The Adrian Parent’s Guide to Hazing Dangers at Texas Universities: Your Rights, Reality, and Recourse

If you’re a parent in Adrian, Oldham County, your world revolves around family, community, and the promise of a bright future for your children. That future often includes college—maybe at nearby West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas Tech in Lubbock, or one of Texas’s flagship campuses hours away in College Station, Austin, or Houston. You trust these institutions with your child’s safety. But right now, a nightmare is unfolding at campuses across Texas, and families just like yours are facing a harsh reality: hazing isn’t just a bad choice; it’s institutionalized abuse that can leave students with permanent injuries or worse.

Consider this: a student from a tight-knit Texas community not unlike Adrian accepts a bid to join a fraternity at a major state university. What begins as excitement rapidly descends into forced servitude, sleep deprivation, and brutal physical demands. He is made to carry a degrading “pledge fanny pack,” is sprayed in the face with a hose “like waterboarding,” and is forced through extreme workouts until his body breaks down. His urine turns brown. He is hospitalized for four days with acute kidney failure and a severe muscle breakdown condition called rhabdomyolysis. This is not a hypothetical. This is the real-life case of Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston, a $10 million lawsuit our firm, Attorney911, is actively litigating right now against UH, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and 13 individual members.

For families in Adrian, Hartley, Vega, and across Oldham County, this case is a stark warning. Hazing isn’t confined to distant campuses; the same national fraternities and sororities implicated in tragedies nationwide have chapters at universities where your children study. Whether they’re at West Texas A&M, Texas Tech, or any of Texas’s over 90 campuses, the risk is real. This guide exists to arm you with the truth about hazing in 2025, your legal rights under Texas law, and the steps to take if your family faces this crisis.

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 your child insists they are “fine.”
2. Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
   • Screenshot all group chats, texts, and DMs immediately (GroupMe, iMessage, WhatsApp).
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
   • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects used in hazing).
3. Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
4. DO NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
   • 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 immediately. Evidence disappears fast. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like for Adrian Families

For parents in Adrian, the term “hazing” might conjure images of outdated, silly pranks. The reality in 2025 is a calculated, often brutal system of coercion and abuse that leverages technology, psychology, and tradition to control new members. It’s not “just partying.” Under Texas law, hazing is 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. Crucially, a student’s “consent” is not a defense.

Modern hazing tactics fall into escalating categories:

• Subtle Hazing: Power imbalances and psychological control. This includes forced servitude (being an on-call driver, cleaning members’ homes), social isolation, being given a derogatory nickname, or 24/7 monitoring via group chats that demand instant responses.
• Harassment Hazing: Causes emotional or physical discomfort. This includes verbal abuse, sleep deprivation (3 AM wake-up calls), forced consumption of unpalatable foods (like gallons of milk or raw onions), and “voluntary” but coerced extreme calisthenics framed as “workouts.”
• Violent Hazing: High potential for serious injury or death. This is what we see in the worst cases:
  • Forced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights, “family tree” drinking games, lineups, and forced chugging leading to alcohol poisoning.
  • Physical Assault: Paddling, beatings, “glass ceiling” tackling rituals, and dangerous physical tests.
  • Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, and degrading rituals.
  • Extreme Environmental Exposure: Being locked in freezing rooms or left outside in severe weather.

In the Leonel Bermudez case at UH, the hazing included a mandated “pledge fanny pack” with humiliating contents, forced sprints and bear crawls, being sprayed with a hose while pinned down, and consuming huge quantities of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, followed by more exercise. This led to rhabdomyolysis—a deadly muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. This is the modern face of hazing.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Laws Protecting Your Child

As a parent in Texas, you have a powerful legal framework on your side. The primary law is the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F.

• Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in a group.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a crime. It can range from a Class B misdemeanor to a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing or retaliating against someone who does.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§37.155) is crystal clear: a victim’s agreement to participate is not a legal defense. Courts understand the power imbalances and coercion at play.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000.
• Immunity for Reporting: The law protects those who, in good faith, report hazing or seek medical help in an emergency.

Beyond state law, federal statutes add layers of accountability:

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires universities receiving federal funds to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, schools have a duty to respond promptly and effectively.
• Clery Act: Requires colleges to report certain crimes, including assaults that often occur during hazing.

In a civil lawsuit—which is separate from any criminal case—your family can seek compensation and accountability from a wide range of responsible parties:

1. Individual Students who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter as an entity.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters for failing to supervise, enforce policies, or act on known patterns.
4. The University for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or premises liability.
5. Third Parties like property owners or alcohol providers.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script That Repeats in Texas

The tragedy in Houston is not an isolated event. It follows a national script that has played out for decades, resulting in student deaths, lifelong injuries, and landmark lawsuits. Understanding these patterns is key to holding organizations accountable, as they show “foreseeability”—the organizations knew or should have known the risks.

