Afai o lea e te faitauina lenei fa’amatalaga iAmerika Samoa, atonu o lo’o feagai lou aiga ma se tasi o taimi sili ona mata’utia o lo latou olaga. Na alu ese lau tama i le kolisi, e tumu i fa’amoemoe ma miti, ae nai lo le mauaina o se faigauo, na latou mauaina le sauaga. Matou te malamalama i le fefe, le ita, ma le lotovaivai lea e afaina ai matua i Amerika Samoa pe’a fa’a’auauina a latou fanau e se aganuu leaga. Ua matou iinei e ta’u atu ia te outou e le o outou to’atasi, ma ua matou iinei e fesoasoani i aiga i Amerika Samoa e taui atu.

O le aganuu leaga e le o se prank kolisi e le afaina; o le sauaga, manino ma faigofie. E mafai ona i’u ai i manu’a mata’utia, fa’aletonu o le mafaufau e sui ai olaga, ma o’o lava i le oti. Pe’a alu lau tama i se iunivesite, pe i le laueleele autu o le Iunaite Setete po’o se isi fa’alapotopotoga lata ane i Amerika Samoa, e te talitonu o le a saogalemu i latou. E te fa’amoemoe e puipuia i latou mai le afaina. Pe’a fa’alataina lena talitonuga, ma ua le mafai e fa’alapotopotoga ona tausia le saogalemu o a latou tamaiti a’oga, matou te talitonu i le fa’amasinoga fa’amalosi, fa’avae i fa’amatalaga e fa’asalaina ai vaega uma e nafa.

O la matou ofisa loia, Attorney911, o lo’o i ai nei i se taua e fa’aalia ai mea uma matou te tutu ai. Ua matou failaina se tagi fa’amasino e $10 miliona e fa’asaga ia Pi Kappa Phi, le Iunivesite o Houston, ma le 13 tagata ta’ito’atasi o le fraternity, ona o le sauaga mata’utia o le aganuu leaga na faia i la matou tagata o tausia, Leonel Bermudez. Na faia ia Leonel le waterboard i se paipa fa’ato’aga, na fusifusia, na fa’amalosia e ‘ai se’ia pua’i, ma na faia ia te ia le sauaga o le mafaufau ma le fa’amalositino tele se’ia pa’u’u ona maso ma le gafatia ona fatuga’o. Na taofia o ia i le falema’i mo aso e fa ona o le ogaoga o le rhabdomyolysis. Ae o le vaega sili ona faate’ia? Na te le’i lesitalaina foi i le Iunivesite o Houston. Na o ia o se “ghost rush,” sa fuafua e fesiita’i.

E le o se mataupu fa’ata’ita’i; o lo’o tupu moni lava i le taimi nei i le Fa’amasinoga Sivili o le Itumalo o Harris. O lenei mataupu o le fa’amaoniga e le o se talitonuga le Attorney911. Matou te le o se “atonu i se taimi e fa’amoemoe matou te fa’atautaia ia mataupu tau aganuu leaga.” O lo’o matou tau malosi mo tagata afaina i le aganuu leaga i le taimi nei, ma o le a matou aumaia le maumaua’i le fa’agata ma le tomai tutusa i aiga i Amerika Samoa. Matou te mana’o e fa’aali atu i matua i Amerika Samoa le fa’amatalaga o le aganuu leaga i aso nei ma fa’amalosia i latou e malamalama o lo’o i ai se ofisa loia e taui atu.

Le Mataupu e Fa’aali ai i Aiga i Amerika Samoa Pe Aisea Tatou Te Tau ai: Leonel Bermudez vs. Pi Kappa Phi ma le Iunivesite o Houston

O lenei mataupu, na failaina ia Novema 2025, e le na o se tagi fa’amasino; o se tautinoga o le vaitau o le fa’atatauina o le aganuu leaga o se “tama o le a fai a tama” ua uma. Le mea na tupu ia Leonel Bermudez o se lapata’iga mata’utia mo matua i Amerika Samoa o a latou fanau atonu o lo’o mafaufau i le olaga Eleni i iunivesite i le atunu’u atoa.

Le Tagata Tagi: Leonel Bermudez

O Leonel Bermudez o se alii talavou e tele ona fuafuaga. O ia o se “ghost rush,” o lona uiga na ia talia se ofo e auai i le Pi Kappa Phi fraternity i le Iunivesite o Houston ia Setema 16, 2025, ma fuafuaga e fesiita’i atu i le iunivesite mo le semesa o loma. Na te le’i avea foi ma se tamaitiiti aoga atoa. Ma mo le fitu vaiaso o i luma, na ia onosaia se tauiviga faiga o sauaga, fa’asauaga, ma aganuu leaga lea na taofia ai o ia i le falema’i mo po e tolu ma aso e fa ona o le rhabdomyolysis ogaoga ma le le mafai ona galue fatuga’o.

Aisea e Tatau Ai Lenei Mataupu i Aiga i Amerika Samoa:

• E silia ma le 150 mataupu o le Pi Kappa Phi i Amerika atoa, e aofia ai i le tele o iunivesite e auai ai tamaiti A’oga i Amerika Samoa. O le fa’alapotopotoga fa’alotoifale lava lea, o “aganuu” tutusa, ma le aganuu mata’utia tutusa na toetoe a fa’aumatia ai le ola o Leonel e mafai ona i ai i fraternities lata ane i Amerika Samoa.
• O “aganuu” na fa’ataofia ai le matou tagata o tausia e tupu i fraternities i le atunu’u atoa. Le mea na onosaia e Leonel e le o se mea uiga ese; o nei faiga leaga e masani lava ona tupu i fa’alapotopotoga Eleni i fa’alapotopotoga i le Iunaite Setete atoa.
• Ua feagai Iunivesite i le atunu’u atoa ma fa’aletonu tutusa o noataga e pei o le Iunivesite o Houston. E tele fa’alapotopotoga e feagai ma fa’afitauli i le va’aiga o le olaga Eleni, ma pe’a latou le mafai ona puipuia a latou tamaiti a’oga, e nafa i latou.
• Afai o lo’o faia aganuu leaga i lau tama, o le a matou tau mo oe e pei lava o lo’o matou tau i Houston. O lo matou tu’ufa’atasia i le fa’amasinoga mo tagata afaina i le aganuu leaga e o’o atu i Amerika Samoa. Ua matou i ai le pulega o le fa’amasinoga feterale ma le naunauta’i e malaga e mautinoa e maua e aiga i Amerika Samoa le sui tutusa malosi.

Na fa’aalia e Ralph Manginello, le matou pa’aga pule, le mata’utia o le mea na tupu ia Leonel i le ABC13: “Pe’a mulimuli lava ona taunu’u o ia i le fale, sa ia totolo i luga o fa’asitepu ma alu e moe. O le aso na sosoo ai, sa matua tiga lava o ia ma le mafai ona minoi. O le aso na sili atu ona leaga, ma o le isi aso, na fa’ataalise ai o ia e lona tina i le falema’i, ma na le gafatia ona fatuga’o.”

Na fa’aalia e Lupe Pena, le matou loia fesoasoani, le misiona lautele o le matou ofisa loia: “Afai e puipuia ai le afaina o se isi tagata, o le mea lena matou te fa’amoemoe e fai. Tatou te fa’aali atu lenei mea. Ua lava.”

E ala i lenei mataupu, matou te fa’amoemoe e fa’aali atu le mea moni pogisa o le aganuu leaga ma auina atu se fe’au manino: o lenei amio e le fa’atagaina, ma o i latou e nafa o le a fa’asalaina.

Le Fa’asologa o Taimi Mata’utia o le Aganuu Leaga

O vaiaso i le va o Setema 16, 2025, pe’a talia e Leonel lana ofo, ma Novema 3, 2025, pe’a fa’ato’ilaloina lona tino, na tumu i sauaga le fa’agata.

• Setema 16, 2025: Na talia e Leonel se ofo e auai i le Pi Kappa Phi.
• Setema 16 – Novema 3, 2025: Vaiaso o faiga sese, sauaga, ma le fa’ata’ita’iga faiga masani o le “hazing”.
• Oketopa 13, 2025: I se mea na tupu fa’afitauli tele, na fusifusia se isi tagata o le ‘pledge’ ma lona gutu o lo’o pupuni mo le silia ma le tasi le itula. Na faia lenei mea a’o faia e tagata o le fraternity sauniga mo se fonotaga, ma fa’aalia ai le saua faigofie o nei aga.
• Oketopa 15, 2025: Na matapogia se tasi o le ‘pledge’ ma pa’u’u i lalo a’o faia se fa’amalositino fa’amalosi. E tatau ona si’i i luga ona vae e isi ‘pledges’ se’ia toe malosi. O lenei mea na tupu e tatau ona avea o se lapoasa tele, ae na fa’aauau pea le fa’ata’ita’iga.
• Novema 3, 2025: O le aso lenei na fa’ailogaina ai se pito sili ona saua. Na faia ia Leonel se fa’asalaga fa’amalositino tele, e aofia ai le silia ma le 100 ‘pushups’ ma le 500 ‘squats’, fa’atasi ai ma isi fa’amalositino faigata tele. Na fa’amalosia o ia e saunoa i le ‘creed’ o le ‘fraternity’ i lalo o le fa’amata’u o le tulia vave. I le i’uga, na matua vaivai lava o ia ma le mafai ona tu i luga e aunoa ma se fesoasoani.
• Novema 6, 2025: Ina ua mavae aso e lua o le leaga atili o lona tulaga, na fa’avave ona ta’i atu o Leonel e lona tina i le falema’i. Sa sau lona mimi enaena, o se fa’ailoga manino ma le mata’utia o le tele o le pa’u o maso.
• Novema 6-10, 2025: Na nofo Leonel i le falema’i mo po e tolu ma aso e fa, ma sa maua o ia i le rhabdomyolysis matuia ma le fa’aletonu tele o fatuga’o.
• Novema 14, 2025: Na fa’amauina aloa’ia e le Pi Kappa Phi National lana Fa’alapotopotoga Beta Nu, ma fa’aalia ai le fa’ailoaina o le tele o le sese na tupu i ni nai aso a’o le’i faila le matou tagi fa’amasino.
• Novema 21, 2025: Na faila le matou tagi fa’amasino e $10 miliona i le Fa’amasinoga Sivili o le Itumalo o Harris. O lenei mea na vave ona maua le fa’asalalauina e ala o le aufaasālalau tetele pei ole ABC13 ma le KHOU 11.
• Novema 22, 2025: Na lipotia e le Houston Chronicle le tagi fa’amasino, ma fa’amatala atili ai nisi o faiga fa’atautala o le ‘hazing’.
• Novema 24, 2025: Na fa’amatala atili e le Houston Public Media ia tu’ua’iga o le ‘hazing’, ma fa’amaonia ai le aofa’i o le $10 miliona ma fa’amamafaina le vaega ‘ghost rush’ o le mataupu.

O Fa’agaioiga Fa’apupu’a o le Hazing na Fa’aalia i le Matou Tagi Fa’amasino:

O auiliiliga o le hazing a Leonel e le na o ni “pranks”; o fa’aalia ai le osofa’iga, fa’aoolima, ma le fa’asauaina.

• Fa’atofuina i le Vai / Fa’ata’ita’iga o le Malemo: Na fa’atofuina Leonel i le “fa’ata’ita’iga o le fa’atofuina i le vai i se fa’apaipa fa’ato’aga,” ma sa sasaina sa’o i ona foliga a’o faia fa’amalositino. Sa toe fa’amalosia fo’i o ia e tamo’e i lalo o le fa’amata’u o le isi fa’atofuina i le vai. O se ituaiga o fa’asauaina ua aloa’ia lea, o se solitulafono o taua pe a faia i fitafita, ae sa fa’aaogaina i se alii talavou o taumafai e auai i se fa’alapotopotoga fa’aagafesootai.
• Fa’amalosia e ‘Ai Seia Pua’i: Na fa’amalosia Leonel e ‘ai le tele o susu, hot dogs, ma pepa se’ia pua’i. Tusa lava pe’a uma ona pua’i, na “fa’amalosia o ia e fa’aauau pea le tamo’e i sprints a’o manino lava lona tigaina fa’aletino” ma fa’amalosia e ta’oto i lalo i le vao na ia pua’i ai.
• Fa’asalaga Fa’amalositino tele: E aofia ai le silia ma le 100 ‘pushups’, 500 ‘squats’, ‘suicides’ (fa’amalositino tamo’e) e tetele tele, ‘bear crawls’, ‘wheelbarrows’, fa’amalositino “fa’asao-lou-uso”, fa’amafanafana e lua maila, ma le tele o le 100-yard ‘crawls’. Na fa’amalosia Leonel e fa’amatala le ‘fraternity creeds’ a’o faia nei fa’amalositino, ma o fa’amata’uga o le tulia vave na fa’amautinoa ai le usita’i. Sa faia fo’i ia te ia le sasaina i laupapa la’au. O lenei fa’amalositino le fa’agata na i’u ai i le pa’u o lona tino ma lona tulaga fa’afoma’i ogaoga.
• Fa’asauaina o le Mafaufau & Fa’alumaina: Na fa’amalosia Leonel e tatala ona ofu i le tau malulu ma ave se ‘fanny pack’ o lo’o iai “mea fa’afeusuaiga” i taimi uma. O le mea na tupu muamua e aofia ai se isi ‘pledge’ fusifusia na fa’aalia atili ai auala fa’atautala ma fa’alumaina na fa’aaogaina. O nei faiga na fa’amoemoe e fa’ato’ilaloina ai le loto o se ‘pledge’, ae le o le fausiaina o uiga.
• Le Lava o le Moe & Le Malosi: Na fa’amalosia Leonel e ta’avale tagata o le ‘fraternity’ i itula vave o le taeao, ma fa’alavelaveina lona moe ma fesoasoani atu i lona vaivai atoa. O lenei le lava o le malologa na fa’ateleina ai le fa’amalositino na faia ia te ia.

O Fa’alavelave Fa’afoma’i: Rhabdomyolysis

O le tele o sauaga fa’aletino na onosaia e Leonel na i’u ai i se tulaga fa’apitoa o le soifua maloloina e mata’utia le ola: rhabdomyolysis.

• O le a le Rhabdomyolysis? O le pa’u vave lea o le ‘muscle tissue’, ma fa’amatu’u ai se protein e ta’ua o le ‘myoglobin’ i totonu o le toto. O lenei ‘myoglobin’ e mafai ona matua oona tele i fatuga’o, e i’u ai i le fa’aletonu tele o fatuga’o ma, pe a le togafitia, e ono o’o lava i le oti.
• Fa’ailoga a Leonel: Pe’a fa’avave ona ta’i atu o ia i le falema’i, sa ia “fa’amama mimi enaena”, o se fa’ailoga masani o le ‘myoglobin’ i le mimi. Na fa’aalia i le su’ega o le toto “le tele o le ‘creatine kinase levels'”, ma fa’amaonia ai le tele o le fa’aleagaina o maso. Na mafatia o ia i le le mafai ona fa’agaioiina le fatuga’o, ma mana’omia ai le togafitiga fa’afoma’i tele.
• Taofia i le Falema’i: Na taofia o ia i le falema’i mo po e tolu ma aso e fa, ma le mafai ona minoi pe savali na o ia mo aso ona o le tiga tele o maso ma le vaivai.
• A’afiaga Umi: E ui o lo’o toe malosi o ia, ae o lo’o lamatia pea le fa’aleagaina tumau o fatuga’o, mana’omia le fa’aauau pea o le mata’ituina fa’afoma’i ma atonu e afaina ai lona soifua maloloina tumau.

O le ituaiga tonu lenei o fa’alavelave fa’afoma’i ua fa’amanuiaina e la matou kamupani i mataupu o le ‘hazing’ i le taimi ua tuana’i. O Ralph Manginello e iai lona tomai fa’apitoa i mataupu o le ‘rhabdomyolysis hazing’, ma malamalama i vaega fa’afoma’i ma fa’atulafono lavelave e aofia ai.

