The Complete Guide to Hazing at Texas Universities: A Resource for Sherman Families

A Sherman Parent’s Worst Nightmare

You dropped your son off at his university dorm in August, proud and hopeful. Now, your phone rings late on a November night. His voice is weak, confused. He says he’s been in the hospital. Doctors are talking about kidney failure. Through pain and shame, he admits it happened during a fraternity “workout.” The student you sent off to college is now a victim, facing permanent physical damage, and you’re left with questions, anger, and fear. How did this happen? Who is responsible? What can you do?

For families in Sherman, Denison, and throughout Grayson County, this nightmare is not hypothetical. It is happening right now at campuses across Texas, including schools where our Sherman students enroll. The traditions meant to build brotherhood and sisterhood are sometimes twisted into rituals of abuse, with devastating consequences. This guide is written specifically for you—parents, grandparents, and students in the Sherman area—to provide clarity, knowledge, and a path forward when hazing shatters the college experience.

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: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek professional evaluation immediately. Internal injuries like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
   • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), texts, and DMs.
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles with good lighting.
   • Save any physical items (specific clothing, paddles, “pledge” items).
3. Document Everything: Write down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, specific acts—while their memory is fresh.
4. DO NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
   • Sign any documents from the university or an insurance company.
   • Post details on public social media.
   • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” their phone.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears at digital speed. Universities and organizations move quickly to control the narrative. We can help you preserve evidence, protect your child’s rights, and begin building accountability. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

Hazing has evolved far beyond the stereotypical “prank.” It is a calculated pattern of coercion, humiliation, and abuse designed to test loyalty through suffering. For Sherman families whose students may be hours away at school, understanding these modern tactics is critical to recognizing danger.

A Modern Definition

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, maintaining membership, or gaining status within a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. The central lie of hazing is that “consent” matters—in reality, the power imbalance between new members and established members, combined with intense social pressure and fear of exclusion, renders true consent impossible.

Main Categories of Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and deadly form. It includes forced consumption during “lineups,” “family tree” drinking games, Big/Little reveal nights, and chugging challenges. The goal is often rapid incapacitation.

2. Physical Hazing

• Paddling and Beatings: Despite national bans, physical beatings persist, especially in certain traditions.
• Extreme Calisthenics: “Smokings” or workouts involving hundreds of push-ups, squats, or wall-sits until collapse.
• Exposure and Deprivation: Being left outside in extreme cold/heat, sleep deprivation, food/water restriction.
• Dangerous “Tests”: Blindfolded tackles, “glass ceiling” rituals, forced fights.

3. Psychological and Sexualized Hazing

• Humiliation: Forced nudity, degrading costumes, public shaming, “roasts.”
• Sexualized Acts: Simulated sexual acts, “elephant walks,” coerced viewing of pornography.
• Isolation and Control: Cutting off contact with non-members, requiring constant availability via group chat.

4. Digital Hazing
This is the new frontier. It includes:

• 24/7 Group Chat Control: Pledges required to respond instantly to messages at all hours.
• Social Media Humiliation: Forced to post embarrassing content on TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat.
• Location Tracking: Mandated use of Find My Friends or Life360 so movements can be monitored.
• Documentation and Sharing: Hazing acts are filmed and shared in private groups for entertainment.

Where Hazing Happens

While fraternities and sororities are most associated with hazing, it permeates many groups:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural councils)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Spirit and Tradition Organizations (like Texas Cowboys or Aggie Band)
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Clubs

The common thread is a hierarchy where existing members wield power over new members in the name of “tradition,” “bonding,” or “earning your place.”

Law & Liability Framework: Texas Law and Your Rights

For Sherman families navigating a hazing crisis, understanding the legal landscape is empowering. Texas has specific laws, and federal statutes create additional layers of potential accountability.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas defines hazing broadly and treats it as a serious offense. Under Texas Education Code §37.151, hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in any organization that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student.