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a bid-acceptance drinking night. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case led to massive criminal charges and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): Died from alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. His death spurred Louisiana’s felony hazing statute, the Max Gruver Act.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. His family reached a $10 million settlement with the national fraternity and university.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Died from alcohol poisoning at a “Big Brother” night, the same national fraternity involved in the UH case.
• Danny Santulli – Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. His family settled with 22 defendants.

These cases share a DNA: forced consumption, tradition over safety, delayed help, and institutional failure. For Adrian families, the critical takeaway is this: the national fraternities and sororities on Texas campuses have already been put on notice, repeatedly, that their rituals kill and maim. When they fail to eradicate these practices, it strengthens claims of gross negligence.

Texas University Focus: Where Adrian Students Study and the Risks They Face

Adrian and Oldham County families send their children to a range of Texas institutions, from regional schools like West Texas A&M University in nearby Canyon to the massive flagship campuses hours away. Each campus has its own Greek ecosystem and history of hazing incidents.

West Texas A&M University (Canyon, TX)

For many Adrian students, WTAMU is the most accessible four-year university. Its Greek life, while smaller than flagship schools, is not immune to hazing risks.

• Campus Snapshot: A key part of the Texas A&M System located in Canyon, with active fraternity and sorority life.
• Notable Organizations: Chapters of national fraternities like Phi Delta Theta (Texas Theta chapter) and Kappa Alpha Order (Gamma Sigma chapter) are present, organizations with national hazing histories.
• Legal Context: A hazing case here would likely involve the Randall County Sheriff’s Office or Canyon PD, with potential civil filings in Randall or Potter County courts.

Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)

As a major research institution, Texas Tech is a common destination for Panhandle students. Its large Greek community has seen significant hazing issues.

• Documented Issues: Texas Tech has faced serious hazing allegations, including recent cases where pledges developed rhabdomyolysis—the same life-threatening kidney injury suffered by Leonel Bermudez at UH—from extreme physical hazing.
• High-Risk Groups: Beyond IFC fraternities, the university has a large Corps of Cadets program within the Texas A&M System, a group historically associated with stringent tradition and hazing risks.
• Action for Parents: If your child is at Tech, be vigilant for signs of extreme exhaustion, unexplained muscle pain, or dark urine. Report any concerns to Texas Tech’s Office of Student Conduct and contact a lawyer immediately to preserve evidence.

Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)

The state’s largest university has a deeply ingrained Greek and Corps culture with a documented history of severe hazing.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case: In a recent lawsuit, Texas A&M SAE pledges alleged they were covered in industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and other substances, causing severe chemical burns that required skin graft surgeries. The lawsuit sought over $1 million.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Case: A cadet sued the university, alleging degrading hazing that included being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. The suit sought over $1 million in damages.
• Transparency: Texas A&M publishes annual hazing violation reports, which can be used to establish a chapter’s known history of misconduct.

University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin maintains one of the most transparent hazing databases in the country, publicly listing violations.

• Public Log: UT’s “Hazing Violations” website shows active cases. For example, Pi Kappa Alpha was sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• SAE Assault Case (2024): An Australian exchange student sued the UT SAE chapter after an alleged assault at a party left him with a dislocated leg, broken nose, and fractured tibia.
• Strategic Advantage: This public database is a treasure trove for building a case, proving a chapter’s pattern of behavior and the university’s prior knowledge.

University of Houston

The home of our flagship case, UH exemplifies how hazing persists at major urban commuter schools.

• The Bermudez Case: As detailed in the Click2Houston report and ABC13 coverage, the Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu) hazing involved multiple locations, systematic abuse, and life-threatening injuries. The chapter was shut down.
• Other Incidents: UH has suspended other chapters for hazing, including cases involving physical abuse and alcohol coercion.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

These private institutions have their own Greek life challenges, often with less public disclosure than state schools.

• SMU: Has suspended chapters, including Kappa Alpha Order, for paddling and forced drinking.
• Baylor: Has faced hazing scandals within its athletic programs, including baseball, highlighting that hazing extends beyond Greek life.

For Adrian parents, the message is clear: no campus is safe from this risk. Your child’s school, whether 30 minutes or 6 hours away, likely has organizations with documented hazing histories.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: The Data Behind the Letters

At Attorney911, we don’t just take a case; we investigate the entire ecosystem. We maintain a proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built from public records, which allows us to identify every potentially liable entity from day one. For Adrian families, this means we understand the connections between the chapter your child joined and the national network behind it.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Connected to Texas Campuses

The following are real, Texas-registered organizations from IRS and public filings. This is the kind of data we use to build a case:

In the Amarillo Metro & Panhandle Region (relevant to WTAMU/Texas Tech families):

• Frank Heflin Foundation, EIN 203507402, Canyon, TX 79015 (Phi Delta Theta alumni fund)
• Chi Omega – Upsilon Zeta Building Association, EIN 752290669, Amarillo, TX 79118
• Kappa Alpha Order – Gamma Sigma Chapter, Canyon, TX (West Texas A&M chapter)
• Phi Delta Theta Fraternity – Texas Theta Chapter, Canyon, TX (WTAMU chapter)

