The Complete Guide to Hazing and the Law for Mountain City Families: Protecting Texas Students at UH, Texas A&M, UT, and Beyond

If Your Child Was Hazed at College, You Are Not Alone

Imagine this: your son, a first-year student at a Texas university, excitedly accepts a bid to join a fraternity. Weeks later, you notice him returning to his dorm in the early morning hours, exhausted and withdrawn. His texts are cryptic. Then comes the late-night call—he’s in the emergency room, his urine is brown, and doctors say he’s suffering from acute kidney failure after being forced through extreme workouts and humiliating rituals. This isn’t a hypothetical nightmare. This is exactly what happened to Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student, in the fall of 2025. His story, and the $10 million lawsuit filed by our firm, is a stark warning to every family in Mountain City, Hays County, and across Texas.

Right now, our firm, Attorney911, is actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas. We represent Leonel Bermudez in his lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The alleged hazing at UH included a degrading “pledge fanny pack” rule, forced overconsumption of food leading to vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and extreme physical workouts that caused rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring four days of hospitalization. This case is not ancient history; it’s unfolding right now in Houston’s courts, proving that severe, injurious hazing is a present and dangerous reality on Texas campuses.

If you are a parent in Mountain City, Texas, this comprehensive guide is for you. Whether your child attends Texas State University just down the road in San Marcos, has traveled to the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any other Texas campus, you need to understand what modern hazing truly looks like, the Texas laws designed to protect students, and the legal pathways to accountability when those protections fail.

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 the student insists they are “fine.”
2. Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
   • Screenshot group chats, texts, and DMs immediately.
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
   • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects).
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 insurance company.
   • Post details on public social media.
   • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears fast. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

Hazing is no longer just about silly pranks or harmless traditions. It is a calculated pattern of coercion and abuse designed to assert power and create loyalty through fear and degradation. For Mountain City families, understanding the modern faces of hazing is the first step in recognizing it.

A Clear, Modern Definition

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. Crucially, a student saying “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal when there is a profound power imbalance and fear of social exclusion.

Main Categories of Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and deadly form. It includes forced chugging, “lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, and being pressured to consume unknown substances. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH involved forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.

2. Physical Hazing: This includes paddling, beatings, and extreme calisthenics called “smokings.” In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, pledges were subjected to 100+ push-ups, 500 squats, bear crawls, and wheelbarrow races. Other acts include sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme cold—such as being forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass in underwear.

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: This involves forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and rituals with racial or sexist overtones. The UH case included a “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and sex toys that had to be carried at all times.

4. Psychological and Digital Hazing: This modern evolution includes 24/7 group chat monitoring, verbal abuse, public shaming on social media, Geo-tracking demands, and “challenges” shared on TikTok or Instagram. Pledges are often isolated from non-members and live in constant fear of missing a mandatory message.

Where Hazing Happens

While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing pervades many campus groups:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural councils).
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC and military-style groups.
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading).
• Spirit and Tradition Groups (like Texas Cowboys).
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups.
• Some academic, service, and cultural organizations.

The common threads are social status, tradition, and a toxic culture of secrecy that keeps these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Law

For Mountain City families, understanding the legal landscape is empowering. Texas has specific laws, and federal statutes create additional layers of potential liability for universities and national organizations.

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group, that:

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

Key Provisions for Hays County 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.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): Even if the victim “agreed,” it is still a crime. This directly rebuts the most common excuse.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): Individuals who report hazing or call for help in an emergency are protected from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result from the report.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (District Attorney). Aim is punishment (jail, fines, probation). Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, or manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by victims or their families. Aim is monetary compensation for damages and institutional accountability. These cases focus on negligence, wrongful death, and emotional distress.

These proceedings can happen simultaneously. A criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case, and the evidence from one can be critical to the other.

