Post details on public social media.
    • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours: Evidence disappears fast. We can help preserve it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing has evolved far beyond the outdated stereotypes of simple pranks or harmless initiation. For families in Combes, understanding this evolution is critical to recognizing the danger your child might be in.

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. A key point Texas families must understand: “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal. The law recognizes the power imbalance and peer pressure inherent in these situations.

Modern hazing falls into several dangerous categories:

Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and deadly form. It includes forced or coerced rapid consumption during “lineups,” “Big/Little” nights, or drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mandate drinking.

Physical Hazing: This extends beyond paddling to include extreme, punitive calisthenics known as “smokings,” sleep and food deprivation, and exposure to extreme elements. A tragic example we are actively litigating involves a University of Houston pledge who was forced through hundreds of push-ups and squats, leading to rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, wearing degrading costumes, and acts with racist or sexist overtones designed to strip away dignity.

Psychological and Digital Hazing: This is the emerging frontier. It involves 24/7 control via group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), constant demands for immediate response, sleep disruption via phone alerts, and public shaming on social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok. For a Combes student feeling isolated at a large university, this constant digital harassment can be inescapable.

Hazing is not confined to fraternities. It occurs in sororities, Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, marching bands, spirit groups, and other campus organizations. The common threads are abuse of power, tradition used as a shield, and a culture of secrecy that leaves students from communities like ours vulnerable and afraid to speak up.

The Texas and Federal Legal Framework for Hazing

If your family in Combes is facing a hazing crisis, you are operating within a specific legal landscape. Understanding it is the first step toward accountability.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code, Chapter 37): Texas has a robust anti-hazing statute. It defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with a group.

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury and a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals who fail to report hazing or retaliate against reporters can also face charges.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized the hazing or if an officer knew and failed to report it.
• The Most Important Protection: Texas law explicitly states that the victim’s consent is not a defense to hazing (§ 37.155). This directly counters the common argument that “your child agreed to it.”
• Good-Faith Reporting: The law provides immunity for those who report hazing in good faith, encouraging bystanders and victims to come forward.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). The goal is punishment (jail, fines, probation).
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victims or their families. The goal is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. These are separate paths; you do not need a criminal conviction to pursue a civil lawsuit for negligence, wrongful death, or emotional distress.

Federal Overlay: Federal laws add another layer.

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs.
• Title IX & The Clery Act: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, Title IX obligations are triggered. The Clery Act requires reporting of certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.

Who Can Be Held Liable? A civil hazing case can target a full universe of responsible parties: the individual students who committed the acts; the local chapter as an entity; the national fraternity or sorority headquarters that sets policies and collects dues; the university for negligent supervision; and even landlords or alcohol providers. Our job is to identify every entity with insurance and accountability.

National Hazing Tragedies: The Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The heartbreaking cases that make national headlines are not isolated. They reveal predictable, repeating patterns that fraternities and universities have too often failed to stop. These patterns matter because they establish foreseeability—proof that these organizations knew or should have known the deadly risks.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern:

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): A bid-acceptance night with extreme drinking led to fatal falls. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania and countless criminal charges.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): A “Bible study” drinking game turned fatal. This led Louisiana to enact the Max Gruver Act, creating felony hazing penalties.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge was forced to drink a bottle of liquor during a “Big/Little” night. His death led to a $10 million settlement and criminal convictions. The chapter president was later ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.

The Physical “Ritual” Pattern:

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): A pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania.

The Athletic Program Pattern:

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): This scandal revealed that hazing extends deep into major athletic programs, with allegations of sexualized and racist abuse leading to multiple lawsuits and confidential settlements.

For a family in Combes, these cases are not just news stories. They are legal precedents. They show that when a Texas chapter repeats the same deadly “tradition” that killed a student in Ohio or Louisiana, the national organization cannot claim ignorance. This pattern evidence is a powerful tool in building a case for accountability right here in Texas.

A Texas-Specific Focus: Where Combes Families Send Their Kids

Families in the Town of Combes and across Cameron County send their students to a variety of Texas institutions, from the prestigious flagships to growing regional universities. The hazing risk exists across this spectrum. Here is what you need to know about the campuses most relevant to our community.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) & Regional Campuses

Campus & Culture Snapshot: With campuses in Edinburg and Brownsville, UTRGV is a vital institution for the Rio Grande Valley, including Combes. As a growing university with expanding student life, it hosts fraternities, sororities, and numerous student organizations.

