Hazing Law Guide for Rocksprings Families: Protecting Your College Student in Texas

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

For parents in Rocksprings and across Edwards County, sending your child to college represents hope, opportunity, and a touch of understandable anxiety. You’ve raised them with West Texas values—hard work, integrity, respect. When they join a campus organization seeking connection and tradition, the last thing you imagine is that they could face systematic abuse masked as “brotherhood” or “sisterhood.” Yet right now, in Houston, we’re fighting exactly that battle.

In November 2025, our firm filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez 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 severe: forced humiliation through a “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and sex toys, extreme physical workouts, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, and such brutal exercise that Leonel developed rhabdomyolysis—severe muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown. He was hospitalized for four days and faces ongoing health risks.

This isn’t a story from somewhere else. This is happening right now in Texas, to a student whose family trusted a university and a fraternity with their son’s safety. If your child attends any Texas campus—whether the University of Texas at San Antonio just a couple hours from Rocksprings, Texas A&M in College Station, or any of the 96 universities across our state—you need to understand what modern hazing looks like, how Texas law protects your child, and what legal options exist when institutions fail in their duty to keep students safe.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR ROCKSPSRINGS FAMILIES:

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW: Call 911 for medical emergencies, then call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911
• In the first 48 hours: Get medical attention immediately, preserve evidence (screenshots, photos, physical items), write down everything while memory is fresh
• Do NOT: Confront the fraternity/sorority directly, sign anything from the university or insurance company, post details on public social media, or let evidence be deleted
• Contact us within 24-48 hours: Evidence disappears quickly. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate, confidential consultation

What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

For families in Rocksprings, where community values and personal integrity run deep, understanding modern hazing requires looking beyond outdated stereotypes. Hazing in 2025 isn’t just “boys being boys” or harmless pranks—it’s systematic abuse that exploits power imbalances, uses digital tools for control, and often causes lasting physical and psychological harm.

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing (Often Dismissed as “Tradition”)

• Servitude Requirements: Acting as 24/7 designated drivers, cleaning members’ rooms, running personal errands
• Social Control: Being “on call” via group chat at all hours, requiring permission to socialize outside the organization
• Identity Manipulation: Answering to derogatory nicknames, wearing specific identifying items (like the “pledge fanny pack” in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case)
• Deception: Being told to lie to parents, university officials, or outsiders about activities

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing (Creating Hostile Environments)

• Sleep Deprivation: Mandatory late-night meetings, 3 AM wake-up calls for “activities,” multi-day events with minimal rest
• Food/Water Manipulation: Forced consumption of unpalatable substances (hot sauce, spoiled food, excessive amounts like gallons of milk)
• Extreme Physical “Conditioning”: “Smokings” with hundreds of push-ups or squats beyond safe limits, often framed as “fitness” but actually punitive
• Public Humiliation: Forced embarrassing performances in public, “roasting” sessions with verbal abuse

Tier 3: Violent Hazing (High Risk of Injury or Death)

• Forced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, drinking games where wrong answers mean excessive drinking, lineup chugging challenges
• Physical Assault: Paddling, beating, “branding” with burns or cuts
• Dangerous Physical Tests: Blindfolded tackles (“glass ceiling” rituals), forced fights, swimming while intoxicated
• Sexualized Abuse: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual assault
• Chemical Exposure: Being sprayed with or covered in harmful substances (as in a Texas A&M case where pledges suffered chemical burns from industrial cleaner)

Digital Hazing: The 24/7 Control System

Modern hazing extends beyond physical events to constant digital control:

• Group Chat Tyranny: Platforms like GroupMe, WhatsApp, and Discord where pledges must respond instantly at all hours or face punishment
• Social Media Humiliation: Forced TikTok challenges, Instagram story dares, public shaming campaigns
• Location Tracking: Required use of Find My Friends, Life360, or Snapchat Maps so members always know where pledges are
• Evidence Creation: Recording hazing activities for “internal archives” or entertainment, creating digital proof that can both document abuse and be used for blackmail

For Rocksprings families whose children may be attending universities in San Antonio, Austin, College Station, or beyond, understanding these patterns is crucial. What might sound like “normal college behavior” when your child describes it over the phone could actually be systematic abuse with lasting consequences.

