The Complete Guide to Fraternity & Sorority Hazing for Families in Wolfforth, Texas: Your Legal Rights & Resources

If Your Child Was Hazed at Texas Tech or Any Texas University, Our Wolfforth-Based Guide Explains Your Family’s Legal Rights

For parents in Wolfforth, the dream of your child’s college experience can turn into a nightmare with one phone call. That call might come from a hospital in Lubbock, from a shaken student at Texas Tech University, or from a university administrator with vague, concerning news about a “pledge incident” or “new member activity.” Suddenly, terms like “tradition,” “bonding,” and “team building” mask a reality of danger, coercion, and injury.

We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, known as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™. In Texas courtrooms right now, we are actively fighting one of the most severe hazing cases in the country—the lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. This case is not an abstract example; it is proof of what we do, the institutions we hold accountable, and the justice we seek for Texas families. Our fight in Houston directly informs how we serve and empower families across Texas, including right here in Wolfforth and Lubbock County.

This guide is written specifically for you—the parents, grandparents, and families in Wolfforth whose children attend Texas Tech University or other campuses across the state. We will explain what hazing truly looks like in 2025, your legal rights under Texas law, the sobering national history of fraternity and sorority abuse, and the critical steps to take if your child has been harmed.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES IN WOLFFORTH & LUBBOCK COUNTY

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:

• Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine.”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects).
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or athletic team.
  • 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 fast. Universities move quickly to control the narrative. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

How Hazing Destroys Lives: The Active Case We Are Fighting Right Now in Texas

Before we discuss general patterns, we want you to know exactly what we are dealing with today. Our firm, through attorneys Ralph Manginello and Mr. Lupe Peña, represents Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its local Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders.

This is not a historical case. The alleged abuse occurred in the fall of 2025. Mr. Bermudez, a transfer student, accepted a bid to Pi Kappa Phi in September. What followed was a campaign of systematic abuse documented in Click2Houston and ABC13 coverage:

• Humiliation & Servitude: A “pledge fanny pack” rule forced pledges to carry condoms, a sex toy, and nicotine devices 24/7. They faced enforced dress codes, overnight chauffeuring duties for members, and weekly interviews under threat of expulsion.
• Brutal Physical Hazing: Activities included sprints, bear crawls, and “save-your-brother” drills at Yellowstone Boulevard Park. Mr. Bermudez was sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass, and made to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then forced to sprint.
• The Final Assault: On November 3, he was ordered to perform over 100 push-ups and 500 squats while reciting the fraternity creed under threat of expulsion. He could not stand without help afterward.
• Medical Catastrophe: Days later, his urine turned brown—a classic sign of rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening muscle breakdown. He was hospitalized for four days with acute kidney failure, facing a risk of permanent organ damage.

The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter was suspended on November 6 and voted to surrender its charter on November 14. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” We are now in active litigation to secure justice, accountability, and the resources needed for Mr. Bermudez’s recovery.

This is the stark reality of modern hazing. It is happening now, at major Texas universities. For families in Wolfforth whose children are at Texas Tech, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any other campus, understanding this reality is the first step toward protection and justice.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or “harmless initiation.” It is a calculated pattern of abuse designed to assert power, create loyalty through trauma, and maintain secrecy. For Wolfforth families, recognizing the signs is critical.

A Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed against a student for the purpose of joining, maintaining membership in, or gaining status within a group, where the behavior endangers mental or physical health or safety. Crucially, under Texas law, a victim’s “consent” is not a defense.

The Four Main Categories of Abuse Today

1. Alcohol & Substance Hazing: The most common cause of death. This includes forced chugging, “lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, and coerced consumption of drugs or unknown substances.
2. Physical Hazing: Beyond simple workouts. This involves paddling, beatings, extreme calisthenics to the point of collapse (like the 500 squats in the UH case), sleep and food deprivation, and exposure to extreme elements.
3. Sexualized & Degrading Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk,” “roasted pig”), humiliating costumes, and acts with racist, sexist, or homophobic overtones.
4. Psychological & Digital Hazing: Verbal abuse, isolation, threats. In 2025, this increasingly happens online: 24/7 monitoring via GroupMe, forced participation in humiliating TikTok challenges, geo-tracking via apps, and social media shaming.

