The Complete Guide to Fraternity & Sorority Hazing in Texas: What Aubrey Families Must Know

If Your Child Was Hazed in Texas, You Are Not Alone

The phone rings at 2:17 AM. Your child, a freshman at a Texas university, is slurring their words. They’re at a “pledge event” that was supposed to end hours ago. In the background, you hear chanting. When you finally reach them the next day, they’re evasive, exhausted, and have unexplained bruises. They say everything is “fine” and it’s just “tradition,” but your gut tells you something is deeply wrong. You’re a parent in Aubrey, Texas, watching your child change before your eyes, and you feel powerless.

This exact scenario—or ones far worse—is unfolding right now across Texas campuses. What you’re witnessing may not be harmless initiation; it may be criminal hazing with lifelong consequences. And it’s happening to students from our community. Aubrey families send their children to the University of North Texas in nearby Denton, to Texas A&M in College Station, to UT Austin, to the University of Houston, and to campuses across our state. Wherever Texas students pursue Greek life, athletic teams, Corps programs, or spirit organizations, the shadow of hazing follows.

Right now, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history. In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. Bermudez, a transfer student and fall 2025 pledge, was subjected to months of systematic abuse that nearly killed him. The details, documented in exclusive Click2Houston and ABC13 investigations, are harrowing: forced consumption of food until vomiting, 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and carrying a humiliating “pledge fanny pack” 24/7. The physical toll? Rhabdomyolysis—severe muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown. He was hospitalized for four days and faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

If you’re reading this as a parent in Aubrey, in Denton County, or anywhere in Texas, understand this: What happened to Leonel Bermudez at UH could happen to any Texas student. The same national fraternities and sororities, the same institutional failures, and the same dangerous traditions exist at campuses throughout our state. This guide exists to give you the knowledge, tools, and legal understanding you need if hazing touches your family.

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:

1. Get medical attention immediately, even if your child insists they are “fine.”
2. Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
   • Screenshot group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts) immediately.
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
   • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects used in hazing).
3. Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
4. DO NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity/sorority directly.
   • Sign anything from the university or an 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 at staggering speed. Universities and national organizations move quickly to control the narrative. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights from the very first call. Contact Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is not a relic of the past or a series of “harmless pranks.” It is a modern, adaptive form of abuse that leverages digital tools, psychological coercion, and sophisticated cover-ups. For parents in Aubrey whose understanding of Greek life might be limited, recognizing the signs means looking beyond stereotypes.

The Texas legal definition (Education Code §37.151) is broad: any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in an organization. Crucially, your child’s “consent” is not a defense under Texas law.

Modern hazing falls into three escalating tiers:

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing – The Foundation of Control
This is often dismissed as “tradition” but establishes dangerous power dynamics. It includes forced servitude (24/7 chauffeur duties, cleaning members’ rooms), social isolation from non-members, “mandatory” events that interfere with sleep or academics, and digital control through constant group chat monitoring and location-sharing demands.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing – Crossing the Line
This causes measurable emotional or physical distress. It includes sleep deprivation through 3 AM wake-up calls, verbal abuse and “grilling” sessions, forced consumption of unpalatable foods (like the milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns inflicted on Leonel Bermudez), and “voluntary” but coerced physical workouts far beyond safe conditioning.

Tier 3: Violent Hazing – Criminal Acts
These are acts with high potential for catastrophic injury or death. This tier includes the forced drinking games that killed Timothy Piazza at Penn State and Max Gruver at LSU, physical beatings and paddling, dangerous physical “tests” like blindfolded tackles, sexualized hazing, and kidnapping pledges to off-campus locations.

The most critical evolution in hazing is its digital footprint and geographic dispersion. Evidence now lives in deleted GroupMe chats and Snapchat stories. Hazing migrates to Airbnb rentals and rural properties to avoid campus oversight. It’s disguised as “wellness challenges” or “team building.” This is what we are uncovering in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case: a multi-located, digitally coordinated campaign of abuse.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Framework for Accountability

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: Your Child’s Legal Protections

Texas has specific statutes criminalizing hazing. Key provisions every Aubrey parent should know:

• §37.151 Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers mental or physical health for purposes of initiation or affiliation. This applies on or off campus.
• §37.152 Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death—exactly the threshold met in cases like Bermudez’s, where rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure constitute serious bodily injury.
• §37.155 Consent is NOT a Defense: This is the most important statute for families to understand. Even if your child “went along with it,” the law recognizes that peer pressure and power imbalance negate true consent. The fraternity cannot claim “he agreed to it” as a legal defense.
• §37.153 Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Justice

When hazing causes harm, two parallel legal processes can unfold:

Criminal Cases: Brought by the State of Texas (via local district attorneys). The goal is punishment: jail time, fines, probation. Charges can range from hazing and furnishing alcohol to a minor, up to assault, deadly conduct, or even manslaughter in fatal cases. In the UH case, Harris County prosecutors are reviewing the facts for potential criminal charges.