Statewide Fraternity/Sorority Entities (connected to major campuses):

• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation, EIN 371768785, Missouri City, TX 77459
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc., EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX 75035
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Sigma Incorporated, EIN 882755427, San Marcos, TX 78666
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc., EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, EIN 237279532, Prairie View, TX 77446
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843 (Texas A&M University chapter)

This data shows the complex web of house corporations, alumni foundations, and national entities that can share liability. When hazing occurs, we immediately map this network to ensure no responsible party escapes accountability.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

If hazing has injured your child, taking swift, strategic action is critical. The defense playbook is standardized: deny, delay, destroy evidence, and blame the victim. Our approach as experienced hazing litigators is to counter this with overwhelming evidence and strategic leverage.

Critical Evidence We Secure:

• Digital Forensics: Deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text messages. Social media posts, stories, and location data.
• Chapter Records: Internal pledge manuals, meeting minutes, emails from national headquarters.
• University Files: Prior conduct violations for the same chapter obtained via discovery.
• Medical Documentation: ER records, toxicology reports, diagnosis of conditions like rhabdomyolysis or PTSD.
• Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and RAs.

Damages Your Family May Recover:
A civil lawsuit seeks to make your family whole and hold defendants accountable.

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost tuition if education is disrupted, and loss of future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: If the unthinkable happens, families can recover funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional anguish.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme recklessness (like ignoring known, deadly patterns), courts can award punitive damages to punish the defendants.

Our firm’s unique advantage in these fights is twofold:

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers value claims, deny coverage, and delay settlement. We use their playbook against them.
2. 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 limitless legal budgets. A national fraternity or major university does not intimidate us; we know how to win.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Adrian Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Steps to Take

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleeping all the time, or severe sleep deprivation.
• Sudden personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal.
• Being constantly on their phone, anxious about missing group chat messages.
• Secretive about activities, using phrases like “I can’t talk about it.”
• Requests for large, unexplained sums of money.

What to Do:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’m concerned about you. Is there anything happening that feels unsafe or degrading?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If they are injured or intoxicated, seek medical care immediately.
3. Preserve Evidence: With their permission, help them screenshot EVERYTHING. Photograph injuries.
4. Contact an Attorney: Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 before reporting to the university. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child’s rights and future claims.

For Students: Is This Hazing?

• Are you being pressured to do something you wouldn’t normally do?
• Are older members making you do things they don’t have to do?
• Is the activity secret? Would it get the group in trouble if the school found out?
• Does it feel dangerous, degrading, or humiliating?
  If you answered yes, it is hazing. Your “consent” under pressure is not real consent. You have the right to be safe.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

1. Deleting Evidence: It feels shameful, but those messages are your proof. Do not delete.
2. Confronting the Chapter: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
3. Signing University Paperwork: Schools may offer a quick “internal resolution” that waives your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys scour accounts for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting: Evidence vanishes, witnesses graduate, memories fade.

About Attorney911: Why Adrian Families Choose Us for Hazing Cases

We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, operating as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™. We are a Texas-based personal injury and complex litigation firm with a national reputation for taking on powerful institutions. We represent families from Adrian to Houston and across the United States.

Our Qualifications for Your Hazing Case:

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation: We are currently leading the Leonel Bermudez vs. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are in the fight right now.
• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney is invaluable in piercing coverage denials and maximizing recovery.
• Experience Against Giants: Our work on the BP Texas City explosion litigation proves we can face the deepest-pocketed defendants.
• Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine ensures we identify every liable entity, from the local pledge educator to the national housing corporation.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Se habla Español.

We understand the profound betrayal and fear your family feels. Our mission is not just to secure compensation, but to force the institutional changes that will protect the next generation of students from Adrian and beyond.

Call to Action: Contact Attorney911 for a Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child at any Texas campus—from West Texas A&M to UT Austin—you are not alone. The path to accountability and recovery begins with a conversation.

We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation case evaluation. When you call 1-888-ATTY-911, you can expect:

• A compassionate listening ear from experienced attorneys.
• A clear explanation of your family’s legal rights under Texas law.
• An honest assessment of your options: potential claims, timelines, and strategies.
• No pressure. We provide the information you need to make the best decision for your family.
• Contingency Fee Basis: You pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 Today:

• 24/7 Phone: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com (Se habla Español)

For the families of Adrian, Hartley, and Oldham County: your community’s values of safety and integrity deserve protection. Let us help you defend them.

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 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

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

• Click2Houston coverage of UH Pi Kappa Phi case: 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 coverage of Leonel Bermudez lawsuit: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Attorney911 Video: Using Your Cellphone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Attorney911 Video: Statute of Limitations Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Attorney911 Video: Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Attorney911 Main Website: https://attorney911.com