The Complete Guide to Hazing in Texas: What Every Family in Navarro County Needs to Know

If you are a parent in Frost, Navarro County, the moment your child leaves for college is a mix of pride and worry. You hope they find community and success. You never imagine the frantic phone call, the rushed drive to a distant hospital, or the sinking realization that the organization they trusted has caused them profound harm. Hazing remains a dark undercurrent on campuses across Texas, concealed by tradition and secrecy. Right now, families just like yours are navigating the aftermath of severe hazing, seeking justice and accountability. This guide is for you—the Frost parent, the Navarro County family—to understand what hazing truly is in 2025, the legal landscape in Texas, and how to protect your child.

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 are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

In the first 48 hours:

• Get medical attention immediately, even if your child insists they are “fine.”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it is deleted:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, and DMs instantly.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects used).
• Write down everything while memory is fresh: who, what, when, where.
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
  • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
  • Post details on public social media.
  • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

A Texas Case in Real Time: Why This Matters to Families in Navarro County

To understand the stakes, look no further than a case we are actively litigating right now in Harris County. It serves as a stark warning for what can happen when hazing goes unchecked, even at a major Texas institution.

We represent Leonel Bermudez, a former pledge at the University of Houston (UH) who was subjected to horrific hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter in fall 2025. His ordeal included being forced to carry a degrading “pledge fanny pack” at all times, enduring hours-long “study blocks,” and being used as an overnight chauffeur for members. The physical abuse escalated to extreme workouts at locations including the chapter house, a residence on Culmore Drive, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park.

The hazing culminated on November 3, 2025, when Bermudez was forced to complete over 100 push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. In the days that followed, his condition deteriorated until he was passing brown urine and could not stand without help. Rushed to the hospital, he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization with critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces an ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

This is not a historical footnote; it is a current, active $10 million lawsuit against UH, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, the local housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The chapter was swiftly suspended by its nationals on November 6, 2025, and members voted to surrender their charter on November 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” Major news outlets, including Click2Houston and ABC13, have provided detailed coverage.

For families in Frost and across Navarro County, this case is critical proof: severe, injurious hazing is happening at Texas universities right now. The organizations involved—national fraternities and major public universities—are the same ones your children may encounter. We are already fighting this battle.

Hazing in 2025: It’s More Than Bad Pranks

Hazing is often disguised as “tradition,” “team building,” or “bonding.” In reality, 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. It thrives on power imbalance and secrecy.

Modern hazing takes many forms:

• Alcohol & Substance Hazing: Forced drinking games, “lineups,” coerced consumption of drugs or unknown substances.
• Physical Hazing: Paddling, beatings, extreme calisthenics (“smokings”), sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme elements.
• Psychological & Humiliating Hazing: Verbal abuse, isolation, public shaming, forced nudity, or sexually degrading acts.
• Digital Hazing: 24/7 group chat demands, forced social media posts, geo-tracking, and humiliation shared on platforms like Snapchat or Discord.

This occurs not only in fraternities and sororities but also in athletic teams, spirit groups like the Corps of Cadets, marching bands, and other campus organizations. The location—whether a formal chapter house, an off-campus Airbnb, or a remote park—does not change its illegal nature.

The Texas Legal Framework: Your Rights in Navarro County

Texas law provides clear tools to combat hazing, but navigating them requires understanding.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 (Hazing Law):

• Definition: Hazing is broadly defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers physical or mental health for purposes of initiation or affiliation.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals who fail to report hazing or retaliate against reporters can also face charges.
• Key Protection: Consent is NOT a defense. Texas law (Sec. 37.155) explicitly states that a victim’s “agreement” to be hazed is irrelevant, recognizing the coercive power of peer pressure.
• Immunity for Reporters: Those who in good faith report hazing or call for medical help are protected from liability, a critical provision to encourage lifesaving action.

Civil Liability vs. Criminal Charges:
It is crucial to understand the dual paths. A criminal case is brought by the state (DA or county attorney) to punish wrongdoers with jail time or fines. A civil lawsuit, which we handle, is brought by victims and families to secure compensation for damages and hold all responsible parties accountable. These cases can proceed simultaneously, and a criminal conviction is not required to win a civil case.

