The Complete Guide to Hazing, Greek Life, and Legal Accountability for Port Aransas and Coastal Texas Families

For Port Aransas parents, the worry begins the moment your child leaves the Coastal Bend for college. The promise of new friendships and lifelong memories is often tied to joining a campus organization. But what happens when the quest for belonging turns into a nightmare of physical abuse, psychological torment, and life-threatening injury? Right now, in Houston, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas, representing Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. This case, detailed in a $10 million lawsuit filed in late 2025, is not an anomaly. It is a stark warning of what can happen to students from Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, and across Texas.

This comprehensive guide is written for you—the families of Port Aransas, Mustang Island, and the entire Coastal Bend—to understand the harsh reality of modern hazing, the legal landscape in Texas, and the specific risks at universities where your children study. From the shores of our island community to the campuses of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UT-Austin, and beyond, we will provide the knowledge you need to protect your student and seek accountability if harm occurs.

Immediate Help for a Hazing Emergency

If your child is in danger or injured, act immediately.

Right Now:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then Call Us: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We are Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason.

First 48-Hour Checklist:

1. Medical Care: Get your child to an ER or urgent care immediately. Document everything. Tell the doctor the injuries are from suspected hazing.
2. Evidence Preservation: Take photos of all injuries. Screenshot every group chat (GroupMe, WhatsApp, text threads), social media post, or email related to the incident. Do NOT let your child delete anything.
3. Secure Physical Evidence: Save any clothing, items, or props used in the hazing.
4. Document Names: Write down the names of everyone involved, the location, and a timeline of events.
5. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team.
   • Post details on social media.
   • Give a statement to the university or any insurance adjuster without an attorney.
   • Sign any documents from the school or organization.

Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911. We provide immediate guidance to protect your child’s health and legal rights. Evidence disappears within days; we help you preserve it.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” Under Texas law (Education Code Chapter 37), hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership. The recent University of Houston case exemplifies its modern, dangerous forms.

The Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Case: A Port Aransas Parent’s Worst Fear Realized

Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student, accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at the University of Houston in Fall 2025. What followed was a systematic campaign of abuse. As detailed in lawsuits covered by Click2Houston and ABC13, Bermudez was subjected to:

• Humiliating Rules: A “pledge fanny pack” he was forced to carry 24/7 contained condoms, a sex toy, and nicotine devices.
• Psychological Control: Enforced dress codes, overnight driving duties for members, and weekly interviews under threat of expulsion.
• Extreme Physical Abuse: “Workouts” at Yellowstone Boulevard Park involving bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, and lying in vomit-soaked grass. He was sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.”
• Forced Consumption: Made to drink milk and eat hot dogs and peppercorns until vomiting, then forced to sprint immediately after.
• The Final Assault: On November 3, he was forced to perform over 100 push-ups and 500 squats while reciting the fraternity creed. He left unable to stand without help.

The result was catastrophic: rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown. He was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels and faces a lifelong risk of permanent kidney damage. The chapter was suspended on November 6, and members voted to surrender their charter on November 14. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

We represent Leonel Bermudez. This active, high-stakes litigation is the level of serious hazing case we handle. For Port Aransas families, it serves as a critical example that this is not a problem confined to distant states; it is happening at major Texas universities right now.

Modern Hazing Methods: Beyond the Stereotypes
Today’s hazing often blends digital control with physical abuse:

• Digital Hazing: 24/7 group chat monitoring, mandatory immediate responses, geo-tracking via apps, forced humiliating social media posts.
• Disguised Abuse: “Mandatory study sessions” that are sleep deprivation, “team-building workouts” that are punitive physical torture, “big/little reveal nights” that are forced drinking events.
• Off-Campus Evasion: Rituals moved to Airbnb rentals, remote parks, or members’ private homes to avoid campus oversight.

Texas Hazing Law and Your Family’s Rights

Parents in Port Aransas need a clear understanding of the legal tools available. Texas has robust hazing statutes, but navigating them requires expertise.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Foundation

• Definition: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers mental or physical health for purposes of initiation/affiliation.
• Criminal Penalties: Ranges from a Class B misdemeanor to a State Jail Felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Critical Provision: Consent is NOT a Defense. Texas law explicitly states that a victim’s “agreement” to be hazed is irrelevant (Sec. 37.155). This defeats the common fraternity defense of “he wanted to do it.”
• Immunity for Reporters: Those who in good faith report hazing or seek emergency medical assistance are protected from prosecution.