Tali a Fa’alapotopotoga: I Le Fa’amaumauga

O le Iunivesite o Houston ma le Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters na latou faia ni fa’amatalaga fa’alaua’itele i le mae’a ai o le fa’aalia o lenei fa’alavelave ‘hazing’. O a latou upu, pe’a va’aia e ala i se va’aiga fa’atulafono, e fa’aalia ai uma le fa’ailoaina ma taumafaiga e fa’atautaia le noataga.

• Fa’atauupu o le Iunivesite o Houston (Houston Public Media, Nov 24, 2025): “O mea na tupu na su’esu’eina e matua fa’alavelaveina ma o lo’o fa’atusalia ai se soliga manino o a matou tulaga fa’alotoifale. O lo’o faia e le Iunivesite lana lava su’esu’ega e felagolagoma’i ma le fa’amalosia tulafono ma fefa’asoa’i ma le ‘fraternity’ ma ona ta’ita’i fa’alotoifale. A’o fa’atali le i’uga o nei su’esu’ega, so’o se tagata e maua e nafa ma le ‘hazing’ o le a feagai ma fa’asalaga, e aofia ai le tulia ma le ono fa’asaga i moliaga fa’asolitulafono.”
  • Fa’aliliuina: E ui ina foliga popole, o lenei fa’amatalaga e fa’ailoa ai le tele o le soligatulafono ma fa’aalia ai se taumafaiga fa’atauaina e fa’atautaia le fa’aumatia. Latou te ta’utino o a latou lava tulaga na solia, ma le mea sili, fa’aalia le ono o moliaga fa’asolitulafono, ma fa’aalia ai le ogaoga o le amio ua tu’ua’ia. O la latou “felagolagoma’i” ma le ‘fraternity’ e fa’aalia ai fo’i se taumafaiga tu’ufa’atasia e fa’atautaia le tala.
• Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters (I la latou lava upega tafa’ilagi, Nov 21, 2025): “Na fa’amauina e le Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity lana Fa’alapotopotoga Beta Nu e amata ia Novema 14, 2025, ona o soliga o le fa’atonuga o le pulea o lamatiaga a le Fraternity ma tulaga o amio a tagata. E matua manatu mamafa le Pi Kappa Phi i tu’ua’iga uma o le ‘hazing’. O lenei faiga e fa’aalia ai lo matou tu’ufa’atasia i le fa’amautuina o tulaga fa’atauaina ma fa’amoemoega o le Fraternity a’o fa’apea fo’i le tu’u muamua o le soifua manuia o matou tagata… Matou te fa’afetai atu i le Iunivesite o Houston mo lo latou felagolagoma’i ma le ta’ita’iga. E iai se tala’aga matagofie o le Pi Kappa Phi i tamaiti a’oga manuia ma tagata fa’au’u mai le Fa’alapotopotoga Beta Nu, ma matou te tulimata’i le toe fo’i i le lotoa i le taimi talafeagai ma fa’aauau a matou pa’aga ma le Iunivesite o Houston i tausaga o lo’o loma.”
  • Fa’amatalaga: O la latou fa’amatalaga, na lomia i ni nai aso talu ona taofia Leonel i le falema’i ma a’o le’i faila le matou tagi fa’amasino, e fa’ailoa mai ai se fa’ailoaina manino o soliga. O la latou fa’apea o le “fa’amuamua le soifua manuia o matou tagata” e le aoga pe’a taofia se tagata i le falema’i ona o a latou gaioiga. E le gata i lea, o lo latou mana’o fa’aalia e “tulimata’i le toe fo’i i le lotoa” e fa’aalia ai le leai o se salamō po’o se malamalama moni i le ogaoga o le tulaga. E fa’aalia ai latou te manatu i lenei mea o se fa’afitauli le tumau nai lo se fa’aletonu mata’utia e mana’omia ai se suiga fa’avae. O le “felagolagoma’i” ma le UH e fa’amamafa atili ai le puipuiga tu’ufa’atasia.

Aisea e Tatau Ai Lenei Mataupu i Aiga i Amerika Samoa

1. Fa’amaoniga O Le “Aganuu” O Le Fa’asauaina: O lenei mataupu o lo’o fa’aalia ai ma le tiga e fa’apea o “aganuu” e masani lava o ni fa’agaioiga fa’asauaina ma le sauaga. O se su’esu’ega moni o le tulaga mo matua i Amerika Samoa e fa’apea e mafai ona tupu lenei mea i so’o se iunivesite e auai ai a latou fanau.
2. Ua Aafia Iunivesite: O le Iunivesite o Houston na pulea le fale ‘fraternity’ lea na tupu ai nei mea mata’utia. O iunivesite, pe lata ane i Amerika Samoa po’o le lalolagi atoa, e iai le noataga fa’atulafono ma le amio e mautinoa ai le saogalemu o tamaiti a’oga i luga o a latou meatotino. Pe a latou le taulau, e nafa i latou.
3. Ua Iloa e Fa’alapotopotoga Fa’alotoifale: Na fa’ata’apeina e le Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters le ‘chapter’ ina ua fa’aalia, ma fa’amaonia ai na latou iloa e le mafai ona puipuia le amio. O ‘fraternities’ ma ‘sororities’ fa’alotoifale tutusa ma fausaga fa’apena o lo’o fa’agaioia i Amerika Samoa ma le lalolagi atoa, ma o latou ta’ita’i fa’alotoifale e masani ona maua lenei malamalama ae le faia ni gaioiga mautinoa.
4. Ua Fefe Tagata Afaina: O le fefe o Leonel i le tauimasui ona o le tautala o se mea moni ma mata’utia. O tamaiti a’oga i Amerika Samoa o lo’o mafatia i le ‘hazing’ e feagai ma omiga fa’apena e le tautala. O la matou kamupani e maua ai se malu ma le puipuiga le fa’agata mo i latou e lototetele e o mai i luma.
5. E Mafai e Se Tagata Afaina Lototetele ona Puipuia Tamaiti A’oga i Amerika Samoa: E pei ona ta’ua e Lupe Pena, “Afai e puipuia ai le afaina o se isi tagata, o le mea lena matou te fa’amoemoe e fai.” E ala i le tulituliloaina o lenei tagi fa’amasino ma le malosi, e mafai e le mataupu a Leonel ona avea o se fa’agata malosi, ma e ono fa’asaoina ai isi tamaiti a’oga i Amerika Samoa mai fa’alavelave tutusa.
6. $10 Miliona e Auina Atu ai se Fe’au: O se tagi fa’amasino tele e le na o le taui; o le auina atu lea o se fe’au le mafa’amasinoina i iunivesite ma ‘fraternities’: o le tau o le ‘hazing’ e tele tele, ma o le tali atu o le a tulituliloaina ma le le fa’agata. E iai le aia tatau a aiga i Amerika Samoa e auina atu ai le fe’au lava lea.

O Le Mea Moni o le Hazing: E Sili Atu Nai lo le Au Iloilo

E masani ona mafaufau matua i Amerika Samoa po o le a moni lava le uiga o le “hazing”. Fa’agalo le au ‘stereotypes’ o ata tifaga o togafiti faigofie; o le ‘hazing’ i aso nei, e pei ona fa’aalia ma le fa’anoanoa i le mataupu a Leonel, o le sauaga fa’atulagaina lea e sopo’ia tapula’a i le osofa’iga, fa’aoolima, ma e o’o lava i le fa’asauaina. Ua mamanuina e fa’alumaina, fa’aleagaina, ma pulea, ma e masani lava ona i’u ai i fa’aleagaina tetele o le tino ma le mafaufau. E le o se fa’atotonugalemuina i le fausiaina o le “faigauo” po’o le “amio”; o se fa’atotonugalemuina i le fa’aaogaina o le malosi e ala i le saua.

Le Moni o le Hazing i le Greek Life ma Isi Fa’alapotopotoga:

• Fa’ao’olima ma Fa’aoolima: O le fa’amalositino fa’atupu fa’amalosi se’ia pa’u’u, o le sasa i foe, o le fa’ata’ita’iga o le goto, ma le fa’amalosia e ‘ai o ni ituaiga uma ia o le osofa’iga fa’aletino.
• Fa’asauaina o le Mafaufau: Fa’alumaina, fa’aleagaina, le lava o le moe, ma fa’amata’uga na maua mai ai ni mafatiaga tumau o le mafaufau. O le fefe o Leonel i le tauimasui o lo’o fa’aalia manino ai le si’osi’omaga fa’amalosi.
• Lama Mata’utia: O le fa’amalosia o tamaiti a’oga e inu le tele o le ava malosi po’o mea’ai, po’o le faia o fa’amalositino tele e aunoa ma le va’aiga fa’afoma’i, o le iloa lea o le tu’u o latou ola i se tulaga mata’utia.
• Oti Fa’a’aiaina po’o le Fasioti Tagata: O le mea e fa’anoanoa ai, o le tele o fa’alavelave o le ‘hazing’ e fa’ateteleina ai i le oti ona o le ‘alcohol poisoning’, pa’u, po’o isi manu’aga, e i’u ai i moliaga fa’asolitulafono ma tagi mo le oti sese.

O Fa’amaumauga o le Hazing e Matuā Mata’utia:

• O se pasene tele o tamaiti a’oga i fa’alapotopotoga Eleni e lipotia atu ua latou o’o i le ‘hazing’.
• Talu mai le 2000, e le itiiti ifo ma le tasi le oti o le ‘hazing’-e feso’ota’i i tausaga uma i le Iunaite Setete, o se fa’agasologa mata’utia e le o fa’aalia ai ni fa’ailoga o le fa’aitiitia.
• O le tele o tamaiti a’oga ua faia i ai le ‘hazing’ e le lipotia mai, ona o le fefe, le ma, po’o le fa’alata, ma fa’atagaina ai le fa’aauauina o le faiga leaga.
• E ui o ‘fraternities’ ma ‘sororities’ e masani ona avea ma taula’iga, ae o le ‘hazing’ e tupu i le tele o fa’alapotopotoga a tamaiti a’oga, e aofia ai ‘sports teams’, ‘band’, ‘ROTC’, ma ‘clubs’.

Le Fa’aletonu Fa’aletausaga Fa’aletonu:
E seāseā ona matua “fa’ate’ia” Iunivesite ma fa’alapotopotoga Eleni fa’alotoifale pe a fa’aalia mai fa’alavelave ‘hazing’. Latou te iloa le lautele o le ‘hazing’. E masani ona latou i ai ni tulafono fa’amoemoe e puipuia ai, ae latou te le taulau ona fa’amalosia lelei se’ia o’o ina matua manua se tamaitiiti a’oga pe oti. Na o le taimi lena e “taofia” pe “fa’ata’ape” ai ‘chapters’, e masani lava ma fa’amatalaga e fa’aitiitia ai le tali atu a’o fa’aalia le mana’o e “toe fo’i i le tulaga masani” i se taimi vave e mafai ai. O lenei fa’ata’ita’iga o le le va’ai ma le fa’atali o gaioiga o le mea tonu lea matou te fa’amoemoe e fa’alavelaveina e ala i fa’amasinoga fa’amalosi.

Ituaiga Fa’apitoa o Fa’afitauli Hazing Matou Te Va’ava’ai i Ai:

• Fa’ao’olima Fa’aletino: O le afaina sa’o lea o le tino, e aofia ai le sasa, le tu’i, le fa’ailoga, le mu, ma le fa’amalosi e fa’amalositino se’ia pa’u’u pe manu’a, e pei o le 500 ‘squats’ ma le 100 ‘pushups’ i le mataupu a Leonel.
• Fa’amalosia e ‘Ai: E masani ona aofia ai le ava malosi (‘binge drinking’, ‘chugging’, “inu se’ia pua’i”), ae e mafai fo’i ona aofia ai le fa’amalosia e ‘ai le tele o mea’ai po’o mea e le o ni mea’ai, e pei ona fa’amalosia ai Leonel e inu susu, ‘hot dogs’, ma ‘peppercorns’.
• Le Lava o le Moe: O le fa’amalosia o ‘pledges’ e mataala mo ni vaitaimi uumi, po’o le fa’alavelaveina o a latou moe i fa’agaioiga fa’amalosia o le po ma galuega i le vaveao, e matua fa’aitiitia ai lo latou va’aiga ma le soifua maloloina fa’aletino.
• Fa’asauaina o le Mafaufau: O lenei vaega e aofia ai le fa’alumaina, fa’aleagaina, leaga o le tautala, tu’ufua, fa’avalevalea o le mafaufau, fa’amata’uga, ma le fa’amalosia o le fa’alumaina fa’alaua’itele (e.g., aveina o mea e fa’aalia ai feusua’iga po’o le tatala o ofu i le tau malulu).
• Waterboarding / Fa’ata’ita’iga o le Malemo: O se gaioiga sili ona leaga, na fa’aalia i le mataupu a Leonel, o se ituaiga fa’asauaina ua aloa’ia ma e aofia ai le tu’uina o se tamaitiiti a’oga i le fefe i le malemo.
• Fa’aalia: O le fa’amalosia o tamaiti a’oga i tulaga o le tau leaga po’o si’osi’omaga mata’utia e aunoa ma se puipuiga talafeagai.
• Pologa: E masani ona fa’amalosia ‘pledges’ e faia galuega laiti, fa’amama, fa’ata’amilosaga, po’o galuega aveta’avale mo tagata matutua, ma fa’amalosia ai le le tutusa o le malosi.

O Fa’alavelave Fa’afoma’i e Fa’aumatia Ai:

O i’uga o nei faiga e mafai ona fa’ata’atala:

• Rhabdomyolysis ma le Fa’aletonu Tele o Fatuga’o: Na va’aia sa’o i le mataupu a Leonel Bermudez, na mafua mai i le tele o le fa’amalositino.
• Alcohol Poisoning: Le mafua’aga sili ona taatele o oti o le ‘hazing’, na mafua mai i le fa’amalosia o le inu tele.
• Manua o le Fai’ai: Mai sasa, pa’u, po’o isi osofa’iga fa’aletino.
• Hypothermia/Hyperthermia: Mai le fa’aalia i le vevela tele.
• Cardiac Arrest: Na mafua mai i le tele o le fa’amalositino po’o le fa’aogaina o vaila’au.
• Fa’aleagaina o le Mafaufau: E masani ona tupu mai fa’afitauli umi pei o le PTSD, matuā popole, ma le fa’anoanoa, e masani ona mana’omia le tele o togafitiga.
• Fa’alavelave Fa’afeusuaiga: Mai le fa’amalosia e lē ofuina ni lavalava, faiga fa’afeusuaiga, po’o le osofa’iga fa’afeusuaiga.
• OTI: O le i’uga sili, e le mafai ona toe fa’afo’iina pe a le pulea le ‘hazing’.

Pe’a alu ese lau tama mai Amerika Samoa e tuliloa a’oa’oga maualuluga, e tatau ona toe fo’i mai i le fale ma le saogalemu ma le soifua maloloina. Pe’a latou pa’u’u o ni tagata afaina i nei faiga leaga, matou te talitonu i le fa’asalaina o vaega uma e nafa.

O Ai E Nafa: Fa’asalaina So’o Se Vaega E Nafa I Amerika Samoa i Mataupu Tau Hazing

Pe’a manu’a pe oti se tamaitiiti a’oga ona o le ‘hazing’, e le na’o ni nai “tagata leaga” e nafa. O le aganuu e mafai ai le ‘hazing’ o se upega tafa’i lavelave o filifiliga a le tagata lava ia ma fa’aletonu fa’alāpotopotoga. O la matou kamupani o lo’o tu’uina atu i le fa’aleleia o lena upega tafa’i ma fa’asalaina tagata uma e nafa. O lenei auala fa’amalosi, atoatoa e fa’aalia ai la matou fuafuaga i le mataupu a Leonel Bermudez ma fa’aaoga tutusa i fa’alavelave ‘hazing’ e a’afia ai aiga i Amerika Samoa.