Federal Law Overlay

• 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 or gender-based hostility, it triggers federally mandated investigation and response protocols from the university.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to disclose campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults or alcohol crimes.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. Local Chapter / Organization: The campus chapter as a legal entity.
3. National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to supervise, enforce policies, or for having prior knowledge of dangerous patterns.
4. The University or Governing Board: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or violating duties under Title IX.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, alcohol providers (under dram shop laws), or security companies.

The Bermudez lawsuit against UH and Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters is a prime example of targeting the full spectrum of liable parties.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Repeat in Texas

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not random anomalies; they are patterns. These “scripts” repeat because the underlying traditions and power dynamics are replicated on campuses nationwide, including here in Texas.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid-acceptance night with extreme drinking led to fatal falls. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking. His death led to Louisiana’s felony hazing statute, the Max Gruver Act.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): A “Big/Little” night where the pledge was forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. This led to a $10 million settlement and criminal convictions.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Another “Big Brother” night with a fatal outcome, leading to a system-wide Greek life suspension at FSU.

The Texas Connection: The forced consumption allegations in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case follow this exact, foreseeable script.

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Script

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): A blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat caused fatal head injuries. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania.
• Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): A “pledge dad reveal” led to catastrophic, permanent brain damage from alcohol poisoning, resulting in multi-million-dollar settlements.

The Athletic Program Hazing Script

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements, proving hazing is not confined to Greek life.

What This Means for Mountain City Families: These national cases create legal precedents, establish patterns of “foreseeability,” and show that universities and national organizations are consistently put on notice about these dangers. When the same thing happens at a Texas school, these prior incidents become powerful evidence.

Texas Focus: Where Mountain City Families Send Their Kids

Mountain City, nestled in the Texas Hill Country in Hays County, is part of a vibrant educational corridor. Families here have deep connections to major universities across the state. Understanding the hazing landscape at these specific schools is critical.

Texas State University (San Marcos, Hays County)

5.1.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot
For Mountain City families, Texas State University is not just a major state school; it’s our local campus in the same county. As the largest university in the Texas State University System, it has a significant Greek life presence and a wide array of student organizations. The proximity means many Hays County students live at home or nearby, but they are still fully exposed to campus group dynamics and risks.

5.1.2 Hazing Policy & Reporting
Texas State prohibits hazing as defined by Texas law. Reports can be made to the Dean of Students Office, University Police, or via online reporting forms. The university is required to publish hazing violations under state law.

5.1.3 Documented Incidents & Response
While specific public logs may vary, Texas State has disciplined organizations for hazing-related conduct. The university’s location in Hays County means any local hazing incident would involve coordination between Texas State University Police, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, and potentially the San Marcos Police Department.

5.1.4 How a Hazing Case at Texas State Might Proceed
For a Mountain City family, a case involving Texas State could involve multiple local jurisdictions:

• Criminal Investigation: Could involve Texas State University Police, San Marcos PD, or the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.
• Civil Litigation: A lawsuit could be filed in Hays County district courts or federal court, depending on the parties and claims.
• Potential Defendants: Individual students, the local chapter, the national organization, Texas State University, and the Texas State University System Board of Regents.

5.1.5 What Texas State Students & Parents in Hays County Should Do

• Know that hazing risks exist right here in our county.
• Report incidents to both Texas State’s Dean of Students and local law enforcement if crimes occurred.
• Document everything; proximity can help with quick evidence preservation.
• Consult with a Texas hazing attorney who understands the local Hays County legal landscape.

University of Houston

5.2.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot
UH is a major urban research university with a large, active Greek community. Its significance for this guide is paramount, as it is the setting for the active, flagship Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit we are litigating.

5.2.2 The Flagship Case: Leonel Bermudez
This case is the current archetype of severe physical hazing in Texas. The allegations against the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter include:

• Humiliation: The 24/7 “pledge fanny pack” with degrading items.
• Physical Torture: Sprints, bear crawls, being sprayed with a hose “like waterboarding,” forced overeating until vomiting.
• Medical Catastrophe: The November 3rd workout (100+ push-ups, 500 squats) led to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, brown urine, and a four-day hospitalization.
• Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi national suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025. Members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, 2025. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

This case is proof positive that the worst national hazing scripts are being acted out on Texas campuses right now.

