Hazing in Texas: A Complete Guide for Buffalo Gap Families Seeking Justice and Accountability

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You Are Not Alone

Imagine this: Your child, a bright student from Buffalo Gap, excitedly joins a fraternity, sorority, or campus organization at a Texas university. What begins as camaraderie soon turns concerning—late-night calls, unexplained exhaustion, secretive behavior. Then comes the phone call no parent wants: your child is in the emergency room, suffering from acute kidney failure after being forced through brutal workouts, or hospitalized with alcohol poisoning after a “Big Brother” night. You learn they’ve endured humiliation, coercion, and abuse masked as “tradition.” The organization is circling the wagons. The university’s response feels inadequate. You’re left scared, angry, and searching for answers.

This is not a hypothetical scenario. It is happening right now to Texas families, including those in Buffalo Gap, Taylor County, and across West Texas. The recent $10 million lawsuit filed against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity over the severe hazing and life-altering injuries to pledge Leonel Bermudez proves how dangerous and pervasive this problem remains.

If you are a parent in Buffalo Gap, this comprehensive guide is for you. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, outline your legal rights under Texas law, detail the histories of organizations at universities where your children may study, and provide a clear path toward accountability and recovery. We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™), and we represent hazing victims and their families across Texas. Our firm is actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in the country right now in Houston, and we are committed to using that experience to help families in Buffalo Gap and throughout Texas.

Immediate Help for a Hazing Emergency

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call us immediately at 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: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek a professional evaluation. Document everything.
• Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
  • Screenshot all group chats, texts, and DMs immediately (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage).
  • Photograph any injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save any physical items (clothing, props, receipts).
• Write Everything Down: While memories are fresh, record who, what, when, and where.
• DO NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or organization 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.

Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney: Evidence disappears with shocking speed. Universities and organizations move quickly to control the narrative. We can help you preserve critical evidence and protect your child’s rights from the start. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, immediate consultation.

What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is no longer just about “pranks” or “bad choices.” It is a calculated pattern of coercion, humiliation, and abuse designed to assert power and enforce loyalty. For Buffalo Gap families, understanding the modern forms of hazing is the first step in recognizing it.

Texas law (Education Code Chapter 37) defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership. Critically, a victim’s “consent” is not a legal defense. The power imbalance and peer pressure inherent in these situations mean true voluntary consent does not exist.

Modern hazing typically falls into three escalating categories:

1. Subtle Hazing: The Gateway
Behaviors that emphasize power imbalance and set the stage for worse. This includes forced servitude (being an on-call driver, cleaning for members), social isolation from non-members, being assigned derogatory names, and mandatory attendance at events that interfere with sleep and academics. Digitally, it involves 24/7 monitoring via group chats, required location sharing, and social media policing.

2. Harassment Hazing: Crossing the Line
Acts that cause emotional or physical discomfort and create an abusive environment. This includes:

• Sleep Deprivation: Mandatory late-night meetings, 3 AM wake-up calls, multi-day events.
• Verbal Abuse: Yelling, screaming, threats, and degrading language.
• Forced Consumption: Eating disgusting food mixtures or excessive amounts of bland food (like milk or hot dogs).
• Extreme “Workouts”: Punitive calisthenics called “smokings”—hundreds of push-ups, wall-sits until collapse—disguised as conditioning.
• Public Humiliation: Forced to perform embarrassing acts in public or wear degrading costumes.

3. Violent Hazing: Life-Threatening Danger
Activities with a high potential for severe injury, sexual assault, or death. This is what we see in the most catastrophic cases:

• Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: “Lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, trivia games where wrong answers mean drinking.
• Physical Beatings: Paddling, punching, kicking, or “branding.”
• Dangerous Physical Tests: Blindfolded tackle rituals (“glass ceiling”), forced fights, swimming while intoxicated.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual assault.
• Chemical Exposure: As alleged in a Texas A&M case where pledges were doused with industrial cleaner, causing severe chemical burns.

Where Hazing Happens: While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing permeates many groups: Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, spirit squads (like Texas Cowboys), marching bands, and other campus organizations. The common threads are tradition, secrecy, and power imbalance.

