Hazing Campus Abuse in Texas: A Comprehensive Guide for Union Grove Families Seeking Accountability and Justice

For parents in Union Grove, Upshur County, and across East Texas, the dream of sending your child to a Texas university can turn into a nightmare overnight. When the phone rings with news that your son or daughter has been hospitalized after a fraternity “workout,” or that they’ve been subjected to humiliating and dangerous rituals as part of joining a campus organization, the shock, fear, and anger are overwhelming. You trusted the university to keep them safe. You believed the national organizations’ promises of brotherhood, sisterhood, and leadership development. Instead, your child has been physically injured, psychologically traumatized, or worse.

Right now, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history, demonstrating exactly what families are up against and how we hold powerful institutions accountable. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who nearly lost his life to fraternity hazing. In fall 2025, during his pledge period with the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, Leonel was subjected to months of systematic abuse that culminated in a life-threatening medical crisis.

The hazing included forced humiliation through a mandatory “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and sex toys, hours-long “study” blocks, overnight chauffeuring duties, and extreme physical torture. He was forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass, sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and made to consume excessive amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, only to be forced into immediate sprints. The breaking point came on November 3, 2025, when he was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. Days later, he was crawling up stairs, passing brown urine, and rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization with lasting kidney damage risk.

We filed a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, their Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The case has garnered significant media attention, with detailed coverage in Click2Houston, ABC13, and Hoodline. Following our lawsuit, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters suspended the chapter on November 6, and members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, shutting down the chapter permanently. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary action and cooperation with law enforcement.

This is not an isolated incident. It is the predictable result of systems that prioritize tradition and secrecy over student safety. For families in Union Grove, Gilmer, Big Sandy, and throughout Upshur County whose children attend Texas universities, understanding this reality is the first step toward protection and accountability.

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:

• Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine.”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, and DMs immediately.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects).
• 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.
  • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours.
Evidence disappears fast. Universities and organizations move quickly to control the narrative. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

The East Texas Greek Ecosystem: What Union Grove Families Are Really Dealing With

When your child joins a fraternity or sorority at a Texas university, they aren’t just joining a social club. They are entering a complex web of legally recognized organizations with financial assets, insurance policies, and national hierarchies. At Attorney911, we maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database built from public records that maps this ecosystem so families don’t have to start from zero.

For parents in Union Grove, your children likely attend or consider universities like the University of Texas at Tyler, Texas A&M University, Stephen F. Austin State University, or the University of Texas at Austin. Each of these campuses is surrounded by a network of registered entities.

Public Records: Fraternity, Sorority & Greek Organizations Connected to East Texas Families

The following are real Texas-registered organizations recorded in IRS and public filings. This is not an accusation, but a demonstration of the visible infrastructure we investigate:

Organizations in and near East Texas:

• Alpha Tau Omega Housing Corporation of Eta Iota Chapter – EIN 300517788 – Nacogdoches, TX 75965
• Phi Kappa Psi Texas Epsilon Chapter – EIN 452729519 – Nacogdoches, TX 75965 (SFA Station)
• Epsilon Tau Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity – EIN 756053083 – Nacogdoches, TX 75961
• Chi Omega Fraternity – Epsilon Zeta – EIN 756041410 – Nacogdoches, TX 75965
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – University of Texas at Tyler – EIN 352335400 – Tyler, TX 75799
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc. – EIN 273662583 – Lufkin, TX 75904
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Mu Zeta – EIN 752609909 – Commerce, TX 75428
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Zeta Eta – Texas A&M University-Commerce – EIN 756060974 – Commerce, TX 75429

Statewide Fraternity & Sorority Hubs:

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc. – EIN 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc. – EIN 741380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter – EIN 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627
• Chi Omega Fraternity – Chapter House Corporation – EIN 740555581 – Austin, TX 78705
• Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi – EIN 746047117 – Austin, TX 78705
• Texas Rho Chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity – EIN 741942292 – Waco, TX 76706
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Zeta Beta Chapter – EIN 237098953 – Prairie View, TX 77446

Our data engine tracks over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros. In the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, which many East Texas students gravitate toward, there are over 510 such entities. In Houston, there are 188. This network includes undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, housing corporations, and educational foundations—all potential sources of liability and insurance coverage when hazing occurs.