Where Hazing Happens

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

• Fraternities & Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural councils).
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading).
• Military & Corps Programs (like the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets).
• Spirit & Tradition Groups (Texas Cowboys, band, etc.).
• Academic & Performance Clubs.

The common thread is a power imbalance, a culture of secrecy, and the twisted justification of “tradition.”

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Clear Guide for Wolfforth Families

Texas has specific laws to combat hazing, but they only work if families understand and enforce them.

The Texas Education Code: Chapter 37, Subchapter F

Texas law defines hazing broadly and imposes serious consequences:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. If it causes injury requiring medical treatment, it becomes a Class A misdemeanor. If it causes serious bodily injury or death, it is a state jail felony.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 per violation and banned from campus.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas Education Code § 37.155 is clear—even if a student “agreed,” it is still a crime.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Students who call for help in an emergency are protected from liability, even if underage drinking was involved.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). Aim is punishment (jail, fines, probation). Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to a minor, or manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victim or their family. Aim is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. This is where we help families recover costs for medical care, therapy, lost future earnings, and pain and suffering.

These cases can proceed simultaneously. A criminal conviction is not needed to win a civil case.

The Federal Overlay: The Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, & Clery

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs by 2026.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, federal Title IX procedures and liability are triggered.
• Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Lawsuit?

A thorough investigation, like the one we conduct for every client, identifies all responsible parties:

1. Individual Students who planned, participated, or covered up the abuse.
2. The Local Chapter as an entity.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters for failing to supervise, enforce policies, or act on prior knowledge.
4. The University for negligence in supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations.
5. Third Parties like property owners, landlords of off-campus houses, or alcohol providers.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Tragic Script That Repeats

The case we are fighting at UH is not an isolated horror. It follows a decades-old playbook used by fraternities and other groups nationwide. Understanding these patterns shows why institutions are so often found liable.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a bid-acceptance drinking night. Brothers delayed calling 911. The case led to Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of alcohol; died. His family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity).
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. His death spurred Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony.

The Physical & Ritualized Violence Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from brain injuries after a blindfolded “glass ceiling” tackling ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania.

The Catastrophic Injury Pattern

• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, severe brain damage from forced drinking. His family has secured multi-million dollar settlements from over 20 defendants.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Texas A&M (2021): Lawsuits alleged pledges were doused in industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts.

These national precedents matter for Wolfforth families. They establish that fraternities and universities are on clear notice about these dangers. When they fail to prevent a known, foreseeable harm, they are negligent.

The Texas University Landscape: What Wolfforth Parents Need to Know

Wolfforth families are deeply connected to the Texas higher education system. Your children may attend the flagship campus just down the road in Lubbock, or they may be at institutions across the state. Each has its own Greek life ecosystem and history of hazing challenges.

The Greek Life Hub in Your Backyard: Texas Tech University & Lubbock

For Wolfforth families, Texas Tech University is not just a major school; it’s a local institution where your children, neighbors, and friends study. The Lubbock campus hosts a significant Greek community, and our investigative data tracks the organizations behind it.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Wolfforth & Lubbock County Families

We maintain a detailed intelligence engine on Texas Greek organizations. This isn’t theoretical—it’s built from public IRS filings, university rosters, and corporate records. For Wolfforth families connected to Texas Tech, here are examples of the types of registered entities we track:

• Epsilon Nu Housing Corporation, EIN 237359384, in Lubbock, TX 79401 (IRS B83 filing).
• Alpha Omega Epsilon-Beta Alpha Chapter, EIN 473967233, in Lubbock, TX 79416 (IRS B83 filing).
• TKE OP Housing, EIN 475033161, in Lubbock, TX 79423 (IRS B83 filing).
• Gamma Phi House Corporation of Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity, EIN 751283953, in Lubbock, TX 79423 (IRS B83 filing).
• Farm House Fraternity Inc. (Texas Tech University Chapter), EIN 751565336, in Lubbock, TX 79416 (IRS B83 filing).
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (Texas Tech Univ. Health Sciences), EIN 820644459, in Lubbock, TX 79430 (IRS B83 filing).