Civil Lawsuits: Brought by the victim and their family. The goal is compensation for harms and institutional accountability. This is the path the Bermudez family chose with our firm. A civil case can recover damages for medical bills, future care, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and, in wrongful death cases, funeral costs and loss of companionship.

These paths are not mutually exclusive. A fraternity member can face criminal charges from the state and a civil lawsuit from the victim. One does not depend on the other.

The Web of Liability: Who Can Be Held Responsible?

A robust hazing case looks beyond the individual who handed over the bottle or led the workout. Liability extends to every entity that enabled, ignored, or failed to prevent the harm.

1. Individual Students: The pledge educator who designed the “hell week,” the president who authorized it, the members who participated.
2. The Local Chapter: As a legal entity (often a housing corporation), it can be sued for creating a dangerous environment.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: This is where the real power—and insurance—often resides. Nationals write the risk management policies, collect dues, and have a duty to supervise chapters. When they have prior knowledge of hazing patterns (as Pi Kappa Phi did from the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State), their liability increases significantly.
4. The University: Public universities like UH, Texas A&M, and UT Austin have a legal duty to protect students. They can be liable for “deliberate indifference”—knowing about a substantial risk of hazing and failing to act. The Bermudez lawsuit alleges UH knew or should have known about the systemic abuse at the Pi Kappa Phi house.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, alumni advisors, and even alcohol providers under Texas dram shop laws.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The tragedies that make national headlines are not random. They follow predictable scripts—scripts that are being followed right now on Texas campuses. Understanding these patterns is key to proving institutional negligence.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script: “Big/Little Night”

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge forced to drink a bottle of liquor; died of alcohol poisoning. Settlement: $10 million.
• Max Gruver, LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Pledge forced to drink in a “Bible study” game; died. Led to Louisiana’ Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony.
• Andrew Coffey, Florida State (Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Pledge died after “Big Brother” night involving a handle of liquor. His national fraternity is the same one we are suing in the UH case.

The Physical Endurance & Ritual Script

• Chun “Michael” Deng, Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was convicted of felony charges.

The Catastrophic Injury Script

• Danny Santulli, Univ. of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Pledge suffered permanent, severe brain damage from forced drinking. His family secured multi-million-dollar settlements from 22 different defendants.

What This Means for Aubrey Families: These are not distant stories. The same national organizations named in these cases—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi—have active chapters at UNT, Texas A&M, UT Austin, and across Texas. The “foreseeability” established by their national histories strengthens any case brought by a Texas family. We use this pattern evidence to show courts and insurers that these tragedies are not accidents; they are the predictable results of known, unreformed risks.

Hazing at Texas Universities: A Guide for Aubrey & Denton County Families

Your child’s risk is directly tied to the campus they attend and the organizations they join. Here is what you need to know about the universities where Aubrey students are most likely to enroll.

University of North Texas (UNT) – Denton, TX

Proximity to Aubrey: UNT is located in Denton, the county seat of Denton County, just a short drive from Aubrey. For many Aubrey families, UNT is the most accessible four-year university.

Greek Life & Hazing Context: UNT has a significant Greek community with over 30 fraternities and sororities governed by Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, and National Pan-Hellenic Council. The university publishes hazing policies that prohibit acts causing “mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.”

For UNT Students & Parents:

• Reporting: Incidents can be reported to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities or the Dean of Students.
• Jurisdiction: Hazing incidents may involve the UNT Police Department or the Denton Police Department, depending on location. Civil lawsuits would typically be filed in Denton County courts.
• Action Steps: Document everything. The proximity means evidence and witnesses are close, but also that social pressure to remain silent can be intense. Contacting a lawyer who understands the Denton County legal landscape is crucial.

Texas A&M University – College Station, TX

Connection to Aubrey: As a premier Texas public university, Texas A&M attracts students from across the state, including Denton County. Its unique Corps of Cadets culture presents specific hazing risks.

Documented Incidents & High-Risk Environments:

1. Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Lawsuit (2021): Pledges alleged they were doused with industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The lawsuit sought $1 million.
2. Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): 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.
3. Aggie Bonfire Tradition: While not hazing in the traditional sense, the 1999 collapse that killed 12 students highlighted the extreme risks of unsanctioned, tradition-heavy student activities.

