For Parents in Seguin and Guadalupe County: A Complete Guide to Texas Hazing Laws, Fraternity Accountability, and Protecting Your Student
The call comes late. Your child, a freshman at a Texas university, sounds distant and exhausted. They brush off your concerns—”Everything’s fine, just busy with the group.” But you notice the bruises they can’t explain, the drastic weight loss, the way they jump when their phone buzzes with another group chat demand. The vibrant young person you sent to college is retreating, hiding something. In Seguin, with our deep community ties and families proudly sending students to schools across the state, this quiet crisis feels especially close to home. It’s the unsettling reality of modern hazing: not just rowdy partying, but a calculated pattern of coercion, abuse, and secrecy that can leave permanent physical and psychological scars.
Right now, we are actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas, demonstrating exactly what families are up against and how the law can respond. We represent Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The allegations from fall 2025 are a stark blueprint for institutional failure: pledges were forced to carry humiliating “pledge fanny packs” 24/7, subjected to sleep deprivation and overnight driving duties, and endured extreme physical abuse. This included being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced to overconsume milk and hot dogs until vomiting, and ordered through brutal workouts of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats. The result for Mr. Bermudez was catastrophic: rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown), acute kidney failure, brown urine, and a four-day hospitalization with a risk of permanent kidney damage. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter was suspended and then voted to surrender its charter, while UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”
This is not an isolated horror story. It is the predictable outcome of known, repeated patterns within Greek systems. This guide is written for you—parents and families in Seguin, New Braunfels, McQueeney, and across Guadalupe County. We will explain what hazing truly looks like in 2025, the Texas laws designed to protect your child, the documented histories of organizations at campuses like Texas Lutheran University right here in Seguin, and the legal pathways to accountability and recovery. You are not alone, and you have more power than you may think.
IMMEDIATE HELP FOR A HAZING EMERGENCY
If you suspect your child is in immediate danger, do not wait:
- Call 911 for any medical emergency.
- Then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We are Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason.
- In the first 48 hours: Secure medical care. Help your child preserve ALL digital evidence—screenshots of group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts), photos of injuries, saved videos. Write down everything they tell you. Do not let them delete anything.
- Do NOT: Confront the fraternity/sorority directly, sign any documents from the university or an insurance company, or post details on social media. Contact our experienced hazing attorneys first.
Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes
Hazing is no longer just about “hell week” or silly pranks. It is a spectrum of abusive behaviors designed to assert power and create loyalty through fear and degradation. Under Texas law, it is 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 a group. Crucially, a victim’s “consent” is not a defense; the law recognizes the intense peer pressure and power imbalance at play.
Today’s hazing often involves sophisticated tactics to evade detection:
- Digital Coercion & Surveillance: 24/7 group chat mandates, required location sharing via Snapchat or Find My Friends, and social media policing.
- “Voluntary” But Mandatory Activities: Events framed as “optional bonding” that carry severe social penalties for non-participation.
- Off-Site “Retreats”: Moving the most violent hazing to Airbnbs, remote cabins, or private homes away from campus cameras.
- Disguised Abuse: Brutal physical punishment labeled as “workout challenges,” sleep deprivation as “study blocks,” and forced alcohol consumption as “big/little reveal traditions.”
The core categories remain: alcohol/substance hazing (forced drinking games, lineups), physical hazing (paddling, extreme calisthenics, exposure), sexualized hazing (forced nudity, simulated acts), and psychological hazing (isolation, humiliation, threats).
The Texas Legal Framework: Criminal Penalties and Civil Rights
Texas takes hazing seriously through Education Code Chapter 37, Subchapter F. The statute provides clear tools for accountability:
- 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 can also be charged for failing to report hazing or retaliating against someone who does.
- 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.
- Immunity for Reporters: Those who in good faith report hazing or call for emergency medical help are granted immunity from civil or criminal liability for their own minor involvement (like underage drinking). This “Good Samaritan” provision is critical.
- Civil Lawsuits: Separate from criminal charges, victims and families can file civil suits for damages. These cases focus on negligence (failure to exercise reasonable care), negligent supervision (by the national organization or university), premises liability, and wrongful death. The legal targets can include individual perpetrators, the local chapter, the national headquarters, the university, and property owners.
Federal laws also intersect. The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) requires colleges to report incidents more transparently. Title IX applies if hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, and the Clery Act mandates reporting of certain campus crimes.