Mo aiga i Amerika Samoa, e taua tele le malamalama e fa’apea o tagata o lo’o aofia sa’o i le ‘hazing’ e le na’o i latou e nafa. O iunivesite e pei o le Iunivesite o Hawaii i Manoa, Chaminade University of Honolulu, po’o le Stanford University lea e mafai ona auai ai tamaiti a’oga i Amerika Samoa, e mafai ona fa’asalaina, fa’apea fo’i ma fa’alāpotopotoga Eleni fa’alotoifale malolosi o lo’o va’ava’ai i ‘chapters’ i le atunu’u atoa.

O Tagata Tetee Matou Te Taula’i I Ai – E Pei Lava i le Mataupu a Bermudez:

1. Fa’alapotopotoga Fa’alotoifale (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu):

   • Aisea latou te nafa ai: O le tulaga sili ona sa’o lea o le tali atu. O le fa’alapotopotoga fa’alotoifale e fa’atulagaina sa’o, auai, ma fa’atinoina aga o le ‘hazing’. O Ofisa o fa’alapotopotoga, e pei o le peresitene ma le ‘pledgemaster’, e iai a latou matafaioi fa’apitoa i le fa’atonuina ma le fa’atagaina o nei gaioiga. E mafai fo’i ona fa’asalaina tagata ta’ito’atasi e auai pe va’ai i le ‘hazing’ e aunoa ma le fa’alavelave.
   • I le mataupu a Leonel: Na tu’usa’o e le ‘chapter’ a le UH le ‘waterboarding’, sasaina, ma fa’amalosia Leonel e faia fa’amalositino mata’utia le ola.

2. Fa’alapotopotoga Fa’alotoifale o ‘Fraternity’ po’o ‘Sorority’ (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc.):

   • Aisea latou te nafa ai: O fa’alapotopotoga fa’alotoifale e masani ona tu’ua’ia le le iloa o fa’agaioiga a ‘chapter’ fa’alotoifale, ae e seāseā ona moni lenei mea. E iai a latou tiute e va’ava’ai a latou ‘chapters’, fa’amalosia tulafono e fa’asaga i le ‘hazing’, ma fa’alavelave pe a tupu le ‘hazing’. Pe a latou le taulau ona faia fa’apea, aemaise lava pe ‘a latou iloa se “fa’afitauli o le ‘hazing'” (e pei ona tu’ua’ia i le mataupu a Leonel) po’o se tala’aga o fa’alavelave muamua (pei o le maliu o Andrew Coffey i se isi ‘chapter’ a le Pi Kappa Phi), e nafa sa’o i latou. O nei fa’alapotopotoga fa’alotoifale e iai a latou aseta tetele, inisiua, ma e masani lava ona pulea meatotino e tupu ai le ‘hazing’.
   • I le mataupu a Leonel: Na vave ona fa’ata’ape e le Pi Kappa Phi National le ‘chapter’ ina ua fa’aalia, o se ta’utinoga na latou iloa le tele o le faiga le taupulea. E finau la matou kamupani na latou le taulau ona faia se gaioiga lelei e ui lava i se fa’ata’ita’iga o fa’afitauli o le ‘hazing’ mo le valu tausaga talu mai le maliu o Andrew Coffey.

3. Le Iunivesite po’o le Kolisi (e.g., Iunivesite o Houston & Komiti Fa’atonu a le UH):

   • Aisea latou te nafa ai: O fa’alapotopotoga fa’alea’oa’oga e iai le tiute fa’avae e mautinoa ai le saogalemu ma le soifua manuia o a latou tamaiti a’oga. O lenei tiute e o’o atu i fa’alapotopotoga Greek life o lo’o fa’agaioia i luga o la latou lotoa, aemaise lava pe’a pulea e le iunivesite pe pulea meatotino e tupu ai le ‘hazing’. O se iunivesite e le amana’ia se tala’aga ua iloa o le ‘hazing’, le taulau ona fa’amalosia ana lava tulafono, po’o le tu’uina atu o le va’aiga le atoatoa e fa’atamala.
   • I le mataupu a Leonel: O le Iunivesite o Houston na pulea le fale ‘fraternity’ lea na tupu ai nisi o le ‘hazing’. E le gata i lea, na i ai i le UH se fa’ata’ita’iga muamua o le ‘hazing’ na taofia i le falema’i i le 2017 (Jared Munoz, Pi Kappa Alpha), o lona uiga na i ai ia latou se tala’aga fa’amaumauina o le ‘hazing’ matuia i luga o la latou lotoa ma le taulau ona puipuia mai le tupu fa’atau. O lenei mea e fa’avaeina ai se fa’ata’ita’iga loloto o le fa’atamala fa’alāpotopotoga. Pe o le fa’alapotopotoga o se tasi e auai ai tamaiti a’oga i Amerika Samoa, e fa’aaoga tutusa lava mataupu fa’avae.

4. Tagata Faia Solitulafono Ta’ito’atasi:

   • Aisea latou te nafa ai: So’o se tagata lava e auai malosi i le ‘hazing’, fa’atonu, fa’amalosi, po’o le va’aia fo’i ma le mafai ona lipotia po’o le fa’alavelave e mafai ona fa’asalaina fa’alava. E aofia ai ofisa o ‘chapter’, tagata fa’agaoioi, ma e o’o lava i tagata fa’au’u e ono talimalo pe fa’afaigofie fa’alavelave ‘hazing’. E mafai ona feagai nei tagata ma tagi sivili mo le osofa’iga, fa’aoolima, fa’atamala, ma le fa’amoemoe e fa’atupuina le mafatia fa’aletonu.
   • I le mataupu a Leonel: O la matou tagi fa’amasino e fa’aigoa ai le peresitene o le ‘fraternity’, le ‘pledgemaster’, ma isi tagata o lo’o i ai nei ma sa iai. E le gata i lea, e aofia ai fo’i se tagata sa iai ma lona to’alua ona o fa’alavelave o le ‘hazing’ na tupu i lo la fale, ma fa’alautele atu ai le noataga ia i latou na fa’ataga pe fa’atagaina le ‘hazing’ i luga o a latou meatotino.

5. Tagata Esi Inisiua:

   • Aisea latou te nafa ai: O fa’aleagaina tetele na tu’uina atu i mataupu ‘hazing’ e masani ona ufiufi e inisiua eseese. E aofia ai le inisiua noataga a le fa’alapotopotoga fa’alotoifale, inisiua fa’alāpotopotoga a le iunivesite, ma e o’o lava i inisiua fale po’o inisiua tagata e nonofo fale e umia e tagata ta’ito’atasi po’o tagata fa’au’u o lo’o fa’afaigofie le ‘hazing’ i fale patino.
   • Lo matou avanoa: I le avea ai ma loia muamua o inisiua puipuiga, e iai uma ia Ralph Manginello ma Lupe Pena le malamalama fa’alotoifale taua i le auala e fuafua ai e kamupani inisiua, su’esu’e ai tagi, ma taumafai e fa’aitiitia tupe totogi. Matou te fa’aaogaina lenei malamalama e tulimata’i malosi ai le taui sili mo a matou tagata fa’atau, e aofia ai i latou i Amerika Samoa.

O Paketi Loloto:

Matou te malamalama o le tulituliloaina o le fa’amasinoga fa’asaga i tagata ta’ito’atasi, o nisi o i latou atonu o ni tamaiti a’oga i le kolisi, e mafai ona fa’afefe. Ae ui i lea, o le fa’amasinoga o le ‘hazing’ e seāseā ona na’o i latou. O taula’iga autu o “paketi loloto” – fa’alapotopotoga e tele aseta ma inisiua atoatoa:

• Fa’alapotopotoga Eleni Fa’alotoifale: O fa’alapotopotoga ia e masani ona multi-miliona-tala fa’atasi ai ma le tele o ‘endowments’ ma inisiua noataga fa’apitoa ua mamanuina e ufiufi ai ia fa’alavelave.
• Iunivesite ma Kolisi: O fa’alapotopotoga tetele fa’alea’oa’oga e iai le tele o ‘endowments’, fa’atupega a le setete (mo iunivesite a le malo), ma inisiua tele e mafai ona ufiufi fa’amasinoga multi-miliona-tala.
• Fa’alapotopotoga Fale: O fa’alapotopotoga ese’ese e masani ona pulea ‘fraternity’ po’o ‘sorority’ o fale, e ono fa’aopoopoina ai se isi vaega o aseta ma inisiua.

A tatou talia se mataupu ‘hazing’ i Amerika Samoa po’o se isi lava mea, o la tatou sini ia fa’ailoa ma tulituliloa so’o se fa’alapotopotoga e nafa, ma le tu’ua ai se ma’a e le fa’agaioia. Matou te le fefefe e fa’asaga i fa’alapotopotoga malolosi po’o fa’alapotopotoga mau’oa e fa’amautu ai le fa’amasinoga mo a matou tagata fa’atau.

O Mea E Manumalo Ai Nei Mataupu: Fa’amaoniga e Multi-Miliona Tala mo Aiga i Amerika Samoa

Mo aiga i Amerika Samoa o lo’o feagai ma a’afiaga o le ‘hazing’, o le malamalama i le taui tau tupe e ono maua e taua tele. E le o ni fa’amautu laiti; o fa’amasinoga ma fa’amautu e multi-miliona tala e auina atu ai se fe’au manino: o le ‘hazing’ o le a tele se tau e totogi ai. O fuafuaga fa’atulafono fa’amalosi tutusa na maua ai nei i’uga taua e fa’atatau sa’o i mataupu e afua mai i Amerika Samoa.

Matou te mata’ituina mataupu ‘hazing’ tetele uma i le Iunaite Setete, ma o lo’o manino le fa’ata’ita’iga: ua sili atu le naunau o loia ma fa’alapotopotoga e tu’uina atu le tele o le taui i tagata afaina ma o latou aiga. O lenei mea e fa’amaonia ai e mafai ona maua le fa’amasinoga, ma e fa’amalosia ai i matou e tulituliloa i’uga tutusa mo a matou tagata fa’atau, pe o latou i Houston po’o Amerika Samoa.

Fa’amasinoga ma Fa’amautu Taua – O Le a Latou Totogi:

• Stone Foltz – Iunivesite a le Setete o Bowling Green / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Aofa’i: $10.1 Miliona+
  • Mea na tupu: I Mati 2021, o Stone Foltz, o se sui auai fou i le BGSU, na fa’amalosia e inu atoa se fagu ava malosi i le taimi o le amataga o le “Big/Little”. Na maliu o ia ona o le ‘alcohol poisoning’.
  • Le Tupe Totogi: Na maua e lona aiga le $2.9 miliona mai le Iunivesite a le Setete o Bowling Green ma le $7.2 miliona mai le ‘national fraternity’ a le Pi Kappa Alpha ma ona tagata. O lo’o fa’atusalia ai le tele o tupe totogi mo le ‘hazing’ i iunivesite a le malo i le tala’aga o Ohio. Talu ai nei lava, ia Tesema 2024, na fa’atonuina ai Daylen Dunson, le sa avea ma Peresitene o le ‘chapter’, e totogi le $6.5 miliona i noataga patino.
  • Feso’ota’iga mo Amerika Samoa: O lenei mataupu e lagolago sa’o la matou talosaga e $10 miliona i le tagi fa’amasino a Bermudez. O lo’o fa’aalia ai o iunivesite ma ‘fraternities’ (ma o latou ta’ita’i ta’ito’atasi) e feagai ma noataga e multi-miliona tala mo le ‘hazing’. O lo’o fa’aalia ai fo’i o ‘fraternities’ fa’alotoifale tutusa (o le Pi Kappa Alpha e iai ‘chapters’ lata ane i Amerika Samoa) o lo’o faia gaioiga mata’utia tutusa i le atunu’u atoa.
• Maxwell Gruver – Iunivesite a le Setete o Louisiana / Phi Delta Theta (2017): Aofa’i: $6.1 Miliona Fa’amasinoga
  • Mea na tupu: Ia Setema 2017, na maliu ai Max Gruver, o se tamaitiiti a’oga fou e 18 tausaga i le LSU, ona o le ‘acute alcohol poisoning’ (BAC o le 0.495) ina ua uma se ta’aloga inu fa’amalosi i le taimi o le ‘hazing’ e pei o se “Su’esu’ega a le Tusi Pa’ia”.
  • Le Tupe Totogi: Na maua e le loia se fa’amasinoga e $6.1 miliona mo lona aiga.
  • A’afiaga La’ititi ma Tulafono: O lenei fa’alavelave mata’utia na i’u ai fo’i i se fa’asalaga fa’asolitulafono mo le ‘negligent homicide’ fa’asaga i se tagata ‘fraternity’ ma na fa’amalosiaina ai le Tulafono a Max Gruver, lea na fa’atupuina ai le ‘hazing’ o se ‘felony’ i Louisiana.
  • Feso’ota’iga mo Amerika Samoa: O lenei mataupu e fa’amaonia ai e naunau tagata fa’amasino e tu’uina atu fa’amasinoga e multi-miliona tala mo oti o le ‘hazing’. E fa’ateleina ai le fe’au e fa’apea o le ‘hazing’ e iai fa’alavelave fa’asolitulafono ma fa’alava’i, ma o ia suiga fa’atulafono e mafai ona a’afia e se mataupu malosi mai Amerika Samoa.
• Timothy Piazza – Iunivesite a le Setete o Penn / Beta Theta Pi (2017): Aofa’i: $110+ Miliona (Fa’amautu Fa’atulagaina le Tele)
  • Mea na tupu: I Fepuari 2017, na manu’a ai Timothy Piazza, o se sui auai fou i le Penn State, ona o le ‘traumatic brain injury’ ma le toto i totonu ona o le fa’amalosia e inu le 18 meainu i le 82 minute ma pa’u fa’ateleina i lalo o fa’asitepu. Na fa’atali le au ‘fraternity’ mo le 12 itula a’o le’i vili le 911.
  • Le Tupe Totogi: E ui ina fa’alilo, ae o lipoti eseese e fa’atatauina o fa’amautu atoa i lana mataupu e silia ma le $110 miliona.
  • A’afiaga La’ititi ma Tulafono: O lenei mataupu mata’utia na i’u ai i moliaga fa’asolitulafono ma fa’asalaga fa’asaga i tagata ‘fraternity’, ma na fa’amalosiaina ai le Tulafono a Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing a Pennsylvania.
  • Feso’ota’iga mo Amerika Samoa: O se fa’ailoga lea mo le tele o tupe totogi e ono maua i mataupu o le ‘hazing’, aemaise lava pe a maua fa’amaoniga malolosi, e pei o le ata pu’eata puipuiga (lea na fa’aalia ai le moni i le mataupu a Piazza). O lo’o fa’aalia ai o le fa’atamala fa’alāpotopotoga fa’asaga i fa’alapotopotoga e mafai ona i’u ai i noataga mata’utia.
• Andrew Coffey – Iunivesite a le Setete o Florida / Pi Kappa Phi (2017): O le Fraternity Tutusa ma Bermudez!
  • Mea na tupu: Ia Novema 2017, na maliu ai Andrew Coffey ona o le ‘alcohol poisoning’ ina ua uma ona fa’amalosia e inu atoa se fagu uisikī i le taimi o le “Big Brother Night” i le Florida State.
  • Le Tupe Totogi: Na fa’amautu le tagi fa’alava’i mo se aofa’iga fa’alilo, ma o isi tagata ‘fraternity’ na feagai ma moliaga fa’asolitulafono.
  • Feso’ota’iga mo Amerika Samoa: E taua tele le iloa o Pi Kappa Phi o le fa’alapotopotoga fa’alotoifale tutusa o lo’o aofia i le mataupu a Leonel Bermudez. O le maliu o Andrew Coffey i le valu tausaga muamua e fa’amaonia ai na iloa e lo latou fa’alapotopotoga fa’alotoifale le ‘hazing’ e i’u ai i le oti i totonu o a latou ‘chapters’. O lenei mea e fa’avaeina ai se fa’ata’ita’iga loloto o le fa’atamala ma le mafaufauina o manu’aga a Leonel, ma fa’amalosia tele ai la matou mataupu ma so’o se mataupu tutusa mai Amerika Samoa.
• Adam Oakes – Iunivesite a le Commonwealth o Virginia / Delta Chi (2021): $4+ Miliona Fa’amautu
  • Mea na tupu: Na maliu Adam Oakes ia Fepuari 2021 ona o le ‘alcohol poisoning’ ina ua uma ona fa’amalosia e inu se lita o uisikī i le taimi o se fa’alavelave ‘Big-Little Brother’ a le Delta Chi.
  • Le Tupe Totogi: Na maua e lona aiga se fa’amautu e silia ma le $4 miliona ma itu eseese o lo’o aofia ai, e aofia ai le ‘fraternity’ ma tagata ta’ito’atasi.
  • Feso’ota’iga mo Amerika Samoa: O lenei mataupu lata mai e fa’amalosia atili ai le multi-miliona tala totogi mo oti o le ‘hazing’, e ui lava i le maualalo o numera muamua o le fa’amautu nai lo le mana’oga muamua.
• Iunivesite o Houston / Pi Kappa Alpha (2017): O le Iunivesite Tutusa ma Bermudez!
  • Mea na tupu: I le 2017, i le valu tausaga a’o le’i taofia Leonel Bermudez i le falema’i, na taofia ai se tamaitiiti a’oga o le Iunivesite o Houston o lo’o ‘pledging’ i le Pi Kappa Alpha i le falema’i ona o le ‘lacerated spleen’ ona o le ‘hazing’. Na faila se tagi fa’amasino e $1 miliona.
  • Feso’ota’iga mo Amerika Samoa: O lenei mea e fa’aalia ai sa i ai i le Iunivesite o Houston le silafia muamua o le ‘hazing’ matuia i luga o lana lotoa. O lo latou le taulau ona fa’atinoina suiga lelei na fa’atagaina ai le tupu o le fa’alavelave a Leonel, ma fa’amalosia atili ai lo latou noataga.