Texas Hazing Law & Legal Liability: A Framework for Buffalo Gap Families

Parents in Buffalo Gap need to understand the legal landscape that governs hazing incidents, whether their child is at a local school like Abilene Christian University or a major hub like Texas A&M. Texas has specific statutes, and federal law adds another layer of accountability.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Criminal Framework

The Texas hazing statute provides clear definitions and penalties:

• Definition: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers physical or mental health for purposes of initiation, affiliation, or membership in a group.
• Criminal Penalties:
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause serious injury.
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Organizational Liability: The organization itself (fraternity, sorority, team) can be fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing, or if an officer knew and failed to report it.
• Key Protections:
  • Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): Even if a student “agreed,” it is still hazing under the law.
  • Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): Those who report hazing to authorities in good faith are protected from civil or criminal liability stemming from the report. This includes amnesty in medical emergencies to encourage calling 911.

Civil Liability: The Path to Compensation and Accountability

A criminal case is brought by the state to punish wrongdoing. A civil lawsuit is brought by the victim and family to recover damages and hold all responsible parties accountable. They can proceed simultaneously. In a civil hazing case, plaintiffs can seek damages from a wide universe of defendants:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The campus organization as a legal entity.
3. The National Headquarters: For failing to supervise, enforce policies, or for having prior knowledge of dangerous patterns.
4. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations (if the hazing is sex-based).
5. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol, event venues.

Federal Law Overlay

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and bolster prevention programs. This will increase public data by 2026.
• Title IX & The Clery Act: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, Title IX obligations are triggered. The Clery Act requires reporting of certain crimes, including assaults that occur during hazing.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Repeat in Texas

Tragically, hazing fatalities and severe injuries follow predictable scripts. Understanding these national cases is not about recounting horror stories; it’s about demonstrating foreseeability. When a Texas chapter repeats the same dangerous “tradition” that killed a student in another state, it shows the national organization and the university knew or should have known the risks.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a bid-acceptance night of forced drinking. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. Resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania and dozens of criminal charges.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died from alcohol toxicity after a “Bible study” drinking game. Led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, creating felony hazing penalties.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. The family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university).
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died from alcohol poisoning at a “Big Brother” event, leading to a temporary suspension of all Greek life at FSU.

The Physical Brutality Script

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage after forced drinking. His family settled with 22 defendants, highlighting the extensive liability in severe-injury cases.

The Athletic Hazing Script

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements, proving hazing is not confined to Greek life.

What This Means for Buffalo Gap Families: These are not isolated incidents. They are blueprints that dangerous organizations follow. The same national fraternities named in these cases—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi—have active chapters at Texas universities. When they engage in similar conduct, the law recognizes they were on notice. This pattern evidence is powerful in civil litigation.

The Texas University Landscape: Where Buffalo Gap Families Send Their Kids

Families in Buffalo Gap and Taylor County often have children attending universities close to home, as well as major institutions across the state. Hazing is a risk at all of them. Here is a focused look at campuses relevant to our community.

Local & Regional Campuses for West Texas Families

• Abilene Christian University (Abilene, Taylor County): A private university in our own county with active Greek life and student organizations.
• McMurry University (Abilene, Taylor County): Another Abilene institution with campus groups and traditions.
• Hardin-Simmons University (Abilene, Taylor County): Completing Abilene’s trio of universities where campus organizational hazing can occur.
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock, Lubbock County): A major regional destination for Buffalo Gap students, with a large Greek system and over 400 student organizations.
• West Texas A&M University (Canyon, Randall County): A key university in the Panhandle with Greek life and athletic programs.

Major Statewide University Hubs

Buffalo Gap students also attend Texas’s flagship schools, each with documented hazing issues.

University of Houston (UH) – The Flagship Case in Our Backyard
Right now, our firm is leading the litigation in one of Texas’s most severe active hazing cases: Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi. This case exemplifies the extreme dangers of modern hazing.