For Texas A&M Families: The combination of a powerful Greek system and the intense, tradition-bound Corps of Cadets creates a high-risk environment. The university’s response often focuses on internal discipline. Families need legal counsel that can navigate both the university’s systems and the Brazos County courts to secure true accountability.

University of Texas at Austin

Transparency as a Tool: UT Austin operates one of the most transparent hazing disclosure systems in the country at hazing.utexas.edu. This public log is a powerful tool for families.

Publicly Listed Violations (Examples):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume excessive milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: Probation and mandatory hazing prevention education.
• Spirit Groups & Others: Various groups have been sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, and punishment-based activities.

What the Log Means for Your Case: This public record establishes prior notice. If your child is hazed by an organization already on this list, it proves the university and the national organization knew this group was a risk. This dramatically strengthens a negligence claim.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

These private, influential universities have their own dynamics. SMU’s affluent Greek culture and Baylor’s history with institutional scandals (the football sexual assault crisis) inform how they handle—and often seek to contain—hazing allegations. Their private status means less public transparency, making aggressive legal discovery through subpoenas even more critical to uncovering the truth.

The Greek Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories Matter

When your child is hurt by a fraternity at UNT or Texas A&M, you are not just dealing with a local club. You are confronting a national organization with a history, an insurance policy, and a legal playbook. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks this complex web. For example, our public records research shows over 510 Greek-related entities in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area alone, including Denton County.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Aubrey & DFW Families
To illustrate the depth of our investigative work, here is a snapshot of the organizational landscape. These are real entities recorded in IRS and state filings that stand behind the Greek letters on campus:

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, EIN 74-2911848, 12650 N Beach St, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Kappa Delta Sorority – Gamma Beta Chapter, Denton, TX (Cause IQ Metro Listing – Texas Woman’s University)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, EIN 36-4091267, 1101 Melrose Dr, Waco, TX 76710 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 26-3170920, 411 Texas St Rm 219, Denton, TX 76204 (IRS B83 Filing – Texas Woman’s University Chapter)
• Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity – Mu Gamma Chapter, EIN 26-2025321, 920 W Prairie St, Denton, TX 76201 (IRS B83 Filing – University of North Texas)
• University of North Texas Fraternity & Sorority Life, Denton, TX (Campus IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC Governance)

This directory matters because each of these entities—the house corporations, the alumni foundations, the national chapters—can hold insurance, assets, and legal responsibility. When we take a case, we don’t just sue the students; we use data like this to identify every potentially liable entity in the chain. This is how we maximize accountability and recovery for families.

National Patterns = Local Liability: If a Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter at Texas A&M forces dangerous physical hazing, the national SAE headquarters cannot claim ignorance. Their own history includes the chemical burn case at A&M, a traumatic brain injury lawsuit at Alabama, and a death at Cal Poly. This pattern shows “foreseeability,” a key element in proving negligence.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages

Pursuing a hazing case is a complex forensic and legal undertaking. It requires an understanding of digital evidence, institutional psychology, and insurance law. Here is how we approach it at Attorney911.

The Evidence That Wins Cases in 2025

1. Digital Communications: Deleted GroupMe chats are recoverable. Instagram DMs, Snapchat streaks, Discord server logs, and text messages form a timeline of planning, execution, and cover-up.
2. Photographs & Videos: The most damning evidence often comes from the perpetrators themselves—phones filled with videos of the hazing they thought was funny.
3. Internal “Pledge Bible” or Manuals: Documents outlining “traditions” and expectations for new members.
4. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same chapter, often obtained through public records requests or discovery. A school’s own files are its greatest liability.
5. Medical Records: These document the direct physical harm, from elevated creatine kinase levels (proving rhabdomyolysis) to psychological diagnoses of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

The Damages Aubrey Families Can Recover

Civil lawsuits seek to make the victim whole and punish reckless behavior. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses (ER, hospitalization, surgery, lifelong therapy), lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, humiliation, trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, love, and guidance for the family.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious conduct or cover-ups, courts can award damages specifically to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

Overcoming the Standard Defenses

We know what to expect because we’ve seen the playbook. Here is how we counter common defenses:

• “They Consented”: Texas law §37.155 nullifies this. We demonstrate the coercive power imbalance.
• “It Was Off-Campus”: Liability is based on duty and control, not zip code. Nationals and universities that sponsor organizations maintain responsibility.
• “It Was Rogue Members”: We subpoena national headquarters to prove prior incidents, inadequate training, and lack of supervision—showing a culture they fostered.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover This”: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense lawyer. He knows how insurers try to deny claims and how to fight for coverage through detailed arguments about negligent supervision versus intentional acts.