Where Union Grove Families Send Their Kids: Campus Realities

The journey from Upshur County to a university campus is one of promise. Understanding the specific landscapes of these campuses is crucial for prevention and response.

Local & Regional Campus Connections for East Texas:

• University of Texas at Tyler: A growing campus with Greek life presence, just a short drive from Union Grove. Its Phi Kappa Phi chapter is listed in public records, indicating active honor and Greek societies.
• Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches): A traditional residential campus with a strong Greek system. Multiple fraternity and sorority housing corporations are registered here, as shown in the public records above.
• Texas A&M University-Commerce: Home to the Sigma Chi Zeta Eta chapter and other groups, this campus serves many East Texas students.
• LeTourneau University (Longview): While smaller, private campuses also have student organizations with associated risks.
• Kilgore College & Tyler Junior College: Two-year institutions with student life that can include club athletics and organizations where hazing sometimes occurs.

Major Texas Universities Union Grove Students Attend:

• Texas A&M University (College Station): The flagship destination for countless East Texas students. Its vast Greek life and the unique, tradition-heavy Corps of Cadets program present significant hazing risks, as historical cases have shown.
• University of Texas at Austin: Another major draw, with a highly publicized online hazing violations log that reveals ongoing issues within numerous fraternities and spirit groups.
• University of Houston: As the flagship case of Leonel Bermudez proves, serious, life-threatening hazing happens at major urban commuter schools too.
• Baylor University & Southern Methodist University: Private institutions with prominent Greek systems and their own histories of disciplinary actions related to hazing.

The sobering truth is that no campus is immune. Whether it’s a fraternity at UT, a spirit group at A&M, or an athletic team at a smaller school, the dynamics of power, tradition, and secrecy that enable hazing are universal.

Texas Hazing Law: What Union Grove Parents Must Know

Texas has clear laws against hazing, designed to protect students like yours. Understanding these laws is your first shield against institutional deflection.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 – The Hazing Statute:
Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or maintaining membership in an organization. The act must endanger the mental or physical health or safety of the student. Critically, the law states that consent of the victim is not a defense. This means fraternities cannot claim “your child wanted to be there” to avoid liability.

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. If it causes serious bodily injury or death, it becomes a state jail felony. Individuals who fail to report hazing or who retaliate against reporters also commit misdemeanors. Organizations can be fined up to $10,000 per violation.
• Civil Liability: Beyond criminal charges, victims can sue for damages. This is where families can seek compensation for medical bills, ongoing therapy, pain and suffering, and loss of educational opportunity. In wrongful death cases, families can recover funeral costs and damages for their profound loss.

The Institutional Playbook (And How We Counter It):
When a crisis occurs, universities and national organizations often follow a predictable script designed to minimize their exposure. We know this playbook intimately.

1. “This Was a Rogue Chapter / We Didn’t Know”: Nationals claim the local chapter violated clear policies. We counter by investigating prior complaints and incidents at that chapter and across the national organization, proving foreseeability.
2. “The Student Consented”: They argue participation was voluntary. We use Texas law (where consent is no defense) and evidence of coercion from group chats to defeat this.
3. “It Happened Off-Campus, Not Our Responsibility”: We establish liability by showing the university or national organization sponsored, funded, or exercised control over the group, regardless of location.
4. “We Have Strict Anti-Hazing Policies”: We demonstrate the gap between paper policies and actual enforcement, showing a history of weak or non-existent consequences for prior violations.
5. Sovereign Immunity (for Public Universities): Schools like UH, Texas A&M, and UT are public entities with some legal protections. We navigate exceptions for gross negligence, willful misconduct, and Title IX violations, and hold individual employees accountable.

Our experience as complex litigation attorneys, including our work on the BP Texas City explosion cases, means we are not intimidated by billion-dollar institutions or their defenses. We are prepared to fight them in court.

Building a Case with Evidence: The Attorney911 Advantage

Winning a hazing case requires converting outrage into actionable evidence. For Union Grove families, taking the right steps immediately is critical.