The National Playbook: How History Repeats Itself
The tragedy at UH follows a well-worn national script. These are not unpredictable accidents; they are foreseeable failures. Consider these patterns:
- Alcohol Poisoning Deaths: Timothy Piazza (Beta Theta Pi, Penn State) died after a bid acceptance night with forced drinking and delayed help. Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha, Bowling Green) died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol, leading to a $10 million settlement. Max Gruver (Phi Delta Theta, LSU) died during a “Bible study” drinking game, spurring Louisiana’s felony hazing law.
- Physical Ritual Deaths: Chun “Michael” Deng (Pi Delta Psi, Baruch College) died from traumatic brain injury during a blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at an off-campus retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted.
- Severe, Non-Fatal Injuries: Danny Santulli (Phi Gamma Delta, University of Missouri) suffered permanent brain damage from forced drinking, resulting in multi-million dollar settlements. Texas A&M Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledges suffered severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts after substances were poured on them.
These cases establish a critical legal principle: foreseeability. When a national fraternity has seen chapters cause death or catastrophic injury through specific rituals (e.g., Big/Little drinking nights, forced consumption, violent workouts), it cannot claim ignorance when the same pattern emerges at another chapter. This history forms the backbone of a powerful civil negligence claim.
The Texas University Ecosystem: Where Seguin Families Send Their Students
Our children from Seguin and Guadalupe County attend universities across Texas. Understanding the specific landscape of these schools is key.
Texas Lutheran University (In Seguin, Guadalupe County)
For many in our community, the hazing conversation starts close to home. Texas Lutheran University, located right here in Seguin, fosters a close-knit campus environment with a variety of student organizations.
- Campus Snapshot: As a smaller private university, TLU’s Greek life and student groups operate within a community where relationships are close, which can both help and complicate reporting dynamics.
- Hazing Policy & Response: TLU, like all Texas institutions, is bound by the state’s anti-hazing law. Incidents would be handled through the Dean of Students office and could involve the Seguin Police Department if off-campus. The university has a duty to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action.
- For Seguin Families: You have a unique advantage—proximity. Trust your instincts if your student’s behavior changes drastically. Reporting can be made directly to TLU administrators. Given the local context, a hazing case might involve the Guadalupe County courts and would be investigated by the Seguin Police Department for off-campus incidents.
Major State University Hubs for Seguin Students
Many Seguin students also head to larger state schools, each with its own documented hazing challenges.
University of Houston (UH): As the home of our active Bermudez case, UH is a focal point. Beyond Pi Kappa Phi, past incidents include a Pi Kappa Alpha case where a pledge suffered a lacerated spleen. Cases here may involve Houston PD and Harris County courts.
Texas A&M University: The Corps of Cadets and a massive Greek system create distinct risks. A Sigma Alpha Epsilon lawsuit alleged pledges suffered chemical burns. A Corps of Cadets lawsuit described cadets being bound in degrading “roasted pig” poses. These cases highlight hazing beyond traditional Greek life.
University of Texas at Austin: UT maintains a public Hazing Violations log, offering unusual transparency. Entries show sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced milk consumption and calisthenics, and spirit groups for forced workouts. This public record can be powerful evidence in a civil case.
Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University: These private schools have seen their share of incidents, from Kappa Alpha Order suspensions at SMU for paddling and forced drinking to Baylor baseball team hazing suspensions. Their private status affects transparency but not liability.
Public Records Directory: The Texas Greek Organizations Behind the Letters
At Attorney911, we maintain a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built from public IRS data, university records, and commercial databases. This investigative depth means we don’t start from scratch. For Seguin families, understanding the network of legally recognized entities is crucial. Below is a sampling of the over 1,400 Greek-related organizations tracked across Texas.
Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Texas Families:
- Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc (EIN: 133048786) – 3007 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845. IRS B83 filing.
- Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Inc (EIN: 161675890) – 115 Wild Wick Way, The Woodlands, TX 77382. IRS B83 filing.
- Sigma Phi Lambda Inc (EIN: 201237505) – 4251 FM 2181 Ste 230 PMB 480, Corinth, TX 76210. IRS B83 filing.
- Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation (EIN: 371768785) – 4102 Eastshore St, Missouri City, TX 77459. IRS B83 housing corporation.
- Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN: 462267515) – 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035. IRS B83 filing, connected to the UH chapter house.
- Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (EIN: 475370943) – 5019 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77204. IRS B83 filing, Theta Delta chapter.
- Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN: 741380362) – PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147. IRS B83 foundation.
- Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (EIN: 900293166) – 114 Henderson Hall 4233 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843. IRS B83 filing, Texas A&M chapter.
This directory illustrates the complex web of house corporations, alumni chapters, and educational foundations that hold insurance, own property, and bear legal responsibility. When hazing occurs, identifying every entity in this chain is a critical first step we are equipped to handle.
Building a Powerful Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages
Winning a hazing case requires converting outrage into a compelling legal narrative backed by irrefutable evidence.
Evidence Is Everything:
- Digital Forensics: Deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text messages can often be recovered. Social media posts, Instagram stories, and Snapchat saves are critical.
- Documentary Proof: Chapter “pledge books,” emails from national headquarters, university disciplinary records obtained via subpoena.
- Medical Corroboration: ER records must explicitly note “patient reports hazing” to link cause to injury. Follow-up care documenting PTSD, depression, or ongoing physical therapy is essential.
- Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and RAs can break the wall of silence.
Our Strategic Advantages:
Our firm brings unique, battle-tested strengths to these complex fights:
- Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers undervalue claims, use delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. We know their playbook because we helped write it.
- Experience Against Goliaths: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar institutions, national fraternities, or their high-priced defense teams.
- Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Mr. Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand both sides of a hazing case. We can effectively advise clients navigating parallel criminal investigations and civil suits.
- A Proven Investigative Network: We work with digital forensics experts, life-care planners, medical specialists, and economists to build an unassailable case from day one.
Recoverable Damages can include past and future medical expenses, lost educational opportunity, lost earning capacity, physical pain and suffering, severe emotional distress (PTSD, depression), and, in wrongful death cases, funeral costs and loss of companionship for the family.
Practical Guides for Seguin Parents, Students, and Witnesses
For Parents:
- Warning Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, personality changes (anxiety, withdrawal), secretive phone use, constant fear of missing “mandatory” events, sudden financial needs.
- The Conversation: Ask open-ended, non-judgmental questions: “Has anything made you uncomfortable?” “Do you feel pressured to do things to belong?” Prioritize safety over status.
- If Harm is Suspected: Secure medical care first. Then, help your child preserve evidence—screenshot everything. Contact an attorney before reporting to the university to develop a protected strategy.
For Students:
- You Have Rights: You can leave any group at any time. Texas law protects those who report hazing or call 911 in good faith, even if underage drinking was involved.
- Preserve Evidence: Take screenshots of all group chats, photos of injuries, and save any videos. Do not delete anything, no matter how embarrassing.
- Safe Reporting: You can report anonymously to university hotlines, the Dean of Students, or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE).
Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case:
- Deleting digital evidence.
- Confronting the organization directly, prompting them to destroy evidence and lawyer up.
- Signing a university’s “internal resolution” agreement without an attorney’s review.
- Posting details on social media, giving defense attorneys ammunition.
- Waiting for the university to “handle it” while evidence disappears and witnesses scatter.
Why Attorney911 is the Right Firm for Seguin and Texas Hazing Cases
When your family is facing the trauma of hazing, you need advocates who combine relentless investigation with genuine compassion and proven results. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD (Attorney911) was built for legal emergencies exactly like this. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including right here in Seguin, Guadalupe County, and the surrounding communities.
We understand that sending a child from Seguin to Texas Lutheran University, Texas A&M, UT, or any other campus is an act of hope and trust. When that trust is shattered by systemic abuse, you deserve attorneys who will fight to restore accountability. We leverage our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine from the very first consultation, meaning we already understand the organizational landscape behind the Greek letters involved in your case. We are not just personal injury lawyers; we are institutional liability specialists with a track record of taking on the largest defendants and winning.
If hazing has impacted your family, do not navigate this alone. The institutions involved have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters whose goal is to minimize their exposure. You need an equal force on your side.
Contact us today for a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, review any evidence you have, explain your legal options in clear terms, and help you plan a path forward focused on your child’s recovery and holding the right parties accountable. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.
Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070 or via email at ralph@atty911.com. Se habla Español—contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Hazing laws and university policies are complex and ever-evolving. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and evidence. If you believe your child has been hazed, we strongly urge you to consult promptly with a qualified attorney to understand and protect your rights.
The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC | Attorney911
1-888-ATTY-911 | https://attorney911.com
Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