Aotelega o Tupe Totogi e Faaopopoga:

• Pi Kappa Alpha: Silia ma le $10.1 miliona mai le mataupu a Stone Foltz na’o ia, fa’atasi ai ma isi fa’amautu.
• Phi Delta Theta: $6.1 miliona fa’amasinoga mai le mataupu a Maxwell Gruver.
• Beta Theta Pi: Silia ma le $110 miliona (fa’atatauina) mai le mataupu a Timothy Piazza.
• Delta Chi: Silia ma le $4 miliona mai le mataupu a Adam Oakes.
• Pi Kappa Phi: Le tele o miliona i fa’amautu i mataupu eseese. O la matou tagi fa’amasino o lo’o i ai nei e $10 miliona fa’asaga ia i latou e fa’avae i luga o lenei tala’aga.

O nei mataupu e auina atu ai se fe’au manino i fa’alapotopotoga Eleni fa’alotoifale ma ‘chapters’ o lo’o fa’agaioia i Amerika Samoa, ma i iunivesite o lo’o a’oga ai tamaiti a’oga i Amerika Samoa: o le ‘hazing’ o se noataga e mafai ona tele miliona se tau.
Mo aiga i Amerika Samoa, o le fa’amaoniga lea e fa’apea o le faia o gaioiga fa’atulafono e le gata ina maua ai le taui taua mo manu’aga ma mafatiga o a latou fanau ae e fa’atupuina ai fo’i suiga fa’atulagaina i le ‘Greek life’ ma le saogalemu o le lotoa. Ua matou tu’uina atu i le ausiaina o se i’uga tutusa mo tagata afaina i le ‘hazing’ mai Amerika Samoa.

E Puipuia Oe e le Tulafono a Teas: Malamalama i Au Aia Tatau i Amerika Samoa i Mataupu Tau Hazing

E ui o Amerika Samoa e iai ana lava tulafono fa’apitonu’u ma aganu’u, ae o mataupu fa’avae fa’atulafono o lo’o lagolagoina le fa’amasinoga o le ‘hazing’ e masani ona fa’avae i tulafono lautele a le feterale ma setete o le Iunaite Setete. Talu ai o lo’o fa’agaioia la matou kamupani i le atunu’u atoa ma iai le pulega o fa’amasinoga feterale, e mafai ona matou fa’aaogaina le fa’avae fa’atulafono malosi a setete pei o Teas (lea matou te fa’avae ai) e puipuia ai aiga i Amerika Samoa. O le malamalama i nei tulafono e fesoasoani e fa’amalosia ai matua i Amerika Samoa e iloa le ogaoga o le ‘hazing’ ma o latou aia tatau e saili ai le fa’amasinoga.

E taua tele mo aiga i Amerika Samoa ona malamalama o moliaga fa’asolitulafono ma tagi fa’alava’i e ese’ese ae e masani ona tutusa auala i le fa’amasinoga. A’o fa’atatau le moliaga fa’asolitulafono e fa’asalaina tagata na faia solitulafono, o se tagi fa’alava’i e fa’atatau e taui le tagata afaina mo ona manu’aga ma leiloa. E le fa’aesea nei mea; o le mea moni, o le manuia i le tasi e mafai ona fa’amalosia ai le isi.

Manatu Fa’atulafono Autu e Fa’atatau i Tagata Afaina i le Hazing i Amerika Samoa:

1. E Le Fa’atulafonoina le Hazing – Tulafono Fa’alotoifale:
   O le tele o setete o le Iunaite Setete, e aofia ai Teas, e iai a latou tulafono fa’asaga i le ‘hazing’. O nei tulafono e fa’amatalaina ai le a le “hazing”, e masani ona aofia ai le sauaga fa’aletino, fa’amalosia e ‘ai, le lava o le moe, ma le sauaga fa’alemafaufau, o mea tonu lava na onosaia e Leonel Bermudez. O nei tulafono e masani ona maua ai fa’asalaga fa’asolitulafono for tagata ta’ito’atasi ma fa’alapotopotoga o lo’o aofia ai.

   • Fa’aaoga i Amerika Samoa: E tusa lava pe tupu se fa’alavelave ‘hazing’ i Amerika Samoa (po’o se isi lava mea i fafo atu o Teas), e masani ona tutusa tulafono fa’asaga i le ‘hazing’ a isi setete. Afai o le ‘hazing’ e aofia ai solitulafono feterale (e.g., ‘mail fraud’ mo se fuafuaga ‘hazing’ i le va o setete), e mafai ona iai le aia tatau a fa’amasinoga feterale. E le gata i lea, o mataupu fa’avae o le fa’atamala ma le osofa’iga e fa’aaoga lautele.

2. E le O Se Puipuiga le Fa’atagaina:
   Atonu o le manatu fa’atulafono sili ona taua lenei mo aiga i Amerika Samoa e pulea. E masani ona fa’apea mai fa’alapotopotoga o le ‘hazing’ na “fa’atagaina” e tagata afaina ia gaioiga po’o “na latou iloa le mea o lo’o latou saini ai.” Ae peita’i, i le tulafono, e le mafai ona e fa’atagaina se solitulafono.

   • O le Texas Education Code § 37.154 o lo’o fa’apea mai: “E le o se puipuiga i moliaga mo se solitulafono i lalo o lenei vaega la’ititi e fa’apea na fa’atagaina e le tagata na fa’asaga i ai le ‘hazing’ le gaioiga o le ‘hazing’.”
   • Fa’aaoga i Amerika Samoa: O lenei mataupu fa’avae fa’atulafono ua sili atu ona aloa’ia i le atunu’u atoa. E masani ona le mafai e tamaiti laiti ona tu’u atu le fa’atagaina, ma e o’o lava i tagata matutua e masani ona feagai ma le tele o omiga mai le au pa’aga, le fefe i le tulia ese, po’o fa’amata’uga e fa’apea e le moni le “fa’atagaina.” O le a matou fa’asagaga malosi i so’o se taumafaiga a tagata ua molia e fa’aaoga le “fa’atagaina” e fai ma’alofaga mo a latou amio fa’asolitulafono ma le fa’atamala.

3. Fa’asalaga Fa’asolitulafono:
   O le gaioiga ‘hazing’ e mafai ona i’u ai i moliaga fa’asolitulafono e amata mai i soligatulafono itiiti (misdemeanors) e o’o i soligatulafono tetele (felonies), e fa’atatau i le ogaoga o le gaioiga ma manu’aga na mafua mai ai.

   • Fa’ata’ita’iga (Teas): Hazing e mafua ai le manu’a ogaoga o le tino (pei o le le gafatia o fatuga’o o Leonel Bermudez) o se Misdemeanor Class A, e mafai ona fa’asalaina i le falepuipui mo le tasi le tausaga. Hazing e mafua ai le oti o se Felony a le Setete o le Falepuipui, e o’o atu i le lua tausaga i le falepuipui a le setete.
   • Fa’aaoga i Amerika Samoa: O moliaga fa’asolitulafono fa’asaga i tagata o lo’o aofia i le ‘hazing’ e auina atu ai se fe’au mamana ma e mafai ona muamua pe tutusa ma se tagi fa’alava’i.

4. Noataga Fa’alāpotopotoga:
   E ese mai i tagata ta’ito’atasi, e mafai ona fa’asalaina fa’alāpotopotoga fa’alotoifale ma fa’alāpotopotoga fa’alotoifale i le tulafono fa’asolitulafono ma le tulafono fa’alava’i. E mafai ona feagai fa’alāpotopotoga ma sala tupe, leiloa o a latou ‘charter’, ma le fa’asaina mai le fa’agaioia i luga o le lotoa.

   • Fa’ata’ita’iga (Teas): E nofosala se fa’alapotopotoga pe’a “fa’ataga pe fa’amalosi le ‘hazing'” po’o pe’a faia e ona tagata le ‘hazing’.
   • Fa’aaoga i Amerika Samoa: E taua tele lenei mea mo le maua o “paketisi loloto” a ‘fraternities’ fa’alotoifale ma iunivesite, o i latou ia e nafa mulimuli ma le aganuu latou te fa’ataga e fa’aleagaina.

5. Noataga Fa’alava’i – Tagi mo Fa’aleagaina:
   E tusa lava pe le faila moliaga fa’asolitulafono pe i’u ai i le fa’asaolotoina, e mafai lava ona tulituliloa e tagata afaina tagi fa’alava’i. O nei mataupu e saili mo taui tau tupe mo fa’aleagaina tetele na mafatia ai.

   • Tagi o Fa’atamala: Le autu o le tele o tagi fa’alava’i. E matou te finau e fa’apea na iai i fa’alapotopotoga ma tagata ta’ito’atasi se “tiute o le tausiga” e puipuia tamaiti a’oga, na “solia” lena tiute (e.g., e ala i le fa’atagaina o le ‘hazing’, le taulau ona va’ava’ai), ma o lenei soliga na “mafua ai” manu’aga o le tagata afaina ma “fa’aleagaina” (falema’i, tiga, mafatia). O se mataupu fa’avae lenei i le atunu’u atoa.
   • Noataga o Meatotino: Afai e tupu le ‘hazing’ i luga o meatotino e umia pe pulea e le iunivesite (pei o le Iunivesite o Houston e umiaina le fale Pi Kappa Phi), e ono nofoa’i le fa’alapotopotoga o se tagata umia meatotino mo le le taulau ona tausia se si’osi’omaga saogalemu. E fa’aaoga lenei mea i so’o se mea e umiaina ai e iunivesite fale fraternity, e pei o nisi lotoa e mafai ona tu’u atu e aiga Amerika Samoa a latou fanau.
   • Le Va’aiga Fa’atamala: E mafai ona molia fa’alapotopotoga fa’alotoifale ma iunivesite mo le le taulau ona va’ava’ai lelei i fa’alapotopotoga fa’alotoifale po’o le ‘Greek life’, aemaise lava pe a latou iloa fa’alavelave ‘hazing’ i aso ua tuana’i.
   • Osofa’iga ma Fa’aoolima: E mafai ona molia sa’o tagata ta’ito’atasi e fa’aleagaina fa’aletino se tamaitiiti a’oga mo nei ‘torts’ fa’atatauina.
   • Fa’atupu Fa’amoemoeina o le Mafatia Fa’aletonu: Mo amio fa’amaoni ma mata’utia e mafua ai mafatiaga ogaoga o le mafaufau, o lenei tagi e fa’asalaina tagata na faia ma i latou na fa’atagaina mo le fa’aleagaina o le mafaufau.
   • Tagi mo le Oti Sese: I le tulaga mata’utia o le oti o le ‘hazing’, e mafai ona molia aiga mo le tele o fa’aleagaina, e aofia ai le leiloa o le mafutaga, lagolago tau tupe, ma tupe fa’aalu o le falelauasiga.

Au Aia Tatau o Ni Tagata Afaina i le Hazing i Amerika Samoa:

Mo aiga i Amerika Samoa, o le malamalama i nei auala fa’atulafono o lona uiga o le malamalama e iai au meafaigaluega malolosi e tau ai. Pe tupu le ‘hazing’ i se teritori a le Iunaite Setete po’o se setete a le Iunaite Setete, o mataupu fa’avae fa’avae o le fa’amasinoga mo manu’aga fa’aletino o lo’o tumau pea. O lo matou ulufale atu i fa’amasinoga feterale ma le lalolagi atoa o lona uiga e tusa lava po o fea na ‘hazed’ ai lau tama, ua matou saunia e tulituliloa le fa’amasinoga i lalo o le fa’avae fa’atulafono sili ona lelei o lo’o maua. Ua matou sauni e fa’aaoga o matou tomai i lau mataupu, ma mautinoa o lo’o puipuia au aia tatau ma o i latou na fa’aleagaina lau tama o le a fa’asalaina atoa.

Aisea le Attorney911: O le Pa’aga a Amerika Samoa i le Taua Fa’asaga i le Hazing

Pe’a feagai lou aiga i Amerika Samoa ma le taufaafefe o le hazing, e te mana’omia le sili atu nai lo se loia; e te mana’omia se tagata fautua le fa’agata e malamalama i le fa’agasologa fa’atulafono lavelave, le a’afiaga mata’utia o le hazing, ma—le mea sili—pe fa’apefea ona manumalo fa’asaga i fa’alapotopotoga mamana. O le Attorney911 o lena tagata fautua. Matou te aumaia se tu’ufa’atasiga uiga ese o le poto masani, malamalama, ma le fuafuaga fa’amasino malosi lea e avea ai matou ma filifiliga manino mo tagata afaina i le hazing ma o latou aiga i Amerika Samoa.

