A City of Devine Family’s Complete Guide to Texas Hazing: Laws, Lawsuits, and Holding Campuses Accountable
We understand that sending your child to college is a moment of immense pride and hope for any family in Devine. The journey from our community to campuses across Texas represents a future full of promise. Yet, that future can be shattered in an instant by the hidden, dangerous world of campus hazing. When a call comes in the middle of the night, or your student returns home injured and withdrawn, the confusion and fear can be overwhelming. You are not alone, and what you are facing has a name under Texas law: it is hazing, and it is a serious crime.
Right now, we are actively litigating one of the most severe hazing cases in Texas history, representing Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. This is not a distant news story; it is proof of what we do every day for Texas families. If your son or daughter has been hurt in connection with a fraternity, sorority, Corps program, athletic team, or any campus group, this guide is for you. We will explain what hazing really looks like today, the full scope of Texas law, and the practical steps Devine families can take to protect their children and seek accountability.
Immediate Help for a Hazing Emergency
If your child is in danger or seriously injured RIGHT NOW:
- Call 911 for immediate medical assistance.
- Then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason.
In the Critical First 48 Hours:
- Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” a medical evaluation is essential. Injuries like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) or internal trauma may not be immediately apparent.
- Preserve Evidence BEFORE It Disappears:
- Screenshot Everything: Capture full group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text messages, and social media DMs. Show sender names and timestamps.
- Photograph Injuries: Take clear pictures from multiple angles. Document any bruising, cuts, burns, or other marks over several days as they may change.
- Save Physical Items: Do not wash clothing worn during the incident. Secure any objects used (if safe to do so).
- Write It Down: Have your child write a detailed account of what happened, including names, dates, times, and locations, while their memory is fresh.
- What NOT to Do:
- Do NOT confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
- Do NOT let your child delete any digital messages or “clean up” their phone.
- Do NOT sign any documents from the university or any insurance company.
- Do NOT discuss details on public social media.
Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24-48 hours. Evidence vanishes quickly—group chats are deleted, witnesses are coached, and institutions move to control the narrative. We can help you navigate this crisis from the very first moment.
What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes
Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or harmless tradition. 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 initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group. For Devine families, understanding the modern reality is critical.
The Evolution from Paddles to Phones:
While physical violence persists, today’s hazing is often a 24/7 digital torture chamber combined with psychological warfare and disguised abuse.
- Digital Control & Humiliation: Pledges are required to be on-call via GroupMe, responding instantly to all hours. They may be forced to post embarrassing content on social media, share live locations, or participate in degrading “challenges” filmed for group chats.
- Disguised as “Wellness” or “Training”: Extreme, dangerous physical exertion is framed as “mandatory workouts” or “conditioning.” Sleep deprivation is part of “study blocks.” Forced alcohol consumption is a “big/little bonding night.”
- The “It’s Optional” Loophole: Activities are presented as voluntary, but the social cost of refusing—ostracism, denial of a “big,” being labeled “not a team player”—makes them coercively mandatory.
The Four Categories of Modern Hazing:
- Alcohol & Substance Hazing: The most common and deadly. This includes forced consumption during “lineups,” drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean drinking, and being pressured to consume unknown mixtures or dangerous amounts.
- Physical Hazing: Beatings, paddling, “smokings” (extreme calisthenics to the point of collapse), exposure to extreme elements, sleep deprivation, and food/water restriction.
- Sexualized & Degrading Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, humiliating costumes or positions, and acts with racist, sexist, or homophobic overtones.
- Psychological Hazing: Verbal abuse, isolation from friends and family, threats, manipulation, and forced confessions designed to break down a person’s sense of self.
This abuse happens in fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, spirit groups like the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, marching bands, and other campus organizations. The common thread is a power imbalance, a culture of secrecy, and the exploitation of a young person’s desire to belong.
Texas Hazing Law: The Legal Framework Protecting Your Child
Texas has strong hazing statutes, and understanding them is your family’s first step toward accountability. The law is found in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F.
Key Provisions for Devine Families:
- Definition (§37.151): Hazing is broadly defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers a student’s physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with a group. It can occur on or off campus.
- Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): This is crucial. Even if your child “went along with it,” even if they felt pressure to participate, it is still legally hazing. The law recognizes that true consent cannot exist under peer pressure and power imbalance.
- Criminal Penalties (§37.152): Hazing is a crime.
- Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
- Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury.
- State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
- Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): A person who reports hazing in good faith to authorities is immune from civil or criminal liability. Many universities also have medical amnesty policies to encourage calling 911 in alcohol emergencies.
- **Organizational Liability (§37