Texas A&M University

5.3.1 Culture of Tradition & Risk
Texas A&M’s unique culture, centered on the Corps of Cadets and powerful traditions, presents specific hazing risks beyond Greek life.

5.3.2 Documented Incidents

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being doused with industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and a lawsuit was filed.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound face-down between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million in damages.

5.3.3 Key Takeaway for Families
The combination of a strong Greek system and the intense, tradition-bound Corps of Cadets creates multiple potential avenues for hazing. Accountability may require challenging both the organization and the university’s oversight of these deeply ingrained systems.

University of Texas at Austin

5.4.1 Transparency as a Tool
UT Austin maintains a public Hazing Violations webpage, offering families more visibility than many schools.

5.4.2 Documented Violations (Examples)

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Has faced sanctions for hazing involving alcohol and physical demands.
• Various other fraternities and sororities appear on the log for alcohol-related hazing, forced workouts, and psychological abuse.

5.4.3 The Value of the Public Log
For a family considering legal action, UT’s public log is a treasure trove. It can demonstrate a pattern of conduct within an organization and prove the university had prior knowledge of problems, which are critical elements in establishing negligence.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

As private institutions, SMU and Baylor have significant Greek life but often have less public disclosure regarding disciplinary outcomes. This does not mean hazing is absent; it means uncovering patterns requires diligent investigation and legal discovery. Both schools have faced hazing incidents within fraternities and athletic teams, underscoring that the problem is universal across university types.

The Greek Ecosystem: National Histories and Local Chapters

The fraternities and sororities on Texas campuses are almost all chapters of national organizations. This connection is legally crucial. National histories of hazing create “foreseeability”—meaning the national headquarters knew or should have known that their chapters were at risk of engaging in the very conduct that causes injury.

Why National Histories Matter in Court

When a Texas chapter repeats a hazing script that has already caused death or injury in Ohio, Louisiana, or Florida, it becomes much harder for the national organization to claim it was an unforeseeable “rogue” act. Their own anti-hazing policies and training materials exist precisely because they are aware of the risk. A failure to adequately enforce those policies can form the basis for liability.

Organization Mapping: Patterns That Follow the Letters

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): National pattern of alcohol hazing deaths (Stone Foltz, BGSU). Present at UH, Texas A&M, UT, others.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Multiple hazing deaths and injury lawsuits nationally, including the chemical burns case at Texas A&M. Present at UH, Texas A&M, UT.
• Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): National pattern including the Andrew Coffey death at FSU. The active UH Bermudez case involves this fraternity.
• Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): The Max Gruver death at LSU. Present on multiple Texas campuses.
• Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ): History of hazing suspensions, including at SMU.

This is not to say every chapter of these organizations hazes. It is to say that the national legal and risk management departments of these groups are acutely aware of the dangerous traditions that persist within their ranks. When they fail to root them out, they share in the liability.

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, and the Attorney911 Approach

Pursuing a hazing case requires a strategic, evidence-driven approach against well-funded institutional defendants. This is where our firm’s unique experience becomes critical for Texas families.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Instagram DMs are the modern smoking gun. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages.
2. Photos & Videos: Content filmed by members themselves is powerful evidence of the acts and who participated.
3. Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, and emails between officers.
4. University Records: Obtained through discovery or public records requests, these can show prior violations and the school’s knowledge.
5. Medical Records: Documenting the direct physical and psychological harm is non-negotiable.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, and roommates are often essential to corroborating the story.

Categories of Damages

• Economic Damages: Medical bills (past and future), lost wages, diminished earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of companionship, emotional suffering of survivors.
• Punitive Damages: In egregious cases, to punish the defendants and deter future conduct.