Lo Matou Poto Masani, Lou Lelei – E o’o Lava i Amerika Samoa:

1. O lo’o Faia Nei se Tagi Fa’avae Tula Fa’amasino e $10 Miliona: Matou te le na’o le faitauina o le hazing; o lo’o matou tau malosi i le fa’amasinoga i le taimi nei. O lo matou sui o Leonel Bermudez fa’asaga ia Pi Kappa Phi ma le Iunivesite o Houston o le fa’amaoniga lea o lo matou tu’ufa’atasia ma le poto masani. O lona uiga e maua e aiga i Amerika Samoa aoga mai fuafuaga e aoga i le taimi moni, ua fa’ata’ita’iina i le taua i le fa’amasinoga o le hazing.
2. Malamalama Fa’alotoifale le mafaatusalia: O Ralph Manginello ma Lupe Pena o loia puipuia inisiua muamua. Na la fa’atasi mo le tele o tausaga i le isi itu, ma a’oa’oina tonu pe fa’apefea ona fa’atauaina e kamupani inisiua, iunivesite, ma fa’alapotopotoga fa’alotoifale tagi, fa’avae puipuiga, ma taumafai e fa’aitiitia tupe totogi. Latou te iloa le ‘playbook’, ma o lea ua latou fa’aaogaina lena malamalama e fa’ato’ilaloina ai le puipuiga ma fa’ateleina le maua mo a matou tagata fa’atau i Amerika Samoa.
   • O le poto masani o Lupe Pena i le Litchfield Cavo LLP, o se kamupani loia puipuia a le atunu’u, e maua ai se malamalama sa’o i fuafuaga o lo’o fa’aaogaina e fa’alapotopotoga lava latou matou te molia. Na alu atu o ia ma le malamalama taua tele mai totonu o le potu taua a le fili.
3. Pulega o Fa’amasinoga Feterale ma Ulufale Tulafono Fa’alua-Setete: E ui o lo matou ofisa autu o lo’o i Houston, Austin, ma Beaumont, Texas, o lo matou ulufale atu i fa’amasinoga feterale (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas) ma laisene loia Teas ma New York e maua ai se avanoa fa’apitoa. O lenei mea e mafai ai e matou ona faia mataupu lavelave o le hazing fa’asaga i ‘fraternities’ fa’alotoifale ma iunivesite, e tusa lava po o fea o latou nofoaga autu po’o fea na tupu ai le hazing, e aofia ai mo aiga i Amerika Samoa. E le o se fa’agata le va mamao i le sailiga o le fa’amasinoga.
4. Fa’amaumauga Fa’amaonia Fa’asaga i Tagata Tetee Malolosi: O le auai o Ralph Manginello i le fa’amasinoga o le BP Texas City Explosion e multi-piliona tala e fa’aalia ai lo matou gafatia e fa’asaga i tagata ua molia o kamupani tetele ma fa’amautu le fa’amasinoga i mataupu lavelave o le ‘mass tort’. O mataupu o le hazing, e aofia ai fa’alapotopotoga fa’alotoifale ma iunivesite tetele, e mana’omia ai lenei tulaga tutusa o le mafaufau fa’apitoa ma le fa’atinoina malosi, lea matou te aumaia i Amerika Samoa.
5. Poto Masani Fa’apitoa i le Rhabdomyolysis ma le Hazing: E iai le poto masani sa’o o Ralph i le fa’atautaia o mataupu manu’a o le rhabdomyolysis, e pei o le tulaga o Leonel Bermudez, fa’apea fo’i ma fa’amasinoga o le Kappa Sigma fraternity ma mataupu ‘hazing’ a le Teas A&M. O lenei taula’iga fa’apitoa o lona uiga matou te malamalama loloto i vaega fa’afoma’i, aganuu, ma fa’atulafono e uiga ese i fa’alavelave ‘hazing’.
6. Leai se Totogi Muamua – Totogi Fa’avae i le I’uga: Matou te malamalama o le mafatiaga o le hazing e mafai ona fa’aaluina ai le tele o tupe mo aiga i Amerika Samoa. O le mafua’aga lena matou te faia ai mataupu hazing i luga o se totogi fa’avae i le i’uga. E te le totogiina se mea muamua. E na’o le taimi matou te manumalo ai i lau mataupu matou te totogia ai, ma fa’afeso’ota’i sa’o lo matou manuia ma lo outou manuia.
   • Matou te iloa o lau fa’amuamua o le toe fa’aleleia o lau tama, ae le o le totogi o loia. Matou te ave’esea le fa’alavelave tau tupe ina ia e mafai ona taula’i i le toe fa’aleleia a’o matou tau mo le fa’amasinoga.
7. A’a Loloto ma Sui Agalelei: O Ralph ma Lupe o ni tagata Teas e iai sootaga malolosi i le nu’u. O Lupe o se tagata Teas o le lona tolu o augatupulaga ma le talatuu e feso’ota’i ma le King Ranch. O i latou foi o ni tama, ma malamalama loloto i le mea o lo’o lamatia pe a fa’aleagaina se tamaitiiti e le hazing. Matou te fa’alatalata atu i mataupu uma ma le alofa mutimutivale ma se tautinoga malosi i a matou tagata fa’atau, e fa’atauaina aiga i Amerika Samoa “e pei o le aiga.”
8. Au’aunaga Gagana Lua (Se Habla Español): E matua lelei lava le tautala fa’aSipania o Lupe Pena, ma ofoina atu au’aunaga fa’atulafono atoatoa i aiga e tautala fa’aSipania o lo’o a’afia i le hazing. O lenei mea e mautinoa ai e leai se fa’alavelave gagana e taofia ai aiga Hispanic i Amerika Samoa mai le mauaina o le fa’amasinoga.
9. Auala Fa’amalosi, Fa’avae Fa’amatalaga: Matou te le mate; matou te iloa. Matou te tausia se tasi o lisi fa’alilolilo sili ona atoatoa o fa’alapotopotoga Eleni i Teas (e aofia ai EINs, igoa fa’atulafono, ma fausaga inisiua). O lenei “fa’amaumauga o le hazing intelligence” e mafai ai e matou ona fa’ailoa vave so’o se fa’alapotopotoga e nofoa’i, mai ‘chapters’ fa’alotoifale i ofisa autu o le atunu’u ma ‘housing corporations’, ma mautinoa matou te iloa tonu po’o ai e molia. O lo’o matou fausia le ituaiga fa’amaumauga lava lea i le atunu’u atoa, ma fa’afaigofie atu ai lo matou gafatia i le mea e a’oga ai tamaiti a’oga i Amerika Samoa.
   • Pe’a tapunia e le Pi Kappa Phi lana ‘chapter’ a’o le’i faila la matou tagi fa’amasino, ua uma ona matou fa’ailoa a latou fausaga fa’apisinisi i la matou fa’amaumauga. O le a matou fa’aaogaina le naunau tutusa i lau mataupu i Amerika Samoa.
10. Naunauta’i e Malaga ma Avanoa mamao: E ui o lo matou ofisa o lo’o i aai tetele, matou te auauna atu i tagata afaina i le hazing i le atunu’u atoa, e aofia ai Amerika Samoa. Matou te ofoina atu fa’atalanoaga vitiō mo le faigofie ma ua saunia e malaga atu i Amerika Samoa mo ‘depositions’, fonotaga ma tagata fa’atau, po’o le fa’amasinoga pe a mana’omia. E le o se fa’alavelave le va mamao i le sailiga o le fa’amasinoga.
11. Feso’ota’iga Fa’atotonugalemu i Tagata Fa’atau: O a matou molimau o lo’o fa’aalia ai le matou feso’ota’iga faifai pea ma le tali atu. Matou te mautinoa e fa’ailoa atu aiga i Amerika Samoa i la’asaga uma, ma maua ai le filemu o le mafaufau i se taimi faigata. E te le tu’ua e mafaufau e uiga i lau mataupu.

Aisea e Filifili Ai Matou mo Lau Mataupu o le Hazing i Amerika Samoa?

Afai ua fa’aleagaina lau tama, e pei ua liliu le lalolagi. E te mana’omia se kamupani e le gata ina atamai fa’atulafono ae o lo’o fa’amalosia lona lagona. O lo’o matou tau i lenei taua i le taimi nei mo Leonel Bermudez, ma o le a matou aumaia le tulaga tutusa o le tu’ufa’atasia, poto masani, ma le fa’atulafonoina o le fa’amasinoga i lou aiga i Amerika Samoa.

Aua le fa’ataga ‘fraternities’ po’o iunivesite malolosi i Amerika Samoa po’o le atunu’u autu o le Iunaite Setete e fa’aguguina lau tama. Filifili le kamupani e iloa a latou fuafuaga, tautala i la latou gagana, ma iai se tala’aga fa’amaonia o le fa’ato’ilaloina o i latou. Filifili Attorney911.

O Le A Le Mea e Fai Nei: La’asaga Gagana mo Tagata Afaina i le Hazing ma Aiga i Amerika Samoa

O taimi e tupu ai se mea o le ‘hazing’ e taua tele. Mo aiga i Amerika Samoa o lo’o feagai ma lenei fa’afitauli, o le faia o gaioiga vave ma mautinoa e mafai ona faia ai se suiga tele i le puipuia o fa’amaoniga, puipuia o au aia tatau fa’atulafono, ma le fa’amautuina o le fa’amasinoga. E masani ona vave gaoioi fa’alapotopotoga o le ‘hazing’ ma fa’alapotopotoga le fa’atamala e ufiufi a latou tulagavae, o lea e tatau ona e gaoioi vave.

O le matou tagata o tausia i le mataupu a le Pi Kappa Phi na taofia i le falema’i ia Novema 6, ma na matou faila la matou tagi fa’amasino e $10 miliona ia Novema 21. O le tali vave lea e ki i le manuia.

O la’asaga fa’anatinati lava ia e tatau ona faia e tagata afaina i le hazing ma o latou aiga i Amerika Samoa:

1. Fa’avave ona sailia togafitiga fa’afoma’i (pe afai e te le’i faia): O le soifua maloloina ma le saogalemu o lau tama e sili ona taua. Alu i le potu fa’afuase’i po’o le fale fa’afoma’i lata ane. Tusa lava pe foliga laiti manu’aga, ia maua se fa’amaumauga lelei mai foma’i. O lenei mea e maua ai se fa’amaumauga taua e feso’ota’i sa’o ai manu’aga ma le mea na tupu o le hazing. O so’o se fa’atuai i togafitiga fa’afoma’i e mafai ona fa’aaoga e le au puipuia e fa’apea e le ogaoga manu’aga po’o le le mafua mai i le hazing. Ia mautinoa e lipotia uma fa’ailoga, tusa lava pe laiti.

   • Mo Amerika Samoa, e mafai ona aofia ai foma’i fa’apitonu’u, Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center, pe saili togafitiga i Honolulu po’o se setete o le Iunaite Setete pe a mana’omia togafitiga fa’apitoa.

2. Puipuia Fa’amaoniga Uma – Fa’amaumauga Uma! Atonu o le la’asaga sili ona taua lenei. O fa’alapotopotoga o le ‘hazing’ o le a taumafai e fa’aleaga pe nanā fa’amaoniga. E tatau ona e puipuia a’o le’i mou atu.

   • Fa’amaumauga Fa’afoma’i: Maua kopi o fa’amaumauga uma o falema’i, asiasiga i potu fa’afuase’i, tusi a foma’i, i’uga o su’ega laboratory (aemaise lava mo rhabdomyolysis po’o le maualuga o le ava malosi), ma so’o se fa’amaumauga o togafitiga po’o fa’atalanoaga.
   • Ata ma Ata Vitiō:
     • Pu’e ata o manu’aga i la’asaga uma o le toe malosi (manu’a, tipi, mu, ‘rashes’, maso fulafula). Fa’amaumauga so’o se meafaigaluega fa’afoma’i, ‘casts’, po’o ‘bandages’.
     • Afai e iai ni ata po’o vitiō o fa’agaioiga o le ‘hazing’, ia vave ona puipuia.
     • Pu’e ata o le nofoaga o le hazing pe a mafai (fale fraternity, fale fa’a-lotoifale, paka, nofoaga mamao).
   • Feso’ota’iga: O se ‘goldmine’ lenei o fa’amaoniga.
     • E taua tele ‘screenshots’: Puipuia savali tusitusia uma, talanoaga i le GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DM, Facebook message, po’o imeli e feso’ota’i ma le hazing, e aofia ai fa’atonuga, fa’amata’uga, fa’amatalaga leaga, ma talanoaga i le va o ‘pledges’ po’o tagata.
     • Sailia so’o se mea e fa’aalia ai le auai fa’amalosi, fa’alumaina, po’o mana’oga fa’aletino.
   • Fa’amatalaga o Molimau: Aoao igoa, numera telefoni, ma so’o se fa’amatalaga e fa’afeso’ota’i ai mo isi ‘pledges’, tagata ‘fraternity’ na foliga le to’a, po’o so’o se tagata na va’aia le hazing. E mafai e a latou molimau ona lagolagoina le tala a lau tama.
   • Pepa Aloa’ia: Maua kopi o tusi ta’iala ‘pledge’ uma, fa’asologa, tulafono, po’o tulafono o amio na tu’uina atu i lau tama.
   • Fa’amaumauga Tupe: Fa’amaumauga uma o tupe fa’aalu fa’afoma’i, totogi na leiloa (pe afai na le auai lau tama i galuega po’o se avanoa faigaluega), ma tupe a’oga po’o totogifa’aoga e ono leiloa ona o le fa’aui i tua po’o le fa’alavelave a’oa’oga.
   • Fa’amaumauga Fa’alea’oa’oga: Fa’amaumauga so’o se a’afiaga i togi a lau tama, tulaga lesitala, po’o sikolasipi.

3. AUA LE Feso’ota’i i le Fraternity, Iunivesite, po’o O Latou Sui e Aunoa ma le Loia:

   • Aua lava ne’i talanoa i ta’ita’i ‘fraternity’/’sorority’ (fa’alotoifale po’o le atunu’u) po’o tagata ta’ito’atasi e uiga i le mea na tupu e aunoa ma se loia. E le o latou i lou itu ma o le a latou taumafai e fa’a’ole’ole pe fa’amata’u oe.
   • Aua lava ne’i tu’uina atu se fa’amatalaga i le pulega a le iunivesite, ofisa Greek Life, po’o ofisa Title IX na’o oe. E ui e taua le lipotia i le iunivesite, e iai lou aia tatau e iai se loia e iai. O nei tagata o lo’o popole tele i le fa’aitiitia o le noataga fa’alāpotopotoga.
   • Aua lava ne’i saini se mea mai le ‘fraternity’, ‘sorority’, po’o le iunivesite e aunoa ma le toe iloiloina a le loia. E mafai ona e fa’aleaoga fa’afuase’i au aia tatau.
   • Aua le fa’asalalauina le mea na tupu i luga o feso’ota’iga lautele. So’o se mea e fa’asalalauina e mafai ma o le a fa’aaogaina fa’asaga i lau mataupu e le au puipuia. E aofia ai fa’asalalauga foliga le afaina e ono fa’aalia ai lau tama e “lelei” pe “fiafia” pe’a mae’a le mea na tupu.

4. Vili Attorney911 Vave – E Taua le Taimi!

   • Le Taimi Fa’agata o Tulafono: O le tele o setete e iai se fa’agata taimi e 2 tausaga mo tagi o manu’aga fa’aletino ma le oti sese. O lona uiga e lua tausaga na’o lou taimi mai le aso o le manu’a po’o le oti e faila ai se tagi fa’amasino. Afai e te fa’atuai i lenei taimi fa’agata, o lau aia tatau e molia ai ua leiloa e fa’avavau.
   • Ua Mou Fa’amaoniga: O le umi e te fa’atali ai, o le tele lena o le avanoa e tape ai fa’amaoniga taua (savali tusitusia, posts i feso’ota’iga lautele, manatuaina o molimau, ata pu’eata), leiloa, po’o le fa’aleaga fa’amoemoeina.
   • Puipuia Au Aia Tatau: Aua le fa’ataga le ma, le fefe, po’o se lagona fa’amaoni e taofia ai oe mai le gaoioi. O la matou ‘au o lo’o iinei e puipuia lau tama ma saili le fa’amasinoga.

Aiga i Amerika Samoa – E Le O Se Fa’agata le Va Mamao:

Matou te malamalama o Amerika Samoa e mamao lona nofoaga mai lo matou ofisa autu i Teas. Ae peitai, e le taofia ai lo matou gafatia e suiina malosi lou aiga.

• Fa’atalanoaga Vitiō: Matou te ofoina atu fa’atalanoaga vitiō faigofie ma fa’alilolilo, e mafai ai ona e feiloa’i ma a matou loia mai le mafanafana ma le fa’alilolilo o lou fale i Amerika Samoa.
• Tu’ufa’atasia mo Malaga: Ua matou saunia e malaga atu i Amerika Samoa mo ‘depositions’, fonotaga ma tagata fa’atau, po’o fa’amasinoga pe a mana’omia. O lo matou tu’ufa’atasia o le fa’amasinoga, so’o se mea e ta’i atu ai i matou.
• Afiaga i le Atunu’u Atola’au: O lo matou pulega o fa’amasinoga feterale ma tusifolau fa’atulafono lua-setete e fa’amalosia ai matou e tulituliloa mataupu ‘hazing’ e fa’asaga i fa’alapotopotoga fa’alotoifale ma iunivesite i le atunu’u atoa.