Texas Hazing Law: What Edwards County Families Need to Know

Texas has specific laws addressing hazing, and understanding them is essential for Rocksprings families seeking accountability. The Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, provides the framework that governs cases involving students from Edwards County attending Texas universities.

The Legal Definition Under Texas Law

Under Texas Education Code § 37.151, hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that:

1. Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, AND
2. Occurs for the purpose of pledging, initiation into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students

Key implications for Rocksprings families:

• Location doesn’t matter: Hazing at an off-campus house, Airbnb retreat, or remote location is still hazing under Texas law
• “Consent” is not a defense: Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that the victim’s consent is not a defense to hazing charges
• Mental harm counts: The law protects against psychological harm, not just physical injury
• Recklessness suffices: The person responsible doesn’t need to have intended harm—being reckless about known risks is enough

Criminal Penalties Under Texas Law

The severity of criminal charges depends on the harm caused:

• Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing that doesn’t cause bodily injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine)
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes bodily injury requiring medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death

Additionally, Texas law criminalizes:

• Failure to report: Members or officers who know about hazing and fail to report it
• Retaliation: Against anyone who reports hazing in good faith

Organizational Liability in Texas

Texas Education Code § 37.153 makes organizations themselves liable if:

• The organization authorized or encouraged the hazing, OR
• An officer or member acting in official capacity knew about hazing and failed to report it

Penalties for organizations include:

• Fines up to $10,000 per violation
• University revocation of recognition and campus bans

Protections for Good-Faith Reporting

Texas law provides immunity for those who report hazing in good faith, and most Texas universities have medical amnesty policies that protect students who call for help in alcohol-related emergencies, even if they were drinking underage. This is crucial for Rocksprings students who might fear getting in trouble if they seek help for themselves or others.

National Hazing Cases: Patterns That Affect Texas Students

The hazing incidents that make national news aren’t isolated events—they reveal patterns that repeat across campuses, including Texas universities where Rocksprings students enroll. Understanding these patterns helps families recognize risks and holds institutions accountable for failing to prevent predictable harm.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
A 20-year-old pledge died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event. The case resulted in a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU) and multiple criminal convictions. Pattern relevance for Texas: The “Big/Little” drinking night is a standard script in many fraternities, including Texas chapters.

Max Gruver – Louisiana State University, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
A pledge died from alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%) after a “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking. The case led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony. Pattern relevance: Drinking games disguised as “education” or “tradition” occur at Texas schools too.

Physical Hazing Patterns

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
A pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual involving repeated tackling at a fraternity retreat. The national fraternity was convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter. Pattern relevance: Off-campus retreats are common in Texas Greek life, moving dangerous activities away from campus oversight.

Texas A&M Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021)
Pledges were covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The fraternity was suspended for two years, and pledges filed a $1 million lawsuit. Pattern relevance: This actually happened at a Texas school, showing that extreme physical hazing isn’t just a problem elsewhere.

Why These Patterns Matter for Rocksprings Families

When the same national fraternity that had a death at Bowling Green or LSU has a chapter at a Texas university your child attends, that national organization had notice of the risks. This “foreseeability” becomes crucial in civil lawsuits, as it shows the organization knew or should have known that their traditions could cause harm but failed to take adequate preventive measures.

Texas Universities: Where Rocksprings Students Attend and What You Need to Know

While Rocksprings itself doesn’t host a major university, Edwards County students regularly attend institutions throughout Texas. Understanding the Greek ecosystems at these schools, their hazing histories, and their reporting systems is essential for local families.

University of Texas at San Antonio (Most Geographically Relevant)

For Rocksprings families: Located approximately 130 miles east in Bexar County, UTSA is one of the most accessible major universities for Edwards County students. Its growing Greek life means local students may encounter organization recruitment.