• The Allegations: In Fall 2025, pledge Leonel Bermudez was subjected to systematic abuse by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. This included carrying a humiliating “pledge fanny pack,” enforced sleep deprivation, and violent physical hazing at the chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park.
• The Violence: He was sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, and then forced to sprint. On November 3, he was made to do 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion.
• The Catastrophe: He developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, was hospitalized for four days, and faces a risk of permanent kidney damage.
• The Response: Pi Kappa Phi national suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025. Members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, shutting down the chapter. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”
• The Lawsuit: We filed a $10 million lawsuit against UH, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national, the chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. This case is a stark warning to all Texas universities and Greek organizations. Click2Houston report on UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing case, ABC13 coverage of Leonel Bermudez’s UH hazing lawsuit

Texas A&M University
Texas A&M’s strong tradition and Corps of Cadets culture come with hazing risks.

• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged they were doused with industrial cleaner among other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended.
• Parent Guidance: The combination of Greek life and the Corps means families must be vigilant about traditions that cross the line into abuse.

University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin maintains a public “Hazing Violations” log, offering more transparency than many schools.

• Public Log Entries: Citations include Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics, and other spirit groups for forced workouts and alcohol hazing.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (2024): An Australian exchange student allegedly assaulted at an SAE party suffered a dislocated leg, broken nose, and other injuries, leading to a lawsuit over $1 million.
• Parent Guidance: UT’s public log is a tool. If your child’s organization is on it, it establishes a pattern of known misconduct.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University
These private institutions have their own histories.

• SMU: A Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended in 2017 for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.
• Baylor: The baseball team suspended 14 players in 2020 following a hazing investigation.

For families in Buffalo Gap, the geographic distance to these schools does not diminish your right to accountability. Hazing cases are litigated in the jurisdiction where the harm occurred and where defendants reside. We handle cases across Texas.

Public Records Directory: The Greek Organizations Behind the Letters

Parents in Buffalo Gap deserve to know the real entities behind campus Greek life. These are not just social clubs; they are often formal legal structures with tax IDs, insurance policies, and deep pockets. Our firm maintains a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built from public data to investigate these entities. Below is a sample from the hundreds of Texas-registered Greek organizations.

Greek Entities Relevant to West Texas & Statewide Campuses

• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – EIN 263170920 – Denton, TX 76204 (Data source: IRS B83 filing)
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc – EIN 273662583 – Lufkin, TX 75904 (Data source: IRS B83 filing)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN 364091267 – Waco, TX 76710 (Data source: IRS B83 filing)
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – EIN 475370943 – Houston, TX 77204 (Data source: IRS B83 filing)
• Chi Omega Fraternity – EIN 740555581 – Austin, TX 78705 (Chi Omega House Corporation – IRS B83 filing)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 (Epsilon Kappa Chapter – IRS B83 filing)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035 (Data source: IRS B83 filing)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – EIN 237279532 – Prairie View, TX 77446 (Data source: IRS B83 filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 741380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147 (Data source: IRS B83 filing)

Why This Matters: When hazing occurs, liability may extend beyond the students in the room. The chapter housing corporation, the alumni association, and the national headquarters all may carry insurance and share responsibility. Our investigative process begins by mapping this exact organizational network to ensure no liable entity escapes accountability.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Pursuing a hazing case requires a meticulous, strategic approach. As we are doing in the Bermudez case against UH, it involves uncovering the full truth and holding every responsible party accountable.

Critical Evidence Collection

Digital evidence is now the cornerstone of these cases. We seek:

1. Group Chats & Messages: From GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages.
2. Social Media: Posts, stories, DMs on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok that document events or discussions.
3. Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” scripts, emails from national headquarters.
4. University Records: Prior conduct violations, Clery Act reports, internal investigation files obtained through discovery.
5. Medical Records: Documenting the full extent of physical and psychological injuries, from ER reports to long-term psychiatric care plans.