Key Provisions for Sherman Families:

• Criminal Penalties (§37.152): Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury requiring medical treatment, and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Organizational Liability (§37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing, or if an officer knew and failed to report it.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): This is crucial. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is not a defense to prosecution. The law recognizes the coercive environment of pledging.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): A person who reports hazing in good faith to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability. Many universities also have medical amnesty policies to encourage calling 911.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

Criminal Cases

• Brought by: The State of Texas (local county or district attorney).
• Goal: Punishment (jail time, fines, probation).
• Charges: Can range from hazing and furnishing alcohol to a minor, to assault, and in fatal cases, manslaughter or felony hazing.

Civil Lawsuits

• Brought by: Victims and their families.
• Goal: Compensation for damages and institutional accountability.
• Claims: Can include negligence, gross negligence, negligent supervision, wrongful death, and emotional distress.

These cases can proceed simultaneously. A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil lawsuit; they have different standards of proof. A civil case can uncover facts and force accountability even if criminal charges are never filed.

Federal Law Overlay

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs, with full implementation by 2026.
• Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, a school’s Title IX obligations are triggered.
• Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain campus crimes; hazing incidents that involve assault or alcohol crimes may be Clery-reportable.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Liability often extends beyond the individual who delivered the punch or poured the drink. We investigate the full chain of responsibility:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. Local Chapter/Organization: The fraternity or sorority chapter as an entity.
3. National Headquarters: The fraternity/sorority national organization that sets policies, collects dues, and oversees chapters. They can be liable for failing to adequately supervise or for ignoring known patterns of misconduct.
4. The University: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision if they knew or should have known about a dangerous pattern and failed to act. Public universities like UT or Texas A&M have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence.
5. Third Parties: Property owners (landlords of off-campus houses), bars that overserved alcohol (under Texas dram shop law), or security companies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Repeat

The tragic hazing stories that make national news are not random, isolated events. They follow predictable scripts. Understanding these patterns shows Sherman families that what happened to their child is part of a documented, foreseeable national crisis.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script

This is the most common fatal pattern, repeated with horrifying similarity.

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid-acceptance night of extreme drinking led to fatal falls. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours, captured on chapter house security cameras. The case resulted in dozens of criminal charges and Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant forced drinking. Max died with a 0.495% BAC. The Max Gruver Act made hazing a felony in Louisiana.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): A “Big Brother” night where pledges were given handles of liquor. Andrew died of alcohol poisoning, leading FSU to suspend all Greek life.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): A pledge was forced to drink a bottle of liquor. He died from alcohol poisoning. The case resulted in a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university) and criminal convictions.

Takeaway for Sherman Families: The “Big/Little” event, the drinking game, the handle of liquor—these are not accidents. They are predictable, repeated rituals that national fraternities have known are deadly for decades.

The Physical Ritual Script

When hazing turns violently physical, the results are catastrophic.

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): At a retreat, Michael was blindfolded, weighted with a backpack, and repeatedly tackled in a “glass ceiling” ritual. He died from traumatic brain injury. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli – Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): An 18-year-old pledge was forced to drink until his BAC reached 0.468%. He survived but suffered permanent, severe brain damage, leaving him unable to walk, talk, or see, requiring 24/7 care for life. His family settled with 22 defendants.

The Athletic and Institutional Hazing Script

Hazing is not confined to Greek life.

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Players alleged widespread sexualized and racist hazing within the program. Multiple lawsuits led to the firing of the head coach and confidential settlements, revealing systemic abuse in a major athletic program.
• Robert Champion – Florida A&M Marching Band (2011): A drum major died after a brutal hazing ritual on a band bus. FAMU was held fully liable, settling for over $1 million, proving liability extends far beyond fraternities.

What These Cases Mean for You: These national precedents create a legal roadmap. They establish that institutions can be held liable, that national patterns matter, and that juries will award significant compensation to hold powerful organizations accountable. When we take a case for a Sherman family, we are building on this established foundation of legal accountability.