Hazing Policy & Response: UTRGV, like all Texas public universities, prohibits hazing under Chapter 37 of the Education Code. Reporting channels exist through the Dean of Students and campus police. For Combes families, incidents here would likely involve local law enforcement in Hidalgo or Cameron County, with potential civil actions filed in corresponding district courts.

What Combes Students & Parents Should Know: The proximity to home does not eliminate risk. Hazing can occur in any organization. Document any concerns and report them through official university channels while also consulting with an attorney to understand all options for protection and accountability.

Texas A&M University

Campus & Culture Snapshot: A flagship with a powerful tradition-heavy culture, including a large Greek system and the famed Corps of Cadets. Many South Texas students aspire to become Aggies.

Documented Incidents & Pattern: Texas A&M has faced serious, public hazing allegations.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case: Pledges alleged being covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit: A cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million in damages.

Implications for Combes Families: The culture of tradition at A&M can sometimes be exploited to justify abuse. If your child is in the Corps or a fraternity, be vigilant for signs of physical injury or extreme exhaustion passed off as “building discipline.”

The University of Houston (UH)

Campus & Culture Snapshot: A major urban research university with a significant and diverse Greek life community, UH is a top destination for students from across Texas.

The Flagship Case We Are Litigating: Right now, our firm represents Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual members. The allegations are severe:

• Pledges were required to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing humiliating items.
• Hazing included forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed by immediate sprints.
• Mr. Bermudez was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, leading to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He was hospitalized for four days after passing brown urine.
• The hazing occurred at the chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park.

This case, covered by Click2Houston and ABC13, is a stark example of the catastrophic injuries happening at Texas universities. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter was suspended and voted to surrender its charter.

University of Texas at Austin

Campus & Culture Snapshot: UT Austin boasts one of the largest and most active Greek systems in the country, alongside hundreds of other student organizations.

Transparency & Public Records: UT maintains a public Hazing Violations log, which is a valuable resource. It shows repeated sanctions against organizations like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced calisthenics and alcohol hazing.

Key Takeaway for Parents: UT’s public log demonstrates that hazing is a persistent, documented problem even at our most prestigious university. This public record can be used as evidence to show a pattern of known risk.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

Private University Context: As private institutions, SMU and Baylor have their own conduct processes, which can be less transparent than public schools. Both have strong Greek life and have faced hazing scandals, such as the suspension of SMU’s Kappa Alpha Order chapter for paddling and alcohol hazing.

Implication: Pursuing accountability at a private university requires skillful navigation of their internal systems and aggressive use of the civil discovery process to obtain hidden records.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories Matter

When a student in Combes is hazed at a Texas A&M fraternity, that chapter is not an island. It is part of a national organization with a history, a playbook, and, often, a trail of prior incidents. This history is legally crucial.

National fraternity and sorority headquarters maintain extensive anti-hazing policies precisely because they have been sued over deaths and injuries for decades. When a local chapter repeats a fatal pattern—like a “Big/Little” drinking night—the national organization cannot credibly claim it was an unforeseeable “rogue” act.

A Sample of National Patterns Relevant to Texas Campuses:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Responsible for the Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green ($10M settlement). Chapters at UT and other Texas schools have been sanctioned for hazing.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Has faced numerous hazing deaths nationwide. Its chapter at Texas A&M was sued over the chemical burns case.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The national organization is a defendant in our UH lawsuit following the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State.
• Phi Delta Theta: The national organization was central to the Max Gruver death at LSU.

In litigation, we use this national pattern evidence to attack defenses. We subpoena national headquarters for their incident reports, risk management files, and internal communications. This proves foreseeability and can break down arguments that the national group “had no idea” or that its policies were sufficient. For a Combes family, this means the organization your child encountered has likely been on notice for years about the very dangers that materialized.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

If hazing has harmed your family, building a powerful case requires immediate, strategic action. This is where our experience as litigators who have taken on billion-dollar corporations becomes critical.

The Evidence That Wins Cases:

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text threads are the modern minute books of hazing. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages.
2. Photos & Videos: Content posted on social media or shared privately often captures the acts and those involved.
3. Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, and emails between members.
4. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same organization, obtained through discovery or public records requests.
5. Medical Records: Documentation linking injuries directly to the hazing event is essential for proving damages. This includes ER reports, psychological evaluations for PTSD, and life-care plans for permanent injuries.