Greek Life at UTSA:

• Fraternities: Alpha Sigma Phi, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Kappa Theta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and others
• Sororities: Multiple National Panhellenic Conference organizations
• Governance: Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council

Hazing Prevention & Reporting:

• UTSA prohibits hazing both on and off campus
• Reporting channels through Dean of Students Office and UTSA Police
• Required anti-hazing education for Greek organizations

Key Consideration for Rocksprings Families: The proximity means incidents at UTSA directly affect our community. When hazing occurs in San Antonio, Edwards County families are impacted.

Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Growing Presence in South Texas:
As part of the Texas A&M system, this campus offers another option for Rocksprings students seeking to stay relatively close to home while attending a respected institution.

Other Major Texas Universities Rocksprings Students Attend

Texas A&M University (College Station)
Distance from Rocksprings: Approximately 250 miles northeast

Notable Hazing Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns (2021): As mentioned above, pledges suffered severe chemical burns
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): Cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound in “roasted pig” position
• Public Records Show: Multiple fraternity suspensions for hazing violations in recent years

Corps of Cadets Context:
The Corps represents a unique hazing risk environment with military-style traditions that sometimes cross into abuse. Rocksprings students drawn to military service should understand both the proud traditions and potential risks.

University of Texas at Austin
Distance from Rocksprings: Approximately 150 miles east

Transparency Advantage:
UT Austin maintains a public Hazing Violations page listing organizations, dates, conduct, and sanctions—one of the more transparent systems in Texas.

Recent Examples from UT’s Public Log:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; chapter placed on probation
• Texas Wranglers (multiple years): Sanctions for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing
• Pattern: Repeated violations show ongoing challenges despite policies

For Rocksprings Families: UT’s transparency allows you to research organizations your child might join, but the repeated violations show policies alone don’t eliminate risk.

Texas Tech University (Lubbock)
Distance from Rocksprings: Approximately 250 miles north

Greek Life Profile:
Major Greek community with both historical patterns of hazing and ongoing prevention efforts.

Baylor University (Waco)
Distance from Rocksprings: Approximately 180 miles northeast

Historical Context:
Baylor’s recent history with institutional accountability issues (Title IX scandals) creates important context for how the university handles hazing reports.

University of Houston
Distance from Rocksprings: Approximately 250 miles east

Current Active Case – Our Firm’s Involvement:
We are currently representing Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against UH and Pi Kappa Phi. The case alleges severe physical hazing leading to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, with specific details including:

• “Pledge fanny pack” humiliation with condoms and sex toys
• Hose spraying “similar to waterboarding”
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting
• Extreme workouts including 100+ push-ups and 500 squats
• Chapter suspension and charter surrender following exposure

For Rocksprings Families: This active litigation demonstrates that serious hazing cases are happening right now at Texas universities, not just in historical cases or other states.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: How We Uncover the Full Picture

When families in Rocksprings come to us with hazing concerns, we don’t start from scratch. We maintain what we call our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a comprehensive database built from public records, IRS filings, university reports, and investigative research that allows us to quickly identify all potentially liable parties and uncover pattern evidence.

Public Records Directory: Texas Greek Organizations

Our database includes detailed information on 1,423 fraternity and sorority organizations across 25 Texas metro areas, including those affecting Rocksprings students who attend schools in the San Antonio area and beyond.

Examples from Our San Antonio Metro Records (Relevant for Rocksprings Students):

• San Antonio Metro Area: 86+ Greek organizations tracked
• Sample Organizations Affecting South Texas Students:
  • Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Mu Epsilon Chapter (Beaumont, TX – serves Lamar University students)
  • Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Lamar University Chapter (Beaumont, TX)
  • Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Alumni Association (Beaumont, TX)
  • Alpha Delta Kappa – Texas Gamma Upsilon (Vidor, TX teachers’ sorority)

Cross-Validated Brand Examples (Organizations Appearing in Multiple Data Sources):

1. Beta Upsilon Chi: Listed in both IRS B83 filings (EIN 74-2911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244) and Cause IQ metro data as operating in Dallas-Fort Worth
2. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority: Multiple Texas chapters in IRS records (Waco, Commerce) and Cause IQ data (Houston, Beaumont chapters)
3. Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi: Numerous campus chapters across IRS and Cause IQ data, showing academic honor societies also maintain formal structures