Texas Focus: Where Sherman Students Go to School

Sherman students enroll in universities across Texas. Whether at the local Austin College, a major state university like Texas A&M or UT, or a private school like SMU or Baylor, the risk of hazing exists. Here is what families need to know about the campuses their children attend.

University of Houston (UH)

Relevance to Sherman: As a major metropolitan university, UH attracts students from across Texas, including North Texas families seeking a large, diverse campus experience.

Recent Major Case – The Flagship Example: Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi
Right now, we are actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in the country, which serves as a stark lesson for all Texas families, including those in Sherman.

In Fall 2025, UH transfer student Leonel Bermudez pledged the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. The hazing he endured was systematic and brutal:

• Humiliation: Carrying a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 filled with condoms, sex toys, and nicotine devices.
• Forced Labor: Hours-long “study” blocks, overnight chauffeuring duties, mandatory interviews.
• Physical Torture: Sprints, bear crawls, and “save-your-brother” drills. Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.” Lying in vomit-soaked grass.
• The Breaking Point: On November 3, he was forced to do 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. Days later, he collapsed, passing brown urine. He was hospitalized for four days and diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, facing a risk of permanent kidney damage.

We filed a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the chapter’s housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The chapter was swiftly shut down. This case, covered by Click2Houston and ABC13, is a live demonstration of our firm’s commitment to fighting institutional hazing.

UH’s Greek Life Landscape: UH hosts a large Greek community with multiple governing councils. A past Pi Kappa Alpha case in 2016 involved a pledge suffering a lacerated spleen. The university’s response to our current Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—calling the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promising cooperation—shows the serious stakes involved.

For Sherman Families with Students at UH: Document everything. UHPD and Houston Police may have jurisdiction depending on location. Civil suits are filed in Harris County courts. Prior incidents at UH can be used to show a pattern of known risk.

Texas A&M University

Relevance to Sherman: As Texas’s flagship land-grant university, A&M is a common destination for high-achieving students from Sherman and Grayson County. Its unique Corps of Cadets culture presents specific hazing risks.

Corps of Cadets and Greek Life Incidents:

• Corps Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. He sought over $1 million in damages.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns (2021): Pledges alleged being covered with substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.
• Discipline Transparency: Texas A&M generally has fewer publicly listed hazing violations than UT, but serious cases emerge through lawsuits and news reports, indicating incidents occur both within Greek life and the Corps.

For Sherman Families with Students at A&M: Be aware of the dual risk environments: traditional Greek life and the intense, tradition-heavy Corps culture. Reporting can go through Student Conduct or the Corps chain of command. Brazos County courts handle local litigation.

University of Texas at Austin

Relevance to Sherman: UT Austin is a top-tier academic destination. Its relative transparency about hazing violations provides a clear window into the problem.

Public Hazing Violations Log:
UT maintains one of the most transparent public hazing logs in Texas. Recent entries include:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume excessive milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Chapter placed on probation.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.
• Multiple Organizations: Various fraternities and sororities appear for alcohol misuse, forced activities, and psychological hazing.

For Sherman Families with Students at UT: Use the public violation log. If your child’s organization is listed, it strengthens a claim that the university and the national organization had prior knowledge of risky behavior. Travis County courts handle litigation.

Southern Methodist University (SMU)

Relevance to Sherman: SMU’s private, affluent campus in Dallas is within reach for Sherman families. Its strong Greek life presence carries inherent hazing risks.

Private University Dynamics:

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): The chapter was suspended after reports of paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.
• Reporting: As a private institution, SMU has less public transparency than state schools, but internal disciplinary records can be obtained through litigation discovery.
• Greek Culture: SMU’s Greek system is socially central, which can increase pressure to participate in and tolerate hazing to gain social standing.

For Sherman Families with Students at SMU: Understand that while public records may be scarce, the legal tools of discovery in a lawsuit can uncover internal reports and prior incidents. Dallas County courts have jurisdiction.

Baylor University