Fe’au Fa’apitoa mo Isi Tagata Afaina i le Hazing:

Afai na faia foi i lau tama le hazing mata’utia i le Pi Kappa Phi i le Iunivesite o Houston, po’o se isi lava fa’alapotopotoga, ua matou iloa e tele atu outou. E le na’o Leonel le tasi. Na pa’u matapogia se isi ‘pledge’. Na faia i isi le ‘waterboarding’ ma le sauaga lava lea e tasi. E iai foi au aia tatau. E mafai ona matou suiina oe ma mautinoa o lo’o faia i latou e nafa. E pei ona fa’aalia ma le lototetele e Lupe Pena, “Afai e puipuia ai le afaina o se isi tagata, o le mea lena matou te fa’amoemoe e fai. Tatou te fa’aali atu lenei mea. Ua lava.”

O le mea na tupu i lau tama e le o lona sese. O se gaioiga sauaga, na mafai e le fa’aletonu o le fa’alapotopotoga. E iai lou malosi e taofi ai mai le tupu i se isi tamaitiiti a’oga. Fa’afeso’ota’i matou i le aso, ma fa’ataga matou e fesoasoani ia te oe e tau mo le fa’amasinoga e tatau ona maua e lou aiga.

VALA’AU MATOU NEI: E Tatau i Aiga o Amerika Samoa Ona Maua le Fa’amasinoga

Afai o lo’o fa’anoanoa lou aiga i Amerika Samoa ona o le a’afia mata’utia o le “hazing”, e te mana’omia vave se fautuaga fa’atulafono fa’amalosi ma poto masani. O le lumana’i o lau tama, o lona soifua maloloina fa’aletino, ma lona soifua manuia fa’alelagolago e mafai ona fa’alagolago i gaioiga vave o le a e faia i le aso.

O lo’o matou tau i lenei taua i le taimi nei – ma o le a matou tau mo tagata afaina i Amerika Samoa ma le malosi tutusa le fa’agata ma le poto masani.

O a matou loia o lo’o auai i se tagi fa’amasino e $10 miliona fa’asaga ia Pi Kappa Phi ma le Iunivesite o Houston ona o le “hazing” mata’utia o Leonel Bermudez. Matou te iloa le auala e fausia ai nei mataupu lavelave, le auala e fa’ato’ilaloina ai puipuiga o fa’alapotopotoga mamana, ma le auala e fa’asalaina ai vaega uma e nafa. O aiga i Amerika Samoa o le a maua le tulaga lava lea e tasi o le sui fa’amaoni ma le malosi.

AIGA I AMERIKA SAMOA – O LO’O FA’ATALI LOU FA’ATALANOAGA SAOLOTO

Aua le fa’atuai. Aua le fa’atali mo fa’alapotopotoga e ufiufi a latou tulagavae. Aua le fa’ataga le fefe po’o le le mautinoa e fa’avaivaia oe. O le taimi e gaoioi ai o le taimi nei.

📞 Vala’au La Matou Laina Fa’afuase’i Fa’atulafono: 1-888-ATTY-911

Imeli: ralph@atty911.com

O lo’o avanoa la matou ‘au 24/7 mo fa’alavelave “hazing” i Amerika Samoa. E te talanoa sa’o lava ma se tagata fa’atulafono e malamalama i le mea o lo’o e feagai ai ma e mafai ona ofoina atu fautuaga vave.

$0 Totogi Muamua mo Aiga i Amerika Samoa. Matou te Galulue i le Contingency.

Matou te talitonu o le sailia o le fa’amasinoga e le tatau ona fa’atapula’aina e fa’afitauli tau tupe. O le mafua’aga lena matou te umia ai mataupu “hazing” i luga o se fa’avae totogi fa’avae i le contingency. O Lona uiga:

• E te le totogiina se $0 muamua. E leai ni totogi i le itula, leai ni tagata e fa’afaigaluega, leai ni totogi fa’alilolilo e amata ai lau taua.
• Matou te le totogia vagana ua maua sou totogi. O lo matou manuia e feso’ota’i sa’o i lou manuia. Afai matou te le manumalo i lau mataupu, e te le aitalafu mai ia matou se mea mo a matou totogi fa’atulafono. O lenei mea e mafai ai e aiga i Amerika Samoa ona luitauina ‘fraternities’ ma iunivesite e tele tupe e aunoa ma se lamatiaga tau tupe.

Aisea e Fa’afeso’ota’i Vave ai Matou?

1. Ua Latalata le Fa’ai’uga o le Taimi: O le tele o setete e iai se Fa’agata o Tulafono e 2 tausaga mo manu’aga fa’aletino ma le oti sese. O aso uma e mavae atu e mafai ona fa’afaigata ai le aoina o fa’amaoniga ma le fausiaina o se mataupu malosi.
2. Ua Mou Fa’amaoniga: Ua tape savali tusitusia, ua fa’amama ‘social media accounts’, ua mou manatuaga o molimau, ma ua fa’apea e “leiloa” fa’amaumauga fa’alapotopotoga. Matou te fesoasoani e te puipuia fa’amaoniga taua a’o le’i mou atu e fa’avavau.
3. O le a Latou Taumafai e Fa’agugu Oe: E masani ona taumafai iunivesite ma ‘fraternities’ e fa’atautaia le tulaga, ofoina atu fa’amautu le talafeagai, po’o le fa’amata’u fo’i tagata afaina ina ia le tautala. Matou te taofi vave lena mea ma tautala mo oe.
4. Matou te O Mai i Oe: E ui o lo matou ofisa autu o lo’o i Teas, o lo matou pulega o fa’amasinoga feterale, fa’atagaina loia fa’alua-setete, ma le tautinoga i le fa’amasinoga o lona uiga matou te suiina tagata afaina i le “hazing” i le atunu’u atoa. Matou te ofoina atu fa’atalanoaga vitiō saogalemu mo aiga i Amerika Samoa, ma ua matou saunia e malaga atu i Amerika Samoa mo ‘depositions’, fonotaga ma tagata fa’atau, po’o le fa’amasinoga pe a mana’omia e lau mataupu. E le o se fa’alavelave le va mamao i le sailiga o le fa’amasinoga.

O le Leaga o Lau Tama E Le O Lona Sese. E Le Mafai Ona Fa’ataga.

Hazing e le na’o ni “mea leaga i le kolisi”; o le sauaga, manino ma faigofie. Pe na tupu i se fraternity mamana lata ane i Amerika Samoa, o se ‘sports team’, o se ‘marching band’, o se polokalama ROTC, po’o se isi lava fa’alapotopotoga a tamaiti a’oga, o le i’uga e tutusa lava: o le afaina.

E pei ona fai atu Lupe Pena, “Afai e puipuia ai le afaina o se isi tagata, o le mea lena matou te fa’amoemoe e fai. Tatou te fa’aali atu lenei mea. Ua lava.”

Fa’ataga lau leo e fa’alogoina. Fa’ataga le tala a lau tama e ta’i atu ai i le tali atu ma le suiga. E iai lou malosi e faia ai se suiga. Fa’ataga mai matou e avea ma au siamupini.

📞 Fa’afeso’ota’i Attorney911 i Le Aso: 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com

ENGLISH

If you’re reading this in American Samoa, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child went away to college, full of hopes and dreams, and instead of finding friendship, they found torture. We understand the fear, the anger, and the desperation that grips parents in American Samoa when their child has been targeted by hazing. We are here to tell you that you are not alone, and we are here to help families in American Samoa fight back.

Hazing is not a harmless college prank; it is abuse, plain and simple. It can result in tragic injuries, life-altering psychological trauma, and even death. When your child attends a university, whether it’s on the mainland United States or another institution near American Samoa, you trust that they will be safe. You expect them to be protected from harm. When that trust is betrayed, and institutions fail to keep their students safe, we believe in aggressive, data-driven litigation to hold every responsible party accountable.

Our firm, Attorney911, is locked in a battle right now that embodies everything we stand for. We have filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi, the University of Houston, and 13 individual fraternity members, for the horrific hazing of our client, Leonel Bermudez. Leonel was waterboarded with a garden hose, hog-tied, forced to eat until he vomited, and subjected to psychological torture and extreme physical exertion until his muscles broke down and his kidneys failed. He was hospitalized for four days with severe rhabdomyolysis. And the most shocking part? He wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet. He was a “ghost rush,” planning to transfer.

This isn’t a hypothetical case; it’s happening right now, in Harris County Civil District Court. This case is proof that Attorney911 is not theoretical. We are not “someday we hope to handle hazing cases.” We are actively fighting for hazing victims right now, and we will bring the same relentless commitment and expertise to families in American Samoa. We want to show parents in American Samoa what hazing looks like today and empower them to understand that they have a firm that fights back.

The Case That Shows American Samoa Families Why We Fight: Leonel Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi and University of Houston

This case, filed in November 2025, is not just a lawsuit; it is a declaration that the era of treating hazing as “boys will be boys” is over. What happened to Leonel Bermudez is a grim warning to parents in American Samoa whose children may be considering Greek life at universities across the nation.

The Plaintiff: Leonel Bermudez

Leonel Bermudez was a young man with big plans. He was a “ghost rush,” meaning he had accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston on September 16, 2025, with plans to transfer to the university for the upcoming semester. He wasn’t even a fully enrolled student yet. And for the next seven weeks, he endured a systematic campaign of abuse, torture, and hazing that landed him in the hospital for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

Why This Case Matters to American Samoa Families:

• Pi Kappa Phi has over 150 chapters across America, including at many universities that American Samoa students attend. The same national organization, the same “traditions,” and the same dangerous culture that nearly cost Leonel his life could exist in fraternities near American Samoa.
• The “traditions” that hospitalized our client happen at fraternities nationwide. What Leonel endured is not unique; these insidious practices are alarmingly common in Greek organizations at institutions across the United States.
• Universities across the nation face the same liability failures as the University of Houston. Many institutions struggle with oversight of Greek life, and when they fail to protect their students, they are accountable.
• If your child is being hazed, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting in Houston. Our commitment to justice for hazing victims extends to American Samoa. We have the federal court authority and the willingness to travel to ensure that families in American Samoa receive the same aggressive representation.

Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, expressed the horror of Leonel’s ordeal to ABC13: “When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure.”

Lupe Pena, our associate attorney, articulated our firm’s broader mission: “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Through this case, we aim to shed light on the dark reality of hazing and send a clear message: this behavior will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held accountable.

The Horrific Hazing Timeline

The weeks between September 16, 2025, when Leonel accepted his bid, and November 3, 2025, when his body broke down, were filled with relentless abuse.

• September 16, 2025: Leonel accepts a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi.
• September 16 – November 3, 2025: Weeks of systematic hazing, abuse, and torture.
• October 13, 2025: In a particularly disturbing incident, another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. This was done while fraternity members prepared for a meeting, demonstrating the casual cruelty of these rituals.
• October 15, 2025: A pledge lost consciousness and collapsed during a forced workout. Other pledges had to elevate his legs until he recovered. This incident should have been a stark warning, yet the hazing continued.
• November 3, 2025: This date marked a brutal culmination. Leonel was subjected to extreme physical punishment, including over 100 pushups and 500 squats, along with other grueling exercises. He was forced to recite the fraternity creed under threat of immediate expulsion. By the end, he was so exhausted he couldn’t stand without help.
• November 6, 2025: After two days of worsening condition, Leonel’s mother rushed him to the hospital. He was passing brown urine, a clear and alarming sign of severe muscle breakdown.
• November 6-10, 2025: Leonel spent three nights and four days hospitalized, diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
• November 14, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi National officially closed its Beta Nu Chapter, suggesting an acknowledgment of severe wrongdoing just days before our lawsuit was filed.
• November 21, 2025: Our $10 million lawsuit was filed in Harris County Civil District Court. This action garnered immediate coverage from major news outlets like ABC13 and KHOU 11.
• November 22, 2025: The Houston Chronicle reported on the lawsuit, detailing even more of the brutal hazing activities.
• November 24, 2025: Houston Public Media further detailed the hazing allegations, confirming the $10 million figure and highlighting the “ghost rush” aspect of the case.

The Horrific Hazing Activities Exposed in Our Lawsuit:

The details of Leonel’s hazing are not simply “pranks”; they constitute assault, battery, and torture.

• Waterboarding / Simulated Drowning: Leonel was subjected to “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose,” sprayed directly in the face while performing calisthenics. He was also repeatedly forced to run under the threat of further waterboarding. This is a recognized form of torture, a war crime when inflicted on combatants, yet it was employed against a young man attempting to join a social organization.
• Forced Eating Until Vomiting: He was compelled to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited. Even after vomiting, he was “forced to continue running sprints while clearly in physical distress” and made to lie in his own vomit-soaked grass.
• Extreme Physical Punishment: This included over 100 pushups, 500 squats, high-volume “suicides” (running drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warmups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. Leonel was forced to recite fraternity creeds during these exercises, and threats of immediate expulsion ensured compliance. He was also subjected to being struck with wooden paddles. This relentless exertion led to physical collapse and his severe medical condition.
• Psychological Torture & Humiliation: Leonel was forced to strip to his underwear in cold weather and carry a fanny pack containing “objects of a sexual nature” at all times. The earlier incident involving another hog-tied pledge further illustrates the degrading and dehumanizing tactics employed. These acts were designed to break down a pledge’s will, not build character.
• Sleep Deprivation & Exhaustion: Leonel was forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, disrupting his sleep and contributing to his overall exhaustion. This sustained lack of rest exacerbated the physical demands placed upon him.

The Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis

The extensive physical abuse Leonel endured resulted in a severe and life-threatening medical condition: rhabdomyolysis.

• What is Rhabdomyolysis? It is the rapid breakdown of muscle tissue, releasing a protein called myoglobin into the bloodstream. This myoglobin can be highly toxic to the kidneys, leading to acute kidney failure and, if untreated, potentially death.
• Leonel’s Symptoms: When he was rushed to the hospital, he was “passing brown urine,” a classic indicator of myoglobin in the urine. Blood tests revealed “very high creatine kinase levels,” confirming massive muscle damage. He suffered acute kidney failure, requiring intensive medical intervention.
• Hospitalization: He was hospitalized for three nights and four days, unable to move or walk on his own for days due to severe muscle pain and weakness.
• Long-Term Impact: While he is recovering, the risk of permanent kidney damage remains, requiring ongoing medical monitoring and potentially affecting his long-term health.

This is the exact type of medical trauma our firm has successfully litigated in hazing cases before. Ralph Manginello has specific expertise in rhabdomyolysis hazing cases, understanding the complex medical and legal aspects involved.

Institutional Responses: On the Record

Both the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters made public statements following the exposure of this hazing incident. Their words, viewed through a legal lens, reveal both acknowledgment and attempts to manage liability.

• University of Houston Spokesperson (Houston Public Media, Nov 24, 2025): “The events investigated are deeply disturbing and represent a clear violation of our community standards. The University is conducting its own investigation in coordination with law enforcement and with the cooperation of the fraternity and its national leadership. Pending the outcome of these investigations, any individual found responsible for hazing will face disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion and potential criminal charges.”
  • Translation: While appearing concerned, this statement acknowledges severe wrongdoing and hints at a desperate attempt to contain the fallout. They admit their own standards were violated, and critically, flag the potential for criminal charges, indicating the severity of the alleged conduct. Their “cooperation” with the fraternity also suggests a coordinated effort to control the narrative.
• Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters (Their own website, Nov 21, 2025): “Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity closed its Beta Nu Chapter effective November 14, 2025, following violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards. Pi Kappa Phi takes all allegations of hazing seriously. This action reflects our commitment to upholding the Fraternity’s values and expectations while prioritizing the well-being of our members… We thank the University of Houston for its collaboration and leadership. Pi Kappa Phi has a proud history of accomplished students and alumni from the Beta Nu Chapter, and we look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time and continuing our partnership with the University of Houston in the years ahead.”
  • Interpretation: Their statement, published just days after Leonel’s hospitalization and just before our lawsuit, signals a clear admission of violations. Their claim of “prioritizing the well-being of our members” rings hollow when a member is hospitalized due to their actions. Furthermore, their expressed desire to “look forward to returning to campus” shows a stunning lack of remorse or true understanding of the gravity of the situation. It suggests they view this as a temporary setback rather than a catastrophic failure demanding fundamental change. The “collaboration” with UH further underscores the coordinated defense.