Why This Data Matters for Rocksprings Families

When your child is hazed, determining liability requires understanding the complex organizational structures behind campus groups. A fraternity chapter isn’t just students—it may involve:

1. National Headquarters: Sets policies, collects dues, provides training
2. Housing Corporations: Own or control chapter properties
3. Alumni Associations: Provide funding and oversight
4. Insurance Carriers: Provide coverage that may be crucial for recovery
5. University Recognition: Creates institutional duties

Our data engine helps us quickly identify these entities, their relationships, and their historical patterns. For example, if your child was hazed by a fraternity that had prior incidents at other Texas campuses, we can obtain those records to show pattern and foreseeability.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Realistic Expectations

For Rocksprings families considering legal action after a hazing incident, understanding the process, evidence requirements, and realistic timelines helps manage expectations during a difficult time.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Evidence (Most Important in Modern Cases):

• Group Chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, fraternity-specific apps
• Social Media: Instagram DMs, Snapchat messages, TikTok videos, Facebook posts
• Recovered Data: Deleted messages recovered through digital forensics
• Location Data: Geo-tags, check-ins, Find My Friends histories

Physical Evidence:

• Photographs of injuries (multiple angles, with scale reference)
• Medical records documenting treatment
• Objects used in hazing (paddles, alcohol bottles, props)
• Clothing worn during incidents

Institutional Records:

• University conduct files on the organization
• National fraternity/sorority incident reports
• Insurance policies and coverage information
• Prior complaints or warnings

Witness Testimony:

• Other pledges or new members
• Former members who left due to hazing
• Roommates, friends, or bystanders
• Medical providers who treated injuries

The Investigation Process

When Rocksprings families retain us for a hazing case, our investigation typically follows this pattern:

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation: Securing digital evidence before deletion, photographing injuries, documenting everything
2. Organizational Mapping: Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine to identify all potential defendants
3. Pattern Research: Investigating prior incidents involving the same organization at other campuses
4. Expert Consultation: Working with medical experts, psychologists, digital forensics specialists, and economists
5. Strategic Demand: Presenting a comprehensive demand to all responsible parties
6. Litigation Preparation: Preparing for trial while seeking fair settlement

Realistic Timelines and Outcomes

Every case is unique, but general patterns include:

• Investigation Phase: 3-6 months for thorough evidence gathering
• Demand/Negotiation Phase: 3-9 months of settlement discussions
• Litigation Phase: If settlement fails, 1-3 years to trial
• Confidential Settlements: Most cases resolve confidentially before trial
• Public Accountability: Some families choose to pursue public trials for institutional change

Damages in Hazing Cases Typically Include:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Psychological treatment costs
• Lost educational opportunities
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• In wrongful death cases: funeral expenses, loss of companionship, family grief

Practical Guide for Rocksprings Parents

Warning Signs Your College Student May Be Being Hazed

Behavioral Changes:

• Sudden secrecy about organization activities
• Withdrawal from family and old friends
• Personality shifts: increased anxiety, depression, or irritability
• Constant exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Fear of “letting the chapter down” or “getting in trouble”

Physical Indicators:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries
• Extreme weight loss or gain
• Signs of sleep deprivation
• Injuries to hands, back, or legs from paddling or excessive exercise

Digital Patterns:

• Constant group chat monitoring and immediate response demands
• Anxiety when phone buzzes
• Deleting messages or browser history obsessively
• Social media posts showing concerning activities

Academic Red Flags:

• Grades dropping suddenly
• Missing classes or assignments to attend “mandatory” events
• Losing scholarships or academic standing

Immediate Steps If You Suspect Hazing

1. Prioritize Safety: If your child is in immediate danger, call 911
2. Medical Attention: Get professional evaluation even if injuries seem minor
3. Evidence Preservation: Help your child screenshot messages, photograph injuries, save physical items
4. Document Everything: Write down what happened while memories are fresh
5. University Reporting: Contact the Dean of Students office (but consult a lawyer first about strategy)
6. Legal Consultation: Contact an experienced hazing attorney before making formal statements