Overcoming Institutional Defenses

Universities and national fraternities have sophisticated defense playbooks. We are equipped to counter them:

• Defense: “It was a rogue chapter; we didn’t know.” We use their own records to show prior incidents and warnings, establishing foreseeability.
• Defense: “The victim consented.” We cite Texas law §37.155 and demonstrate the coercive power imbalance.
• Defense: “It happened off-campus; not our responsibility.” We prove the university or national organization exercised control and benefited from the chapter regardless of location.
• Defense: “Our insurance doesn’t cover intentional acts.” We argue negligent supervision by the nationals or university is a covered claim. Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, uses his prior experience as an insurance defense attorney to navigate these complex coverage disputes.

Recoverable Damages for Victims and Families

A civil lawsuit seeks to make victims whole and deter future misconduct. Recoverable damages can include:

• Economic Damages: All medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, diminished future earning capacity, therapy costs.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of companionship, emotional suffering of the family.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of especially reckless or malicious conduct, to punish the defendants and deter others.

Practical Guide for Buffalo Gap Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs:

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

What to Do:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’m concerned about your stress level. Is there anything you’re being asked to do that makes you uncomfortable?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there’s immediate danger, call 911.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot messages and photograph injuries. Our video on using your phone to document evidence
4. Seek Medical Care: Get a professional evaluation to document harm.
5. Consult an Attorney Before Reporting: We can help you navigate reporting to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and preserves evidence.
6. Do Not Sign Anything: Universities may offer quick “resolutions.” Do not sign waivers or agreements without legal counsel.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No tradition is worth your life or health.
• “Consent” is Not a Defense: You cannot legally agree to be abused.
• Exit Safely: You can quit at any time. Send a clear email or text: “I resign my membership effective immediately.” Inform a trusted adult first.
• Report Anonymously: Use campus hotlines or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE.
• Call 911 Without Fear: Texas law and most university policies provide amnesty in good-faith medical emergencies.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case

1. Deleting Evidence: Preserve all messages, even embarrassing ones.
2. Confronting the Organization: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
3. Signing University Papers: What seems like a “quick fix” may waive your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys monitor everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility.
5. Waiting Too Long: Texas has a statute of limitations. Our video on Texas statutes of limitations
6. Talking to Insurance Adjusters Alone: They record statements to use against you. Let your attorney handle all communication.

Why Choose The Manginello Law Firm (Attorney911)

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need advocates who understand both the human cost and the legal battlefield. We are not just personal injury lawyers; we are complex institutional litigators with specific expertise in holding powerful organizations accountable.

Our Proven Capabilities for Hazing Cases:

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation: We are currently leading the $10 million Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. This is not historical knowledge; it is active, frontline experience. Learn about Ralph Manginello’s background
• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Attorney Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers fight claims, set reserves, and use delay tactics. This insider knowledge is invaluable. Learn about Lupe Peña’s insurance defense experience
• Experience Against Giants: Our firm was one of the few involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing billion-dollar defendants. We are not intimidated by universities or national fraternities with limitless legal budgets.
• Data-Driven Investigation: We employ the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—mapping over 1,400 Greek entities across Texas—to identify every potentially liable organization from day one.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Insight: Founding attorney Ralph Manginello’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, ensuring we can serve all Texas families. Se habla Español.

We approach each case with empathy for the victim and a relentless drive for accountability. Our goal is not just compensation, but to force the systemic changes that will prevent the next Buffalo Gap family from suffering this pain.

Call to Action for Buffalo Gap Families

If hazing has injured your child or turned your family’s world upside down, please know that you have rights and options. The path forward can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to walk it alone.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, today for a free, confidential consultation.
We will listen to your story with compassion, explain the legal landscape clearly and honestly, and help you make informed decisions about the best path for your family. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis—there is no cost to you unless we recover money for you.

Call us 24/7 at 1（888）ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911).
Direct Line: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
Website: Contact Attorney911 for a free consultation

For our Spanish-speaking neighbors: Hablamos Español. Póngase en contacto con el Sr. Lupe Peña para una consulta confidencial.

Whether your child attends a school in Abilene, Lubbock, College Station, or anywhere else in Texas, we are here to help. Let us use our experience, data, and dedication to fight for the justice and safety your family deserves.

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 Evidence Preservation Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Attorney911 Statute of Limitations Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Attorney911 Website: 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 unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and law. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.