Practical Guide for Aubrey Parents, Students & Witnesses

For Parents: Warning Signs & Immediate Steps

Your child may be experiencing hazing if they:

• Have unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Are perpetually exhausted, anxious, or withdrawn.
• Are suddenly secretive about their phone or group activities.
• Show drastic changes in academic performance.
• Express fear of “letting the chapter down” or “getting brothers in trouble.”

What to do immediately:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: Get medical attention. What seems like soreness could be rhabdomyolysis.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot EVERYTHING before messages are deleted. Photograph injuries.
3. Document: Write down a timeline with names, dates, and locations.
4. Seek Legal Counsel BEFORE Reporting: Once you report to the university, their legal team takes over. Talk to us first to understand your rights and preserve leverage.
5. Avoid Critical Mistakes: Do not confront the chapter. Do not sign university settlement offers. Do not let your child go to “one last meeting” to “talk it out.”

For Students: Your Rights & Safe Exit Strategies

• You have the right to be safe. No tradition is worth your life or health.
• You have the right to leave. Text the chapter president: “I resign my membership effective immediately.” You owe no explanation.
• Texas is a one-party consent state. You can legally record conversations you are part of if you feel unsafe or need evidence.
• Good Samaritan/Medical Amnesty: Many Texas schools and laws protect those who call 911 in an alcohol-related emergency from minor disciplinary action. Never hesitate to call for help.

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy a Hazing Case

1. Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” group chats is obstruction of justice. Save everything.
2. Confronting the Chapter: This triggers their defense strategy and evidence destruction.
3. Signing University Paperwork: Universities may offer quick “resolutions” that waive your right to sue for far less than your case is worth.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense investigators monitor everything. Inconsistencies can be used against you.
5. Waiting Too Long: The Texas statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years. Evidence and witness memories fade fast.

Why Attorney911: Texas-Based Hazing Litigation Specialists

When your family in Aubrey or anywhere in Texas faces a hazing crisis, you need advocates who understand the complex intersection of campus culture, Texas law, and high-stakes civil litigation. You need Attorney911.

Our Flagship Case: Fighting for Leonel Bermudez at UH Right Now
We are not theorists; we are frontline litigators. Our active, $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi is a testament to our commitment and capability. We know how to investigate these cases, because we are doing it right now in Harris County court. We know how national fraternities defend themselves, because we are facing their attorneys in active discovery.

Insider Knowledge from Both Sides of the Courtroom

• Mr. Lupe Peña’s Insurance Defense Background: Before fighting for victims, Mr. Peña worked for a national defense firm representing insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, deploy delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. We use this insider knowledge to anticipate and counter their every move. You can learn more about Mr. Peña’s unique expertise on his profile page: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/
• Ralph Manginello’s Complex Litigation & Criminal Defense Credentials: Mr. Manginello’s experience in the BP Texas City explosion litigation proves our firm can take on billion-dollar institutional defendants. His membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal exposure in hazing cases, allowing us to advise clients through dual civil and criminal proceedings.

A Data-Driven Investigative Advantage
Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—built from thousands of public records on Greek organizations—means we don’t start from scratch. We already know how to trace liability through house corporations, alumni foundations, and national headquarters. For Aubrey families, this means we can immediately connect a local incident to the wider network of responsible entities.

We Serve All Texas Families, Including Yours in Aubrey
We are based in Houston, with offices in Austin and Beaumont, but we serve families across Texas. Whether your child was hazed at UNT in our own Denton County, at Texas A&M, at UT, or anywhere else, our expertise is statewide. Hazing cases are won with deep investigation and legal strategy, not geographic convenience. We are ready to help.

Your Next Step: A Confidential Consultation with Attorney911

If you suspect or know that your child has been hazed, time is the most critical factor. Evidence disappears. Witnesses are coached. Universities begin their internal processes.

We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation to every family we speak with. In this conversation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have already gathered.
• Explain the legal options available under Texas law.
• Discuss the realistic paths forward, including potential timelines.
• Answer your questions about the process and our contingency-fee structure (you pay nothing unless we win your case).

You are not alone. The traditions of silence and shame end with you. Taking action holds individuals and institutions accountable and, most importantly, can prevent another family from enduring this pain.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 today.

Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070
Website: https://attorney911.com
Hablamos Español: Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com

For Aubrey, for Denton County, and for all Texas families—we are here to help.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:

• 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 Eyewitness News 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:

• Using Your Cellphone 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 a Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Website & Profiles:

• Main Website & Contact: https://attorney911.com
• Lupe Peña Attorney Profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/
• Wrongful Death Practice Area: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/

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