According to Cause IQ data, the Lubbock metropolitan area is home to 59 Greek-related organizations. These include undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, honor societies, and housing corporations. When hazing occurs at Texas Tech, these are the types of entities that may share liability and hold insurance coverage. We know how to identify and investigate every one of them.

What Wolfforth Families Should Know:

• Reporting: Incidents can be reported to the Texas Tech Office of Student Conduct or the Texas Tech Police Department.
• Jurisdiction: Civil cases may be filed in Lubbock County courts. Criminal cases could involve Lubbock PD or the University Police.
• Action Steps: Preservation of digital evidence from GroupMe, Instagram, and text threads is critical. The social pressure within a close-knit campus community can be intense, making early legal guidance essential.

Other Major Texas Universities Wolfforth Families Attend

While Texas Tech is the local cornerstone, students from Wolfforth excel across the state. Our firm’s expertise covers hazing incidents at all major Texas campuses.

University of Texas at Austin: UT publishes a notable public Hazing Violations log. Entries show patterns: Pi Kappa Alpha sanctioned for forced milk consumption and calisthenics; Sigma Alpha Epsilon sued over a violent assault on an exchange student. For a Wolfforth student at UT, these public records can be powerful evidence of an organization’s known dangerous culture.

Texas A&M University: The combination of a massive Greek system and the Corps of Cadets creates unique risks. We have handled cases involving severe chemical burns in fraternities and disturbing, sexualized hazing within the Corps. The university’s complex governance structure requires attorneys who understand how to navigate it.

Baylor University & Southern Methodist University: As private institutions, their internal processes differ from public universities, but their legal duties to students are no less serious. Baylor has faced hazing scandals within its baseball program, while SMU has suspended chapters for paddling and forced drinking.

The common theme across all campuses is that hazing persists despite policies, and institutions often prioritize their reputation over victim safety in the initial response. Having an advocate who is not intimidated by these institutions is crucial.

Fraternities & Sororities: The National Brands Behind Local Chapters

The letters on a house at Texas Tech or UT Austin are not just a local club. They are franchises of national organizations with decades of documented hazing history. This national pattern is key to proving liability.

For example, the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at UH that we are currently suing is part of the same national organization that faced the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State. Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), which has chapters at nearly every Texas school, has been involved in deaths at California Polytechnic, the University of Texas, and Texas A&M, and traumatic brain injury lawsuits at the University of Alabama. Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) has a fatal pattern from Bowling Green (Stone Foltz) to Northern Illinois University.

When a Wolfforth student is hazed by a chapter of one of these national organizations, we don’t start from zero. We investigate with the full knowledge of that fraternity’s national playbook, its prior incident reports, its insurance carriers, and its repeated failure to curb the same dangerous traditions. This history establishes “foreseeability”—the legal concept that the harm was predictable and therefore preventable.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Recovery

Pursuing a hazing case is a complex undertaking against well-funded opponents. It requires a strategic, evidence-driven approach.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text threads are the modern minute-book of hazing. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages.
2. Photos & Videos: Content posted on Instagram, Snapchat, or shared privately that shows the acts, injuries, or parties involved.
3. Medical Records: Documentation from ER visits, hospitalizations, and follow-up care that directly links injuries to the hazing events.
4. University & National Records: Obtained through discovery, these can show prior violations, inadequate responses, and knowledge of the risk.
5. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and RAs.

We have a detailed video guide on how to start documenting evidence: Our video on using your phone to document evidence.

Recoverable Damages for Victims & Families

The law allows compensation for the full scope of harm:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, costs of therapy, and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, PTSD, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of love, companionship, and guidance.

In catastrophic injury or death cases, settlements and verdicts regularly reach the multi-million dollar range, as seen in the national cases discussed earlier. Learn more about our approach to these serious cases on our Wrongful Death practice page.