Critical Mistakes to Avoid

1. Letting Your Child Delete Evidence: Even embarrassing content is crucial
2. Confronting the Fraternity/Sorority Directly: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching
3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms: These often include waivers of legal rights
4. Posting Details on Social Media: Defense attorneys monitor everything
5. Waiting for “Internal Investigation” Results: Evidence disappears during delays
6. Talking to Insurance Adjusters Without Counsel: Early recorded statements hurt cases

About The Manginello Law Firm: Why Texas Families Choose Us for Hazing Cases

When Rocksprings families face the nightmare of hazing, they need more than a general personal injury firm. They need attorneys who understand how universities, national fraternities, and their insurance companies fight these cases—and how to win anyway.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

Insurance Insider Advantage (Mr. Lupe Peña):
Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies:

• Value and undervalue hazing claims
• Use delay tactics to pressure families
• Argue coverage exclusions for “intentional acts”
• Set reserves and negotiate settlements

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience (Ralph Manginello):

• One of few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation against billion-dollar defendants
• Federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas)
• 25+ years handling catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases
• Not intimidated by national fraternities with unlimited legal budgets

Current Active Hazing Litigation:
Right now, we’re leading the Leonel Bermudez vs. University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi case—a $10 million lawsuit alleging severe physical hazing causing rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. This isn’t historical experience; it’s current, active expertise.

Investigative Depth:

• Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: 1,423 Greek organizations tracked across 25 Texas metros
• Digital Forensics Capability: Recovering deleted messages, social media evidence, electronic records
• Expert Network: Medical specialists, psychologists, economists, Greek life culture experts
• Public Records Mastery: IRS B83 filings, university disciplinary records, organizational documents

Criminal + Civil Dual Capability:

• Ralph’s HCCLA (Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association) membership signals elite criminal defense capability
• We understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation
• Can advise witnesses and former members with potential criminal exposure

Our Philosophy: Accountability and Prevention

We believe hazing cases are about more than compensation. They’re about:

• Accountability: Holding institutions responsible for known, preventable harm
• Transparency: Forcing sunlight on secretive traditions
• Prevention: Creating consequences that deter future abuse
• Justice: Acknowledging the real human cost of these “traditions”

For Rocksprings parents who have instilled values of respect and integrity in their children, only to see those values violated by organizations that promised “brotherhood” or “sisterhood,” we offer not just legal representation, but a commitment to making things right.

Your Next Steps: Confidential Consultation for Rocksprings Families

If hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to navigate this alone. The university’s first priority is often institutional protection. The fraternity or sorority’s priority is self-preservation. Your priority should be your child’s health, wellbeing, and accountability for what happened.

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation

When you call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911, you’ll receive:

1. Compassionate Listening: We’ll hear your story without judgment
2. Initial Case Assessment: We’ll explain whether you might have a viable legal claim
3. Evidence Review: We’ll discuss what evidence exists and how to preserve it
4. Options Explanation: We’ll outline possible paths forward—criminal reporting, civil lawsuit, both, or other approaches
5. Realistic Expectations: We’ll discuss timelines, potential challenges, and what accountability might look like
6. No Pressure: Take time to decide. The consultation creates no obligation

Our Commitment to Rocksprings Families

• Contingency Fees: We don’t get paid unless we recover compensation for you
• Spanish Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish (Se habla Español)
• Statewide Service: While based in Houston, we serve families throughout Texas
• Immediate Response: We’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason—we provide urgent help when you need it most

Contact The Manginello Law Firm Today

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070
Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com (Ralph Manginello)
Spanish Services: lupe@atty911.com (Mr. Lupe Peña)

Serving Texas from offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, including families in Rocksprings, Edwards County, and throughout the Hill Country and South Texas regions.

Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information about hazing law in Texas. It does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Every case depends on specific facts and circumstances. If you believe your child has been hazed, consult with an experienced Texas attorney for advice about your particular situation. The information in this article is current as of late 2025.