The Attorney911 Difference: A Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine

Beyond legal skill, we bring an investigative depth specifically for Texas hazing cases. We maintain and utilize a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built from public records to understand the full landscape of liability. This includes:

Public Records Directory: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Texas Families
We track the entities behind the letters. For example, our data includes Texas-registered organizations like:

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 46-2267515 – Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing).
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN 74-6064730 – Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 filing).
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter – EIN 74-6084905 – Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 filing).
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc – EIN 13-3048786 – College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 filing).
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (Theta Delta Chapter) – EIN 47-5370943 – Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 filing).

This directory, built from IRS records and other public data, helps us identify every potential liable entity—undergrad chapters, housing corporations, alumni groups, and national headquarters—ensuring no responsible party is overlooked in our investigation.

Our lead attorney, Ralph Manginello, has over 25 years of experience, including complex litigation against massive defendants like those in the BP Texas City explosion cases. Our associate, Mr. Lupe Peña, is a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and underpay claims. This insider knowledge is invaluable when fighting for Texas families.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Mountain City Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight changes.
• Withdrawal from family and old friends; sudden secrecy.
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, or defensiveness about the group.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Grades suddenly dropping.

What to Do:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “How are things really going with the fraternity/sorority? Is anything making you uncomfortable?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If they are injured or intoxicated, get medical help immediately.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help them screenshot messages and photograph injuries.
4. Seek Legal Counsel Early: Before reporting to the university or confronting the group, consult with us to protect their rights and the evidence.

For Students: Is This Hazing?

• Are you being pressured or coerced?
• Is the activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would you do this if you could say “no” without social consequences?
• Are you told to keep it a secret?
• If you answered yes, it is hazing. Your “consent” under pressure is not a legal defense for them.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Case

1. Deleting Evidence: Do not delete group chats, texts, or photos, no matter how embarrassing.
2. Confronting the Organization: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
3. Signing University Papers: Do not sign any resolution, waiver, or settlement from the school without an attorney.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys monitor everything; inconsistencies can hurt credibility.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, and statutes of limitations run.

Short FAQ

“Can we sue a university in Texas for hazing?”
Yes. While public universities have some sovereign immunity, exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals. The path depends on the specific facts.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law elevates hazing to a state jail felony when it causes serious bodily injury or death.

“What if it happened off-campus?”
Location does not matter. Liability can extend to universities and nationals based on sponsorship, knowledge, and control.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally, two years from the date of injury in Texas, but exceptions exist. Time is of the essence—call us immediately.

Why Attorney911 for Your Texas Hazing Case

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need advocates who are not intimidated by powerful institutions. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) brings a unique combination of insider knowledge, investigative rigor, and a proven track record in the most complex cases.

We are currently leading the fight in the major Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi hazing lawsuit. We are not theorists; we are active litigators in the trenches of Texas hazing law right now.

Our Competitive Advantages:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña knows how the other side values and fights claims.
• Complex Institutional Litigation: Ralph Manginello’s experience with the BP Texas City explosion cases means we know how to fight billion-dollar defendants.
• Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine ensures we identify every liable party.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish and can serve Hispanic families with comfort and clarity.
• Statewide Reach: From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including here in Mountain City and Hays County.

Our mission is to obtain maximum accountability for your family while forcing the institutional changes that will protect future students. We operate on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Call to Action for Mountain City Families

If you suspect your child has been hazed at Texas State University, the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any other campus, you do not have to navigate this crisis alone.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, review any evidence you have, explain your legal options in clear terms, and help you decide the best path forward for your family.

Call Attorney911 Today: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
Se Habla Español: Mr. Lupe Peña provides consultations in Spanish.

Protecting your child and seeking justice starts with a single, confidential phone call. Let us put our experience, data, and determination to work for you.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC. Hazing laws and university policies can change. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and evidence. If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney to review your specific situation.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Website: https://attorney911.com