Civil Liability: The Path to Accountability and Recovery
A criminal case is pursued by the state for punishment. A civil lawsuit is filed by the victim or their family to recover damages and hold every responsible party accountable. They can proceed simultaneously. In a civil case, we can sue:

1. The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned and carried out the abuse.
2. The Local Chapter: As an organization that authorized or condoned the conduct.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, and ignoring known patterns of abuse across the country.
4. The University: For negligent oversight, deliberate indifference to known risks, and violations of Title IX or the Clery Act.
5. Housing Corporations & Alumni Boards: The legal entities that own property and control finances.

Federal Laws That Apply: The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) requires universities to report hazing data publicly. Title IX applies when hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination. These federal levers add pressure and liability.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: A Data-Driven Look at What Port Aransas Families Face

Our firm does not guess. We investigate using data. We maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, a proprietary directory built from public IRS records, university filings, and organizational data. This allows us to identify every potentially liable entity from day one.

Where Port Aransas and Coastal Bend Students Attend College
Your child’s risk exists on campuses both near and far. Common destinations include:

• Local & Regional Schools: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Del Mar College, Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
• Major Texas Hubs: University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University (College Station), University of Houston, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, Baylor University, Southern Methodist University (SMU).

The Network of Greek Organizations in Texas
Behind every fraternity or sorority name are multiple legal entities that can share liability. For example, our data shows over 188 Greek-related organizations in the Houston metro area alone. Statewide, we track over 1,423 entities. This means when hazing occurs, we know how to find the housing corporations, alumni chapters, and national headquarters that may hold insurance policies and ultimate responsibility.

A Snapshot from Our Public Records Directory: Organizations Relevant to Texas Families

To illustrate the depth of our investigative work, here are examples of registered Greek organizations in Texas. This directory is part of how we build cases for families from Port Aransas to El Paso.

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN: 462267515) – 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter (EIN: 746064445) – 1855 Highway 69 N, Nederland, TX 77627
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc (EIN: 133048786) – 3007 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter (EIN: 746084905) – 4300 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77204
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN: 741380362) – PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M University (EIN: 900293166) – 114 Henderson Hall 4233 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – Theta Delta (EIN: 475370943) – 5019 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77204
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Mu Zeta (EIN: 752609909) – 1205 Monroe St, Commerce, TX 75428

This is a fraction of the data we utilize. When we take a case, we already know the landscape, saving critical time in the fight for justice.

National Hazing History: Why the Same Organizations Keep Repeating Abuse

The Pi Kappa Phi chapter at UH was shut down after Bermudez’s injury. Sadly, this national organization has a history. Andrew Coffey died from alcohol poisoning during a Pi Kappa Phi “Big Brother” night at Florida State University in 2017. This pattern is the rule, not the exception. National histories matter because they prove these organizations were on notice.

Patterns of Tragedy: A National Playbook

• Pi Kappa Alpha: Stone Foltz died at Bowling Green State (2021) after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. The national organization and university paid a $10 million settlement.
• Beta Theta Pi: Timothy Piazza died at Penn State (2017) after a bid acceptance night with extreme drinking, leading to a massive criminal prosecution and new Pennsylvania law.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Pledges at Texas A&M suffered severe chemical burns from industrial cleaner in 2021. At UT-Austin in 2024, a lawsuit alleges an exchange student was assaulted, suffering a broken nose and dislocated leg.
• Phi Gamma Delta: Danny Santulli at the University of Missouri (2021) suffered permanent brain damage from forced drinking, leading to multi-million-dollar settlements with 22 defendants.

For Port Aransas parents, the takeaway is clear: the fraternity your child is rushing has likely faced serious hazing allegations elsewhere. Their national headquarters knew the risks and failed to prevent them at your child’s school. This “foreseeability” is a powerful weapon in court.

Building a Hazing Case with Attorney911: Our Proven Strategy

When your family chooses us, you get more than a lawyer. You get a strategic team with insider knowledge and a relentless approach.

1. Evidence Preservation & Investigation
We act with urgency to secure evidence before it vanishes. Our approach includes:

• Digital Forensics: Recovering deleted group chats (GroupMe, Snapchat, WhatsApp) and social media archives.
• Document Subpoenas: Obtaining internal chapter minutes, national risk-management files, and university disciplinary records.
• Witness Interviews: Securing testimony from other pledges, former members, and bystanders.
• Expert Collaboration: Working with medical experts to document injuries, economists to calculate lifelong damages, and Greek life specialists to explain organizational culture.