Federal Overlay:

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires universities to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs.
• Title IX & Clery Act: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, or occurs alongside reportable crimes, federal laws impose additional duties on schools to investigate and respond.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Case?
A thorough investigation aims to identify every entity with responsibility:

1. Individual Students who planned, participated in, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter as an organization.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters for negligent supervision and failing to curb known, dangerous patterns.
4. The University for negligent oversight, especially if it had prior knowledge of risks.
5. Third Parties like property owners, landlords, or alcohol providers.

Where Frost and Navarro County Families Send Their Kids: The Texas Campus Landscape

Students from Frost often attend colleges close to home or venture to major universities across the state. Understanding the Greek ecosystem at these schools is vital.

Local and Regional Campuses:
Many Frost and Navarro County students first attend local institutions like Navarro College or universities within commuting distance. Greek life may exist in different forms at these schools, and hazing risks are still present.

Major Texas University Hubs:
It is common for Frost graduates to continue their education at large state schools with robust Greek systems. The hazing dynamics at these institutions set the tone for the entire state.

1. Texas A&M University & The Corps of Cadets

For many in our community, Aggie traditions run deep. The Corps of Cadets and a large Greek system are central to campus life—and to hazing risks.

• Notable Incidents: The Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) chapter faced a lawsuit after pledges alleged being doused with substances, including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. Separately, a Corps of Cadets member sued the university, alleging degrading hazing including being bound in a “roasted pig” position.
• The Pattern: These cases show hazing permeates both Greek life and official, tradition-heavy military-style programs. The university’s response through its Conduct Office and Corps regulations is often the first arena for accountability.

2. University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin maintains one of the most transparent hazing reporting systems in the state, which provides a window into ongoing issues.

• Public Hazing Violations Page: UT publicly lists sanctions. For example, the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter was placed on probation in 2023 for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Spirit Group Issues: Organizations like the Texas Wranglers have faced sanctions for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing, proving the problem extends beyond traditional fraternities.

3. University of Houston

As detailed in our active Bermudez case, UH is a current epicenter of severe hazing litigation. The Pi Kappa Phi case reveals a system that allowed degrading rituals and physical torture to continue until a student suffered kidney failure.

4. Baylor University & Southern Methodist University

These private institutions have their own significant histories.

• Baylor: Beyond its well-publicized football scandal, the baseball team suspended 14 players in 2020 following a hazing investigation.
• SMU: The Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended for years after a 2017 incident involving paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.

For a Frost parent, the takeaway is clear: no major Texas university is immune. The specific organization may change, but the patterns of coercion, physical risk, and institutional failure repeat.

The Greek Ecosystem Behind the Letters: A Data-Driven Look

When your child is harmed, it is not just by a few “bad apples.” It is often the result of systemic failure within a national organization that has seen this story before. Our firm maintains a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from public records, to map the network of liability. Here is a snapshot relevant to families whose children attend Texas schools:

Public Records Directory: Greek Organizations in Texas
Our investigative work begins with data. The following are examples of Texas-registered Greek organizations (from IRS B83 filings and other public records) that exist within the broader networks connected to major campuses:

• Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 46-3267515, Frisco, TX 75035
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 13-3048786, College Station, TX 77845
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 74-6084905, Houston, TX 77204
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (Theta Delta Chapter), EIN 47-5370943, Houston, TX 77204
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Beta Upsilon Chi, EIN 74-2911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244
• Sigma Phi Epsilon Texas Eta, EIN 82-4398421, Richmond, TX 77406
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (University of Texas at Tyler Chapter), EIN 35-2335400, Tyler, TX 75799

These entities—house corporations, alumni chapters, educational foundations—are part of the financial and operational backbone of Greek life in Texas. In the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area alone, which Navarro County borders, public data suggests over 500 Greek-related organizations operate. When hazing occurs, we use this mapped network to identify every potentially liable entity, from the local chapter house corporation to the national headquarters and its insurers.

National Patterns Matter:
The fraternity that hazes at UH or Texas A&M is often part of a national organization with a documented history of the same dangerous conduct elsewhere. This “pattern evidence” is devastating in court.