Why This Case Matters to American Samoa Families

1. Proof That “Tradition” is Torture: This case painfully demonstrates that so-called “traditions” are often thinly veiled acts of torture and abuse. It’s a stark reality check for parents in American Samoa that this could happen at any university their children attend.
2. Universities Are Complicit: The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where these horrific acts occurred. Universities, whether near American Samoa or across the globe, have a legal and moral obligation to ensure student safety on their property. When they fail, they are liable.
3. National Organizations Know: Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters dissolved the chapter when exposed, proving they knew the conduct was indefensible. The same national fraternities and sororities with similar structures operate in American Samoa and worldwide, and their national leadership often possesses this knowledge but fails to act decisively.
4. Victims Are Afraid: Leonel’s fear of retribution for speaking out is real and terrifying. Students in American Samoa who suffer hazing face similar pressures to remain silent. Our firm provides a safe haven and unwavering protection for those brave enough to step forward.
5. One Brave Victim Can Protect American Samoa Students: As Lupe Pena stated, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do.” By pursuing this lawsuit aggressively, Leonel’s case can serve as a powerful deterrent, potentially saving other American Samoa students from similar fates.
6. $10 Million Sends a Message: A substantial lawsuit isn’t just about compensation; it’s about sending an undeniable message to universities and fraternities: the cost of hazing is immense, and accountability will be pursued relentlessly. American Samoa families have the right to send that same message.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

Parents in American Samoa often wonder what hazing truly entails. Forget the movie stereotypes of mild pranks; modern hazing, as tragically illustrated by Leonel’s case, is systematic abuse that crosses lines into assault, battery, and even torture. It is designed to degrade, humiliate, and control, often leading to severe physical and psychological harm. This is not about building “brotherhood” or “character”; it is about exerting power through cruelty.

The Reality of Hazing in Greek Life and Other Organizations:

• Assault and Battery: Forced physical activity to the point of collapse, beatings with paddles, simulated drowning, and forced ingestions are all forms of physical assault.
• Psychological Torture: Humiliation, degradation, sleep deprivation, and threats create lasting mental trauma. Leonel’s fear of retribution speaks volumes about the coercive environment.
• Reckless Endangerment: Forcing students to consume dangerous amounts of alcohol or food, or to engage in extreme physical exertion with no medical oversight, knowingly puts their lives at risk.
• Manslaughter or Murder: Tragically, many hazing incidents escalate to deaths from alcohol poisoning, falls, or other injuries, leading to criminal charges and wrongful death lawsuits.

Hazing Statistics are Alarming:

• A significant percentage of students in Greek organizations report experiencing hazing.
• Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing-related death every single year in the United States, a horrifying trend that shows no signs of abatement.
• Most students who are hazed do not report it, due to fear, shame, or perceived loyalty, allowing the cycle of abuse to continue unchecked.
• While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing occurs across a wide spectrum of student organizations, including sports teams, band, ROTC, and clubs.

The Institutional Cycle of Failure:
Universities and national Greek organizations are rarely truly “shocked” when hazing incidents come to light. They know hazing is endemic. They frequently possess policies designed to prevent it, yet they consistently fail to enforce them effectively until a student is severely injured or dies. Only then do chapters get “suspended” or “dissolved,” often with statements that minimize responsibility while expressing a desire to “return to normal” as quickly as possible. This pattern of willful blindness and delayed action is precisely what we aim to disrupt through aggressive litigation.

Specific Types of Hazing Incidents We See:

• Physical Abuse: This is direct physical harm, including beatings, paddling, branding, burning, and forced exercise to the point of collapse or injury, such as the 500 squats and 100 pushups in Leonel’s case.
• Forced Consumption: This often involves alcohol (binge drinking, chugging, “drink until you vomit”), but can also include forced eating of large quantities of food or non-food items, as when Leonel was forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns.
• Sleep Deprivation: Forcing pledges to stay awake for extended periods, or disrupting their sleep with mandatory late-night activities and early-morning duties, significantly impairs their judgment and physical health.
• Psychological Torture: This category includes humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, isolation, psychological manipulation, threats, and forced public embarrassment (e.g., carrying sexually explicit items or stripping in cold weather).
• Waterboarding/Simulated Drowning: A particularly heinous act, demonstrated in Leonel’s case, which is a recognized form of torture and involves placing a student in fear of drowning.
• Exposure: Forcing students into extreme weather conditions or dangerous environments without proper protection.
• Servitude: Pledges are often forced to perform menial tasks, cleaning, errands, or driving duties for older members, reinforcing a power imbalance.

The Devastating Medical Consequences:

The outcome of these acts can be catastrophic:

• Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Failure: Directly observed in Leonel Bermudez’s case, caused by extreme exertion.
• Alcohol Poisoning: The most common cause of hazing deaths, resulting from forced binge drinking.
• Traumatic Brain Injury: From beatings, falls, or other physical assaults.
• Hypothermia/Hyperthermia: From exposure to extreme temperatures.
• Cardiac Arrest: Resulting from extreme physical exertion or drug use.
• Psychological Damage: Long-term conditions like PTSD, severe anxiety, and depression are common, often requiring extensive therapy.
• Sexual Trauma: From forced nudity, sexual acts, or sexual assault.
• DEATH: The ultimate, irreversible consequence when hazing goes unchecked.

When your child leaves American Samoa to pursue higher education, they deserve to return home safe and sound. When they fall victim to these heinous practices, we believe in holding every responsible party accountable.

Who Is Responsible: Holding Every Liable Party Accountable in American Samoa Hazing Incidents

When hazing leaves a student injured or dead, it’s never just the actions of a few “bad apples.” The culture that enables hazing is a complex web of individual choices and institutional failures. Our firm is dedicated to unraveling that web and holding everyone responsible to account. This aggressive, comprehensive approach mirrors our strategy in the Leonel Bermudez case and applies equally to hazing incidents affecting families in American Samoa.

For families in American Samoa, it’s vital to understand that the individuals directly involved in hazing are often not the only ones liable. Universities like the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Chaminade University of Honolulu, or even Stanford University where American Samoa students might attend, can be held responsible, as can the powerful national Greek organizations that oversee chapters across the country.

The Defendants We Target – Just Like in the Bermudez Case:

1. Local Chapter (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu):

   • Why they’re liable: This is the most direct level of responsibility. The local chapter directly organizes, participates in, and executes the hazing rituals. Chapter officers, such as the president and pledgemaster, bear particular responsibility for directing and allowing these activities. Individual members who participate or witness hazing without intervening can also be held liable.
   • In Leonel’s case: The UH chapter directly waterboarded, beat, and forced Leonel into life-threatening physical activities.

2. National Fraternity or Sorority Organization (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc.):

   • Why they’re liable: National organizations often claim ignorance of local chapter activities, but this is rarely true. They have a duty to supervise their chapters, enforce anti-hazing policies, and intervene when hazing occurs. When they fail to do so, especially when they have knowledge of a “hazing crisis” (as alleged in Leonel’s case) or a history of prior incidents (like Andrew Coffey’s death at another Pi Kappa Phi chapter), they are directly responsible. These national entities hold massive assets, insurance policies, and often own the property where hazing takes place.
   • In Leonel’s case: Pi Kappa Phi National was quick to dissolve the chapter once exposed, an admission that they recognized severe misconduct. Our firm argues they failed to act effectively despite a pattern of hazing problems stretching back eight years to Andrew Coffey’s death.

3. The University or College (e.g., University of Houston & UH Board of Regents):

   • Why they’re liable: Educational institutions have a fundamental duty to ensure the safety and well-being of their students. This duty extends to Greek life organizations operating on their campus, especially when the university owns or controls the property where hazing occurs. A university that ignores a known history of hazing, fails to enforce its own policies, or provides inadequate oversight is negligent.
   • In Leonel’s case: The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where some of the hazing took place. Furthermore, UH had a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017 (Jared Munoz, Pi Kappa Alpha), meaning they had a documented history of severe hazing on their campus and failed to prevent it from happening again. This establishes a profound pattern of institutional negligence. Whether the institution is one where American Samoa students attend, the same principles apply.

4. Individual Perpetrators:

   • Why they’re liable: Every single individual who actively participates in hazing, directs it, encourages it, or even witnesses it and fails to report or intervene can be held personally liable. This includes chapter officers, active members, and even alumni who may host or facilitate hazing events. These individuals can face civil claims for assault, battery, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
   • In Leonel’s case: Our lawsuit names the fraternity president, the pledgemaster, and other current and former members. Notably, it also includes a former member and his spouse because hazing incidents occurred at their private residence, extending liability to those who enable or allow hazing on their property.

5. Insurance Carriers:

   • Why they’re liable: The substantial damages awarded in hazing cases are often covered by various insurance policies. This includes the national organization’s liability insurance, the university’s institutional insurance, and even homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies held by individual members or alumni who facilitate hazing at private residences.
   • Our advantage: As former insurance defense attorneys, both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena possess invaluable insider knowledge of how insurance companies strategize, investigate claims, and attempt to minimize payouts. We leverage this understanding to aggressively pursue maximum compensation for our clients, including those in American Samoa.

The Deep Pockets:

We understand that pursuing justice against individuals, some of whom may be young college students, can seem daunting. However, hazing litigation is rarely just about them. The primary targets are the “deep pockets” – institutions with substantial assets and comprehensive insurance coverage:

• National Greek Organizations: These are often multi-million-dollar entities with significant endowments and professional liability insurance policies designed to cover such incidents.
• Universities and Colleges: Large educational institutions have vast endowments, state funding (for public universities), and extensive insurance coverage that can absorb multi-million-dollar judgments.
• Housing Corporations: Separate entities that often own the fraternity or sorority houses, potentially adding another layer of assets and insurance.

When we take on a hazing case in American Samoa or anywhere else, our goal is to identify and pursue every single entity that bears responsibility, leaving no stone unturned. We will never shy away from taking on powerful institutions or wealthy organizations to secure justice for our clients.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof for American Samoa Families

For families in American Samoa grappling with the aftermath of hazing, understanding the potential financial recovery is critical. These aren’t minor settlements; they are multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements that send an unmistakable message: hazing will cost you dearly. The same aggressive legal strategies that achieved these landmark results apply directly to cases originating from American Samoa.

We track every major hazing case in the United States, and the pattern is clear: juries and institutions are increasingly willing to award substantial compensation to victims and their families. This proves that justice can be achieved, and it empowers us to pursue similar outcomes for our clients, whether they are in Houston or American Samoa.

Landmark Verdicts & Settlements – They Will Pay:

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Total: $10.1 Million+
  • What Happened: In March 2021, Stone Foltz, a pledge at BGSU, was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” initiation. He died from alcohol poisoning.
  • The Payout: His family received $2.9 million from Bowling Green State University and $7.2 million from Pi Kappa Alpha’s national fraternity and its members. This represents the largest public university hazing payout in Ohio’s history. Just recently, in December 2024, Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, was ordered to pay $6.5 million in personal liability.
  • Relevance for American Samoa: This case directly supports our $10 million demand in the Bermudez lawsuit. It demonstrates that universities and fraternities (and their leaders individually) face multi-million dollar liability for hazing. It also shows that the same national fraternities (Pi Kappa Alpha has chapters near American Samoa) are engaging in similar dangerous activities nationwide.
• Maxwell Gruver – Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017): Total: $6.1 Million Verdict
  • What Happened: In September 2017, Max Gruver, an 18-year-old pledge at LSU, died from acute alcohol poisoning (BAC of 0.495) after a forced drinking game during a “Bible Study” hazing event.
  • The Payout: A jury awarded his family a $6.1 million verdict.
  • Criminal and Legislative Impact: This tragedy also led to a criminal conviction for negligent homicide against a fraternity member and inspired the Max Gruver Act, which made hazing a felony in Louisiana.
  • Relevance for American Samoa: This case proves that juries are willing to deliver multi-million dollar verdicts for hazing deaths. It amplifies the message that hazing has severe criminal and civil consequences, and such legislative change could be influenced by a powerful case from American Samoa.
• Timothy Piazza – Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017): Total: $110+ Million (Estimated Multiple Settlements)
  • What Happened: In February 2017, Timothy Piazza, a pledge at Penn State, suffered a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding after being forced to consume 18 drinks in 82 minutes and repeatedly falling down stairs. Fraternity brothers waited 12 hours to call 911.
  • The Payout: While confidential, various reports estimate total settlements in his case exceed $110 million.
  • Criminal and Legislative Impact: This horrific case led to numerous criminal charges and convictions against fraternity members, and spurred Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.
  • Relevance for American Samoa: This is a benchmark for the highest potential payouts in hazing cases, especially when strong evidence, like security camera footage (which exposed the truth in Piazza’s case), is available. It shows that institutional negligence against institutions can result in astronomical liability.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Same Fraternity as Bermudez!
  • What Happened: In November 2017, Andrew Coffey died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon during a “Big Brother Night” at Florida State.
  • The Payout: The civil suit was settled for a confidential amount, and several fraternity members faced criminal charges.
  • Relevance for American Samoa: This is critically important because Pi Kappa Phi is the same national organization involved in Leonel Bermudez’s case. Andrew Coffey’s death eight years prior proves that their national organization knew about deadly hazing within their chapters. This establishes a profound pattern of negligence and foreseeability for Leonel’s injuries, greatly strengthening our case and any similar case from American Samoa.
• Adam Oakes – Virginia Commonwealth University / Delta Chi (2021): $4+ Million Settlement
  • What Happened: Adam Oakes died in February 2021 from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink a liter of whiskey during a Delta Chi big-little brother event.
  • The Payout: His family reached a settlement of over $4 million with various parties involved, including the fraternity and individual members.
  • Relevance for American Samoa: This recent case further reinforces the multi-million dollar payouts for hazing deaths, even with initial settlement figures lower than the initial demand.
• University of Houston / Pi Kappa Alpha (2017): Same University as Bermudez!
  • What Happened: In 2017, just eight years before Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization, a University of Houston student pledging Pi Kappa Alpha was hospitalized with a lacerated spleen due to hazing. A $1 million lawsuit was filed.
  • Relevance for American Samoa: This indicates that the University of Houston had prior notice of severe hazing on its campus. Their failure to implement effective changes allowed Leonel’s incident to occur, reinforcing their liability.

Summary of Payouts by Fraternity:

• Pi Kappa Alpha: Over $10.1 million from the Stone Foltz case alone, plus other settlements.
• Phi Delta Theta: $6.1 million verdict from the Maxwell Gruver case.
• Beta Theta Pi: Over $110 million (estimated) from the Timothy Piazza case.
• Delta Chi: Over $4 million from the Adam Oakes case.
• Pi Kappa Phi: Multiple millions in settlements across various cases. Our current $10 million lawsuit against them builds on this history.

These cases send an unequivocal message to national Greek organizations with chapters operating in American Samoa, and to the universities where American Samoa students attend: hazing is a liability that can cost millions.
For families in American Samoa, it’s proof that taking legal action can not only secure vital compensation for their child’s injuries and suffering but also drive systemic change in Greek life and campus safety. We are committed to achieving a similar outcome for hazing victims from American Samoa.

Texas Law Protects You: Understanding Your Rights in American Samoa Hazing Cases

While American Samoa has its own set of local regulations and cultural nuances, the legal principles that underpin hazing litigation are often rooted in broader U.S. federal and state laws. Because our firm operates nationwide and has federal court authority, we can apply the strong legal framework of states like Texas (where we are based) to protect families in American Samoa. Understanding these laws helps empower parents in American Samoa to recognize the severity of hazing and their rights to seek justice.

It’s crucial for American Samoa families to understand that criminal charges and civil lawsuits are distinct yet often parallel pathways to justice. While criminal prosecution aims to punish offenders, a civil lawsuit aims to compensate the victim for their injuries and losses. These are not mutually exclusive; indeed, success in one can strengthen the other.