Critical Evidence Categories We Pursue:

• Digital Evidence: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Instagram threads are the modern roadmap to hazing. They show planning, execution, and cover-up attempts. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages.
• Medical Documentation: Records from the ER, hospital stays, and follow-up visits must explicitly link injuries to hazing. Diagnoses like rhabdomyolysis, concussions, or PTSD are medically documented proof of harm.
• University Records: Through discovery, we obtain the accused organization’s prior disciplinary history, internal investigations, and communications between the chapter and advisors.
• National Fraternity/Sorority Files: We subpoena records from national headquarters showing what they knew about hazing risks within their organization and at that specific chapter.
• Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, and bystanders are often essential to piecing together the full story.

Our Unique Investigative Strengths:
Our firm brings together two powerful perspectives. I, Ralph Manginello, have over 25 years of experience in complex personal injury and criminal defense litigation, including federal court cases. My colleague, Mr. Lupe Peña, brings an insider’s knowledge of insurance company tactics from his years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and undervalue your claim. This dual perspective—knowing how to build a powerful plaintiff’s case while anticipating every defense tactic—is what sets us apart for families in Union Grove and across Texas.

Your Path Forward: Practical Steps for Union Grove Families

If you suspect or have confirmed hazing, your actions now shape the potential for accountability.

For Parents:

1. Listen & Document: If your child opens up, listen without judgment. Write down dates, times, locations, and names immediately.
2. Seek Medical Care: Prioritize health. Ensure medical providers document the cause of injury (“patient states injury occurred during forced fraternity calisthenics”).
3. Secure Evidence: Help your child preserve all digital communications. Take photos of injuries. Do not wash or dispose of clothing from the incident.
4. Consult an Attorney BEFORE Reporting: Once you hire counsel, we can guide you on how to report to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and preserves evidence. We can interface with the school on your behalf.
5. Avoid Common Pitfalls: Do not sign any documents from the university. Do not let your child give a recorded statement to insurance adjusters. Do not post about the incident on social media.

We have created a video guide on using your cell phone to document legal evidence, which is invaluable in these early stages.

For Students:

• Your safety is the only priority. If you are in danger, call 911.
• You have the right to leave any situation and cease participation in any organization without explanation.
• Screenshot everything—messages, social media posts, location data.
• Seek medical attention and be honest with healthcare providers about what happened.
• Know that Texas law protects those who report hazing in good faith.

Why Choose Attorney911 for Your Hazing Case in East Texas

When your family is facing the trauma of hazing, you need advocates who combine relentless investigation with genuine compassion and proven results. We are not just personal injury lawyers; we are institutional accountability litigators with specific expertise in the hidden world of campus organizations.

• We Are Litigating the Landmark Case Right Now: Our active representation of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi is not just history—it’s our current fight. We are in the trenches on one of Texas’s most significant hazing lawsuits.
• Data-Driven Investigation: We don’t start from scratch. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine gives us a map of the organizational and financial landscape behind the Greek letters.
• Insurance Insider Advantage: Mr. Peña’s defense background means we know the exact strategies insurers will use to minimize your claim. We counter them effectively from day one.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are committed to serving all Texas families with respect and clear communication.
• Contingency Fee Basis: We handle these cases on a contingency basis. You pay no upfront fees. We only get paid if we secure a recovery for you. Learn more about how contingency fees work.

The clock starts ticking the moment the hazing occurs. Texas has a statute of limitations for filing civil claims, and evidence disappears rapidly as organizations circle the wagons. We urge you not to wait for the university to complete its often-lengthy internal process.

Contact Attorney911 Today for a Free, Confidential Consultation

If your child has been hurt, humiliated, or traumatized by hazing at any Texas college or university, we are here to help you navigate this crisis. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across the state, including those in Union Grove, Gilmer, Longview, Tyler, and throughout Upshur County and East Texas.

We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. In this meeting, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline how we would investigate your case.
• Answer your questions about the process, timeline, and what to expect.

You do not have to face this alone. Let us use our experience, resources, and determination to fight for your child’s recovery and your family’s justice.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911).
Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
Website: https://attorney911.com
Se habla Español: Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.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. We encourage you to seek legal counsel for advice on your particular situation. The information is current as of late 2025.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston | Austin | Beaumont, Texas
Call 1-8881-ATTY-911