As we advise in our educational video, using your phone to document evidence is a critical first step.

2. Overcoming the Defense Playbook
We know how fraternities and universities fight because Mr. Lupe Peña used to be on their side. As a former insurance defense attorney at a national firm, he knows their tactics:

• “Consent” Defense: We counter with Texas law (consent is irrelevant) and proof of coercion.
• “Rogue Chapter” Defense: We use national history and prior incident reports to show a pattern of negligence.
• Insurance Coverage Denials: We litigate to force insurers to pay, leveraging Mr. Peña’s insider knowledge of their strategies.

3. Recoverable Damages for Your Family
We fight to secure full compensation for:

• All Medical Expenses: Past, present, and future lifelong care for catastrophic injuries like rhabdomyolysis or brain damage.
• Lost Wages & Earning Capacity: For a young student, this can mean millions in lost lifetime earnings.
• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain, mental anguish, PTSD, and humiliation.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the unspeakable event of a loss, we seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and your family’s grief.

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win. Learn more in our video explaining how contingency fees work.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Hazing Case

From our experience, families often make well-intentioned errors that damage their legal position. Please avoid these:

1. Delaying to “See What the University Does.” Universities often prioritize damage control. Evidence disappears while you wait.
2. Letting Your Child Delete Messages. Embarrassing group chats are crucial evidence. Preserve them.
3. Confronting the Fraternity Directly. This triggers their defense lawyers and leads to evidence destruction.
4. Posting on Social Media. Defense investigators scour every post for inconsistencies.
5. Speaking to Insurance Adjusters. They record statements to use against you later.
6. Missing the Statute of Limitations. In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file suit. Watch our video on Texas statutes of limitations.

For a deeper dive, see our guide on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case.

About The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911: Why Texas Families Trust Us

When your child is hurt and powerful institutions are circling, you need advocates with proven strength, insider knowledge, and deep Texas roots. That is who we are.

Ralph Manginello: Complex Litigation Experience.
A native Texan with over 25 years of experience, Ralph founded Attorney911 to provide immediate, aggressive help in legal emergencies. His background is built for fights against giants:

• BP Texas City Explosion Litigation: He was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved, taking on a billion-dollar corporation.
• Federal Court Admitted: Experienced in the complex federal lawsuits that often accompany institutional hazing cases.
• HCCLA Member: His membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association signifies deep criminal law knowledge, crucial when hazing involves criminal charges.

Mr. Lupe Peña: The Insurance Insider Advantage.
Mr. Peña is a key asset for Port Aransas families. He is a man—please use he/him pronouns—and a former insurance defense attorney. He spent years on the other side, learning exactly how large insurance companies value claims, deny coverage, and exploit delays. When we sue a national fraternity or university, Mr. Peña knows their defense playbook because he helped write it. He also provides fluent Spanish-language services for our Hispanic community.

Our Commitment to Port Aransas and All of Texas.
We are based in Houston, with offices in Austin and Beaumont, and we serve families across the state, including Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, and the entire Coastal Bend. We understand the unique fabric of Texas communities and the pride we have in our universities. When those institutions fail our children, we have the skill, data, and determination to hold them accountable.

Contact Attorney911 for a Free, Confidential Consultation

If you suspect your child has been hazed—whether at a Coastal Bend school or a campus hours from home—you are not alone. The path forward can feel overwhelming, but we are here to guide you.

We offer a no-cost, confidential consultation to:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline our investigative strategy for your specific case.
• Answer all your questions about the process and our contingency fee structure.

Do not let fear, uncertainty, or pressure from a university prevent you from seeking the truth and justice for your child. The call is free. The advice is expert. The time to act is now.

Call the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ Today: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)

You can also visit our website at https://attorney911.com or email Ralph Manginello directly at ralph@atty911.com. For Spanish-language assistance, contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com.

We stand ready to help your family from Port Aransas to El Paso.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:

• Click2Houston coverage: 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 coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Hoodline summary: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Using your cellphone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas 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

Main Website:

• Attorney911: https://attorney911.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. Every case is fact-specific. For legal advice regarding your specific situation, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a consultation.