• Pi Kappa Alpha: National headlines for the alcohol-poisoning death of Stone Foltz at Bowling Green State University ($10M+ settlement).
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Repeatedly involved in serious injury cases nationwide, including traumatic brain injury lawsuits.
• Phi Delta Theta: The hazing death of Max Gruver at LSU led to felony hazing legislation in Louisiana.

When a national organization fails to root out these known, deadly patterns, it becomes directly liable for the harm its chapters cause.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

If your family is facing this crisis, knowing how a case is built can empower you.

Critical Evidence We Pursue:

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Discord chats showing planning, boasting, or cover-ups. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages.
2. Photos & Videos: Media captured by participants, social media posts, and security footage from houses or nearby businesses.
3. Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” guides, and risk-management reports from the national organization.
4. University Records: Prior disciplinary files on the same chapter, obtained through discovery or public information requests, to prove the school had knowledge.
5. Medical Records: Documenting the full extent of physical and psychological injuries, from ER reports to ongoing therapy for PTSD.

Understanding Damages in a Hazing Case:
A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and hold defendants accountable. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (emergency care, hospitalization, future treatments), lost wages, and costs related to educational disruption (transferring schools, lost scholarships).
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: For the most tragic cases, families can seek damages for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and their own emotional anguish.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious misconduct, courts can award damages to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

Practical Guides for Frost and Navarro County Families

For Parents: Warning Signs and Immediate Steps

Red Flags:

• Unexplained injuries, burnout, or drastic weight change.
• Personality shifts: new anxiety, withdrawal, or defensiveness about the group.
• Being constantly on call for “mandatory” events, even late at night.
• Sudden secrecy or fear about “getting the chapter in trouble.”

What to Do:

• Talk calmly and supportively. Ask open-ended questions: “What does a typical week look for you as a new member?”
• Prioritize safety and medical care.
• Document everything. Take notes of what your child says, with dates.
• Preserve digital evidence. Help them screenshot group chats and social media posts. Watch our video on using your phone to document a legal case for guidance.
• Consult an attorney before reporting. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child’s rights and the integrity of the evidence.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

• You have the right to be safe. “Tradition” is not an excuse for abuse.
• Consent is not a defense in Texas. You cannot legally agree to be hazed.
• If you are in danger, call 911. Texas law provides protections for those who seek help in good faith.
• Preserve evidence. Take screenshots, photos of injuries, and save any physical items.
• **Talk to someone you trust—**a parent, a counselor, or an attorney. You do not have to face this alone.

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family is up against a national fraternity and a major university, you need advocates with specific, proven expertise. We are not just personal injury lawyers; we are strategic litigators built for complex institutional fights.

Our Proven Advantages:

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation: We are lead counsel in the ongoing $10 million Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case. We are in the fight right now.
• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years as an insurance defense lawyer for large companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers try to deny, delay, and minimize claims. This insider knowledge is invaluable for maximizing your recovery.
• Experience Against Goliaths: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have no fear taking on billion-dollar institutions with unlimited legal budgets.
• Investigative Depth & Data: We use our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—mapping over 1,400 Greek entities across Texas—to quickly identify all potentially liable parties. We do not start from scratch.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Insight: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits, allowing us to advise clients comprehensively.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Se habla Español.

We approach each case with empathy for the profound trauma families endure and a relentless commitment to uncovering the truth. Our goal is to secure the compensation and care your child needs while forcing the institutional changes that will protect future students.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child at any Texas campus—whether near Frost in Navarro County or anywhere in the state—you do not have to navigate this crisis alone. The institutions involved will have teams of lawyers working to protect their interests from day one. You deserve advocates who fight just as hard for you.

We invite you to contact us for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, review any evidence you have, and explain your legal options clearly. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis: you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 today:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Local: (713) 528-9070
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Website: https://attorney911.com

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Let us help you find a path forward.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston (KPRC 2): 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 (KTRK): https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Using Your Cellphone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Understanding Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Firm Website:

• Main Site & Contact: https://attorney911.com

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 specific facts, evidence, and applicable law. 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)