Our Investigative Advantage – The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine:
To serve families in Combes and across Texas, we maintain a proprietary database built from public records. This allows us to immediately identify every potentially liable entity behind a fraternity or sorority. For example, our data includes Texas-registered Greek organizations like:

• Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc., EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc., EIN 13-3048786, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at Texas A&M University, EIN 90-0293166, College Station, TX 77843 (IRS B83 Filing)

This is just a sample. We track over 1,400 Greek-related entities across 25 Texas metros. When we take your case, we don’t start from zero—we start with intelligence.

Understanding Damages: A civil case seeks to recover compensation for the profound harm caused. This includes:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, and reduced future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: If tragedy strikes, families can recover for funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound grief of losing a child.
• Punitive Damages: In egregious cases, courts may award damages to punish the defendants and deter future conduct.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Combes Families

For Parents: Warning Signs and Steps to Take

Warning Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, drastic mood changes, withdrawal from family, obsessive phone use for group chats, and sudden secrecy about organization activities.

What to Do:

1. Listen Without Judgment: Create a safe space for your child to talk.
2. Prioritize Health: Seek immediate medical and psychological care.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot messages and photograph injuries. Our video on using your phone to document evidence explains best practices.
4. Document: Write down everything your child says with dates and names.
5. Consult a Lawyer Early: Before reporting to the university or speaking to insurance adjusters, get legal advice to protect your child’s rights and the integrity of the case.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No tradition justifies abuse.
• “Consent” is Not a Defense in Texas: You cannot legally consent to being hazed.
• Exiting Safely: Your physical and mental health come first. If you feel unsafe, leave and contact someone you trust.
• Reporting: You can report anonymously through campus channels or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). Good-faith reporters may have legal protections.

Critical Mistakes That Can Undermine Your Case

1. Deleting Evidence: Preserve all messages, even embarrassing ones. Destruction can look like a cover-up.
2. Confronting the Organization: This allows them to destroy evidence and circle the wagons.
3. Signing University Papers: Do not sign any waiver, release, or “resolution” agreement from the university without an attorney’s review.
4. Posting on Social Media: Public posts can be used by defense attorneys to challenge your story.
5. Waiting Too Long: Texas generally has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury, but evidence and memories fade fast. Learn more about statutes of limitation here.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue the university?”
Yes, under specific legal theories like negligent supervision. Public universities have certain immunity, but exceptions exist. The University of Houston is a defendant in our active Pi Kappa Phi case.

“What if it happened off-campus?”
Location does not eliminate liability. Nationals and universities can still be responsible for off-campus conduct they sponsor or knowingly allow.

“How much does a hazing lawyer cost?”
We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay no upfront costs, and our fee is a percentage of the recovery we secure for you. See how contingency fees work.

“Will our name be public?”
Most cases settle confidentially. We always prioritize your family’s privacy and will seek protective orders and sealed records when necessary.

Why Attorney911 for Your Combes Hazing Case

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who understand both the profound human cost and the complex legal battlefield you are entering. As a Texas-based firm serving families in Combes, Cameron County, and across the state, we bring a unique combination of experience, insight, and determination to hazing litigation.

Our Proven Insurer Insight: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows firsthand how insurance companies for universities and fraternities strategize to deny, delay, and minimize claims. We use this insider knowledge to anticipate their tactics and counter them effectively. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background.

Experience Against Giant Institutions: Managing partner Ralph Manginello is one of the few Texas attorneys who has litigated against BP in the Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by universities or national fraternities with deep-pocketed defense firms. We have the federal court experience and complex litigation discipline these fights require. See Ralph Manginello’s full profile.

Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: With Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA), we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise clients navigating both systems.

A Commitment to Your Family: We approach every case with the gravity it deserves. We investigate thoroughly, consult with leading medical and economic experts, and build cases designed not just for settlement, but for trial. We fight for full accountability to help your family heal and to prevent the next tragedy.

Your Next Step: A Confidential Consultation

If you are a family in the Town of Combes, Cameron County, or anywhere in Texas living through the nightmare of hazing, you do not have to face this alone. The path to answers, accountability, and recovery begins with a conversation.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation. In this conversation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline the investigative process and potential strategies.
• Answer your questions honestly, including about costs and timelines.

We are here to help Texans. Call us today.

• 24/7 Toll-Free: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Email: ralph@atty911.com
• Se habla Español: Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com
• Website: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or form an attorney-client relationship. The law is complex and constantly evolving. If you have a specific legal concern, please contact an attorney for advice tailored to your situation. Results in any case depend on the specific facts and applicable law.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

News Coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston Report: 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 Coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Documenting Evidence with Your Phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Firm Website:

• Main Site & Contact: https://attorney911.com