Overcoming Institutional Defenses

Universities and national fraternities have sophisticated defense playbooks. They argue: “The student consented,” “It was a rogue chapter,” “It happened off-campus,” or “We have anti-hazing policies.” Our experience, including Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney, means we know these tactics in advance. We build cases to dismantle them by proving systemic failure, prior knowledge, and the coercive nature of the “consent.”

Practical Guides & FAQs for Wolfforth Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme exhaustion, sleep deprivation.
• Sudden secrecy about group activities.
• Personality changes: anxiety, withdrawal, depression.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Requests for money for unexplained “fines” or “activities.”

If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “Are you ever asked to do things that make you uncomfortable?” “What happens if someone says no?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there is immediate danger, call 911.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot everything before it’s deleted. Take photos of injuries.
4. Seek Medical Care: Get a professional evaluation, even for psychological trauma.
5. Consult a Lawyer BEFORE Reporting: Once you report to the university, their legal team takes over. Get independent advice first. We outline common pitfalls in our video: Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case.

For Students: Your Rights & Safe Exits

• You Have the Right to Be Safe. No tradition is worth your life or health.
• “Consent” Under Pressure is Not Real Consent. Texas law protects you.
• Exiting Safely: You can resign at any time. Send a simple text or email: “I resign my membership, effective immediately.” Do not go to a “final meeting.”
• Reporting: You can report anonymously to the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE or to your university’s Dean of Students.

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy a Case

1. Deleting Evidence: The single worst thing you can do. Save all messages.
2. Confronting the Organization: This triggers their defense lawyers and leads to evidence destruction.
3. Signing University Papers: Do not sign any “resolution” or “conduct outcome” without an attorney.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense investigators monitor everything. Let your lawyer control the narrative.
5. Waiting Too Long: Texas has a statute of limitations. Our video explains these critical deadlines.

Why Attorney911 Is the Right Firm for Wolfforth Families Facing Hazing

When your family is in a legal emergency caused by hazing, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand the intricate cultures of fraternities, sororities, and university systems, and who have a proven record of taking on powerful institutions.

Our Texas-Based, Nationally Relevant Expertise:

• We Are Fighting a Major Texas Hazing Case Right Now: Our active litigation in the Leonel Bermudez vs. UH/Pi Kappa Phi case is not just a credential—it is our current reality. We are in the trenches against a national fraternity and a major university, developing strategies that benefit all our clients.
• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense lawyer for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers value claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We use this insider knowledge to secure maximum recoveries for our clients. Learn about Mr. Peña’s background on his profile page.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced billion-dollar defendants with endless legal resources. Universities and national fraternities do not intimidate us. See Ralph’s full background and commitment on his profile page.
• Data-Driven Investigation: We don’t guess. We investigate using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, tracking over 1,400 Greek organizations across the state. We know how to find the housing corporations, alumni groups, and national entities that share liability.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Understanding: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal exposure in hazing cases and can advise clients and witnesses navigating both systems. Explore our Criminal Defense practice for more.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are committed to serving the diverse families of Texas.

We operate on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing unless we win your case. Watch our video explaining how this works.

Your Next Step: A Confidential Consultation for Wolfforth Families

If hazing has impacted your child at Texas Tech, any other university, or even in a high school setting, you do not have to navigate this crisis alone. The institutions involved have teams of lawyers protecting their interests. You deserve an advocate who protects yours.

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

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your family’s legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline the investigation process and potential pathways forward.
• Answer your questions honestly, including questions about costs and timelines.
• Help you make an informed decision about how to proceed.

Time is of the essence. Evidence disappears, witnesses are coached, and the statute of limitations continues to run. Protecting your child’s future and holding the right people accountable starts with one call.

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
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com

Hablamos Español. Contacte a Lupe Peña para una consulta confidencial en español.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Active UH 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 Timeline: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Documenting Evidence with Your Phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Statutes of Limitations in Texas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes to Avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Practice Areas:

• Main Website & Contact: https://attorney911.com
• Wrongful Death Practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/
• Criminal Defense Practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/criminal-defense-lawyers/
• Ralph Manginello Profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/
• Lupe Peña Profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/

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, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
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