Key Legal Concepts Relevant to American Samoa Hazing Victims:

1. Hazing is Illegal – State Statutes:
   Most U.S. states, including Texas, have specific anti-hazing laws. These laws define what constitutes hazing, often including physical brutality, forced consumption, sleep deprivation, and psychological abuse, exactly what Leonel Bermudez endured. These laws often carry criminal penalties for individuals and organizations involved.

   • American Samoa Application: Even if a hazing incident occurs in American Samoa (or anywhere else outside of Texas), other states often have similar anti-hazing statutes. If the hazing involves federal crimes (e.g., mail fraud for a hazing scheme across state lines), federal courts could have jurisdiction. Furthermore, the principles of negligence and assault apply universally.

2. Consent is NOT a Defense:
   This is perhaps the most critical legal point for families in American Samoa to grasp. Hazing organizations often claim victims “consented” to the activities or “knew what they were signing up for.” However, legally, you cannot consent to a crime.

   • Texas Education Code § 37.154 explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution for an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”
   • American Samoa Application: This legal principle is increasingly recognized nationwide. Minors usually cannot give consent, and even adults often face such immense peer pressure, fear of exclusion, or threats that any “consent” is not truly voluntary. Our firm will aggressively challenge any attempt by defendants to use “consent” as an excuse for their criminal and negligent behavior.

3. Criminal Penalties:
   Hazing activity can lead to criminal charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the severity of the act and the resulting injuries.

   • Example (Texas): Hazing causing serious bodily injury (like Leonel Bermudez’s kidney failure) is a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail. Hazing causing death is a State Jail Felony, with up to two years in state jail.
   • American Samoa Application: Criminal charges against individuals involved in hazing send a powerful message and can precede or run parallel to a civil lawsuit.

4. Organizational Liability:
   Beyond individuals, local chapters and national organizations can be held criminally and civilly liable. Organizations can face fines, loss of their charter, and prohibition from operating on campus.

   • Example (Texas): An organization is guilty if it “condones or encourages hazing” or if its members commit hazing.
   • American Samoa Application: This is crucial for reaching the “deep pockets” of national fraternities and universities, which are ultimately responsible for the culture they allow to fester.

5. Civil Liability – Suing for Damages:
   Even if criminal charges are not filed or result in acquittal, victims can still pursue civil lawsuits. These cases seek financial compensation for the extensive damages suffered.

   • Negligence Claims: The core of most civil cases. We argue that institutions and individuals had a “duty of care” to protect students, “breached” that duty (e.g., by allowing hazing, failing to supervise), and this breach “caused” the victim’s injuries and “damages” (medical bills, pain, suffering). This is a nationwide principle.
   • Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by the university (like the University of Houston owning the Pi Kappa Phi house), the institution may be liable as a property owner for failing to maintain a safe environment. This applies wherever universities own fraternity houses, just like some campuses where American Samoa families might send their kids.
   • Negligent Supervision: National organizations and universities can be held liable for failing to adequately supervise local chapters or Greek life, especially when they have knowledge of past hazing incidents.
   • Assault and Battery: Individuals who physically harm a student can be sued directly for these intentional torts.
   • Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: For extreme and outrageous conduct that causes severe emotional trauma, this claim holds perpetrators and enablers accountable for the psychological damage.
   • Wrongful Death Claims: In the tragic event of a hazing death, families can sue for a range of damages, including loss of companionship, financial support, and funeral expenses.

Your Rights as an American Samoa Hazing Victim:

For American Samoa families, understanding these legal avenues means understanding that you have powerful tools to fight back. Whether the hazing occurred in a U.S. territory or a U.S. state, the foundational principles of justice for personal injury remain. Our federal court admissions and national reach mean that regardless of where your child was hazed, we are equipped to pursue justice under the most advantageous legal framework available. We are prepared to bring our expertise to bear on your case, ensuring that your rights are protected and that those who harmed your child are held fully accountable.

Why Attorney911: American Samoa’s Partner in the Fight Against Hazing

When your family in American Samoa faces the nightmare of hazing, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a relentless advocate who understands the intricate legal landscape, the devastating impact of hazing, and—crucially—how to win against powerful institutions. Attorney911 is that advocate. We bring a unique blend of experience, insight, and aggressive litigation strategy that makes us the clear choice for hazing victims and their families in American Samoa.

Our Expertise, Your Advantage – Even in American Samoa:

1. Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit: We aren’t just reading about hazing; we’re actively fighting it in court right now. Our representation of Leonel Bermudez against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston is proof of our commitment and expertise. This means American Samoa families benefit from real-time, battle-tested strategies in hazing litigation.
2. Unmatched Insider Knowledge: Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena are former insurance defense attorneys. They spent years on the other side, learning precisely how insurance companies, universities, and national organizations value claims, build defenses, and try to minimize payouts. They know the playbook, and now they use that knowledge to dismantle the defense and maximize recovery for our clients in American Samoa.
   • Lupe Pena’s experience at Litchfield Cavo LLP, a national defense firm, provides direct insight into the strategies employed by the very entities we sue. He comes equipped with battlefield intelligence from inside the enemy’s war room.
3. Federal Court Authority and Dual-State Bar Admissions: While our primary offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our federal court admissions (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas) and dual Texas and New York bar licenses give us a strategic advantage. This allows us to pursue complex hazing cases against national fraternities and universities, regardless of where they are headquartered or where the hazing occurred, including for families in American Samoa. Distance is not a barrier to justice.
4. Proven Track Record Against Powerful Opponents: Ralph Manginello’s involvement in the multi-billion dollar BP Texas City Explosion litigation demonstrates our capacity to take on massive corporate defendants and secure justice in complex mass tort cases. Hazing cases, involving national organizations and large universities, require this same level of strategic thinking and aggressive execution, which we bring to American Samoa.
5. Hazing-Specific Expertise and Rhabdomyolysis Experience: Ralph has direct experience handling rhabdomyolysis injury cases, like Leonel Bermudez’s condition, as well as Kappa Sigma fraternity litigation and Texas A&M hazing cases. This specialized focus means we deeply understand the medical, cultural, and legal nuances unique to hazing incidents.
6. No Upfront Cost – Contingency Fees: We understand that the trauma of hazing can be financially draining for families in American Samoa. That’s why we take hazing cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case, aligning our success directly with yours.
   • We know your priority is your child’s recovery, not legal bills. We remove the financial barrier so you can focus on healing while we fight for justice.
7. Deep Roots and Compassionate Representation: Both Ralph and Lupe are Texans with strong community ties. Lupe is a third-generation Texan with heritage linked to the King Ranch. They are fathers themselves, understanding deeply what is at stake when a child is harmed by hazing. We approach every case with empathy and a fierce commitment to our clients, treating American Samoa families “like family.”
8. Bilingual Services (Se Habla Español): Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish, offering comprehensive legal services to Spanish-speaking families affected by hazing. This ensures no language barrier will prevent American Samoa’s Hispanic families from accessing justice.
9. Aggressive, Data-Driven Approach: We don’t guess; we know. We maintain one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations in Texas (including EINs, legal names, and insurance structures). This “hazing intelligence database” allows us to identify every liable entity immediately, from local chapters to national headquarters and housing corporations, ensuring we know exactly who to sue. We are building the same kind of nationwide database, extending our reach to where American Samoa students attend college.
   • When Pi Kappa Phi closed their chapter before our lawsuit, we already had their corporate structure identified in our database. We will apply the same diligence to your case in American Samoa.
10. Willingness to Travel and Remote Accessibility: While our offices are in major cities, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including American Samoa. We offer video consultations for convenience and are prepared to travel to American Samoa for depositions, client meetings, or trial when necessary. Distance will not compromise your fight for justice.
11. Client-Centered Communication: Our testimonials highlight our consistent communication and responsiveness. We ensure American Samoa families are informed at every step, providing peace of mind during a challenging time. You won’t be left wondering about your case.

Why Choose Us for Your American Samoa Hazing Case?

If your child has been hazed, it feels like the world has been turned upside down. You need a firm that is not only legally brilliant but emotionally invested. We are fighting this battle right now for Leonel Bermudez, and we will bring that same level of dedication, expertise, and aggressive pursuit of justice to your family in American Samoa.

Don’t let powerful fraternities or universities in American Samoa or across the mainland United States silence your child. Choose the firm that knows their playbook, speaks their language, and has a proven track record of taking them down. Choose Attorney911.

What to Do Right Now: Actionable Steps for American Samoa Hazing Victims and Families

The moments immediately following a hazing incident are critical. For families in American Samoa facing this crisis, swift and decisive action can make all the difference in preserving evidence, protecting your legal rights, and ultimately securing justice. Hazing organizations and negligent institutions often move quickly to cover their tracks, so you must act faster.

Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case was hospitalized on November 6, and we filed our $10 million lawsuit on November 21. That rapid response is key to success.

Here are the urgent steps American Samoa hazing victims and their families should take:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention (if you haven’t already): Your child’s health and safety are paramount. Go to the nearest emergency room or medical facility. Even if injuries seem minor, get them thoroughly documented by medical professionals. This creates a vital record that directly links injuries to the hazing incident. Any delay in medical treatment can be used by the defense to argue that the injuries were not severe or not caused by hazing. Ensure all symptoms, no matter how small, are reported.

   • For American Samoa, this might involve local clinics, Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center, or seeking care in Honolulu or a mainland US state if advanced care is needed.

2. Preserve All Evidence – Document Everything! This is perhaps the most crucial step. Hazing organizations will try to destroy or hide evidence. You must secure it before it disappears.

   • Medical Records: Get copies of all hospital records, emergency room visits, doctor’s notes, lab results (especially for rhabdomyolysis or alcohol levels), and any therapy or counseling records.
   • Photos and Videos:
     • Take pictures of injuries at all stages of healing (bruises, cuts, burns, rashes, visible muscle swelling). Document any medical devices, casts, or bandages.
     • If any photos or videos of the hazing activities themselves exist, secure them immediately.
     • Photograph the hazing location if possible (fraternity house, off-campus residence, park, remote area).
   • Communications: This is a goldmine of evidence.
     • Screenshots are essential: Preserve every text message, GroupMe chat, Snapchat, Instagram DM, Facebook message, or email related to the hazing, including instructions, threats, derogatory comments, and discussions among pledges or members.
     • Look for anything that indicates forced participation, humiliation, or physical demands.
   • Witness Information: Collect names, phone numbers, and any contact information for other pledges, fraternity members who seemed uncomfortable, or any bystanders who witnessed the hazing. Their testimony can corroborate your child’s story.
   • Official Documents: Secure copies of any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or codes of conduct given to your child.
   • Financial Records: Keep track of all medical bills, lost wages (if your child missed work or a job opportunity), and tuition or fees paid that might be lost due to withdrawal or academic disruption.
   • Academic Records: Document any impact on your child’s grades, enrollment status, or scholarships.

3. DO NOT Communicate with the Fraternity, University, or Their Representatives Without Legal Counsel:

   • Never talk to fraternity/sorority leadership (local or national) or individual members about the incident without an attorney. They are not on your side and will likely try to manipulate or intimidate you.
   • Never give a statement to university administration, Greek Life officials, or Title IX officers alone. While reporting to the university is important, you have the right to have an attorney present. These individuals are primarily concerned with minimizing institutional liability.
   • Never sign anything from the fraternity, sorority, or university without legal review. You could inadvertently waive your child’s rights.
   • Do not post about the incident on social media. Anything posted can and will be used against your case by the defense. This includes seemingly innocuous posts that might portray your child as “fine” or “having fun” after the incident.

4. Call Attorney911 Immediately – Time is Critical!

   • The Statute of Limitations: Most states have a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death cases. This means you have only two years from the date of injury or death to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, your right to sue is lost forever.
   • Evidence Disappears: The longer you wait, the greater the chance that crucial evidence (texts, social media posts, witness memories, surveillance footage) will be deleted, lost, or intentionally destroyed.
   • Protect Your Rights: Don’t let shame, fear, or a sense of loyalty prevent you from acting. Our team is here to protect your child and seek justice.

American Samoa Families – Distance is Not a Barrier:

We understand that American Samoa is geographically distant from our Texas headquarters. However, this does not impede our ability to represent your family vigorously.

• Video Consultations: We offer convenient and confidential video consultations, allowing you to meet with our attorneys from the comfort and privacy of your home in American Samoa.
• Travel Commitment: We are prepared to travel to American Samoa for depositions, client meetings, or trial proceedings when necessary. Our commitment is to justice, wherever it leads us.
• Nationwide Reach: Our federal court authority and dual-state bar admissions empower us to pursue hazing cases against national organizations and universities across the country.

Special Message to Other Victims of Hazing:

If your child was also subjected to the horrific hazing at Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston, or any other institution, we know there are more of you. Leonel was not the only one. Another pledge collapsed unconscious. Others were subjected to the same waterboarding and abuse. You have rights too. We can represent you and ensure all responsible parties are held accountable. As Lupe Pena bravely declared, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Your child’s incident was not their fault. It was an act of abuse, enabled by institutional failure. You have the power to stop it from happening to another student. Contact us today, and let us help you fight for the justice your family deserves.

CALL US NOW: American Samoa Families Deserve Justice

If your family in American Samoa is reeling from the devastating impact of hazing, you need immediate, aggressive, and experienced legal guidance. Your child’s future, their physical health, and their emotional well-being may depend on the swift actions you take today.

We are fighting this fight right now – and we will fight for American Samoa victims with the same relentless aggression and expertise.

Our attorneys are engaged in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for the horrific hazing of Leonel Bermudez. We know how to build these complex cases, how to dismantle the defenses of powerful institutions, and how to hold every responsible party accountable. Families in American Samoa will receive the exact same level of dedicated and aggressive representation.

AMERICAN SAMOA FAMILIES – YOUR FREE CONSULTATION AWAITS

Do not hesitate. Do not wait for institutions to cover their tracks. Do not let fear or uncertainty paralyze you. The time to act is now.

📞 CALL OUR LEGAL EMERGENCY HOTLINE: 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com

Our team is available 24/7 for American Samoa hazing emergencies. You will speak directly with a legal professional who understands what you’re going through and can offer immediate guidance.

$0 Upfront for American Samoa Families. We Work on Contingency.

We believe that seeking justice should never be limited by financial constraints. That’s why we take hazing cases on a contingency fee basis. This means:

• You pay us absolutely $0 upfront. There are no hourly fees, no retainers, no hidden costs to begin your fight.
• We don’t get paid unless and until YOU get paid. Our success is directly tied to yours. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing for our legal fees. This allows families in American Samoa to challenge well-funded fraternities and universities without financial risk.

Why Contact Us Immediately?

1. Time is Running Out: Most states have a 2-year Statute of Limitations for personal injury and wrongful death. Every day that passes can make it harder to gather evidence and build a strong case.
2. Evidence Disappears: Text messages get deleted, social media accounts are scrubbed, witnesses’ memories fade, and institutional records might “go missing.” We help you preserve critical evidence before it’s gone forever.
3. They Will Try to Silence You: Universities and fraternities will often try to manage the situation, offer inadequate settlements, or even intimidate victims into silence. We put a stop to that immediately and speak for you.
4. We Come to You: Though headquartered in Texas, our federal court authority, dual-state bar licenses, and commitment to justice mean we represent hazing victims nationwide. We offer secure video consultations for American Samoa families, and we are prepared to travel to American Samoa for depositions, client meetings, or trial when your case demands it. Distance is never a barrier to pursuing justice.

Your Child’s Ordeal Was Not Their Fault. It Was Inexcusable.

Hazing is more than just “college shenanigans”; it is abuse, plain and simple. Whether it happened in a powerful fraternity near American Samoa, a sports team, a marching band, an ROTC program, or any other student organization, the outcome is the same: harm.

As Lupe Pena said, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Let your voice be heard. Let your child’s story lead to accountability and change. You have the power to make a difference. Let us be your champions.

📞 Contact Attorney911 Today: 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com

---