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The Silent Shadow: A Utah Family’s Guide to Hazing in the Modern University

Utah, known for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant communities, sends its bright young minds to universities across the state and beyond. Whether your children attend institutions within our beautiful state, or venture to major universities in Texas like the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Southern Methodist University, or Baylor, the pursuit of higher education promises growth, new experiences, and independence. Yet, for some, this exciting chapter can take a dark and dangerous turn, far from the watchful eyes of their Utah homes.

Imagine receiving a call that your son or daughter, full of hope, has been subjected to humiliating, dangerous, or even life-threatening rituals, all in the name of “belonging” to a college organization. Perhaps they’ve been forced to consume alarming amounts of alcohol, enduring physical abuse, or subjected to psychological torment. The scenario might unfold on a remote off-campus property, far from the strict anti-hazing policies posted on university websites, with no one willing to intervene. This isn’t a scene from a movie; it’s a terrifying reality for far too many families, including some right here in Utah. The loyalty to a group, the fear of exclusion, and the pressure to conform can trap even the strongest students in silent suffering.

This comprehensive guide aims to shed light on the often-hidden world of hazing, equipping families in Utah and across Texas with the knowledge and resources to understand, prevent, and respond to these dangerous practices. We will delve into what modern hazing truly looks like, explore the legal frameworks in Texas and across the nation, examine how these patterns manifest at major universities like UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, and Baylor, and outline the critical steps you can take if your family is impacted.

The Manginello Law Firm, also known as Attorney911, understands the profound emotional and physical toll hazing takes. From our main office in Houston, we serve families throughout Texas, including those in Utah, who seek justice and accountability for campus abuse. This article provides general information, not specific legal advice. If you believe your child has been a victim of hazing, we urge you to contact us for a confidential evaluation tailored to your specific situation.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES:

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

  • Call 911 for medical emergencies
  • Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
  • We provide immediate help – that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™

• In the first 48 hours:

  • Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine”
  • Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
    • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately
    • Photograph injuries from multiple angles
    • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects)
  • Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where)
  • Do NOT:
    • Confront the fraternity/sorority
    • Sign anything from the university or insurance company
    • Post details on public social media
    • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence

• Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours:

  • Evidence disappears fast (deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses)
  • Universities move quickly to control the narrative
  • We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights
  • Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like Across University Campuses

Many Utah families may envision hazing as a relic of old movies, involving harmless pranks or mild discomfort. The reality in 2025 is far darker, more insidious, and often digitally enforced. Modern hazing endangers mental and physical health, exploits vulnerability, and thrives in secrecy. It’s an issue that impacts students seeking community, whether they are pledging a fraternity or sorority, joining an athletic team, or participating in a university club.

Clear, Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing, in its simplest terms, is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status within a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. This means that if someone makes you do something dangerous, harmful, or degrading to join or stay in a group, and they meant to do it or were reckless about the risk, that’s hazing under Texas law.

It’s crucial to understand that a student’s “agreement” to participate does not automatically make the activity lawful or safe. When there’s a significant power imbalance, intense peer pressure, or the fear of exclusion, true voluntary consent is often impossible. The law increasingly recognizes that “consent” is meaningless under such coercive conditions.

Main Categories of Hazing

Hazing manifests in various forms, often escalating in severity. These categories help us understand the full spectrum of abuse:

• Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This is arguably the most dangerous and prevalent form of hazing, leading to the majority of hazing-related deaths. It includes forced or coerced drinking, whether through chugging contests, “lineups” where pledges consume multiple shots, or games designed to ensure rapid intoxication. Students might also be pressured to consume unknown substances or mixtures. The goal is often to incapacitate pledges, breaking down their resistance and fostering a false sense of forced camaraderie.

• Physical Hazing: This involves any physical act that causes pain, injury, or extreme discomfort. Examples include paddling and beatings, often disguised as “discipline.” Extreme calisthenics, forced “workouts” or “smokings” far beyond normal physical conditioning, are common. Pledges may suffer sleep deprivation, food/water deprivation, or be exposed to extreme cold or heat, sometimes for prolonged periods. Dangerous environments, such as remote drop-offs or forced overnight outdoor exposure, also fall under this category.

• Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: This deeply degrading form of hazing includes forced nudity or partial nudity, simulated sexual acts (like “elephant walks” or “roasted pig” positions), and wearing sexually suggestive or demeaning costumes. It often involves acts with racial, sexist, or homophobic overtones, including the use of slurs or forced role-play of stereotypes. This form of abuse aims to strip individuals of their dignity and assert control.

• Psychological Hazing: Often overlooked but profoundly damaging, psychological hazing involves verbal abuse, threats, and deliberate social isolation from non-members. It can include manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming, often amplified through social media or private group meetings. This type of hazing erodes a student’s self-esteem and creates intense anxiety and fear, leaving lasting emotional scars.

• Digital/Online Hazing: A growing and particularly insidious form of hazing in the digital age. This involves group chat dares, challenges, and public humiliation orchestrated via social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Discord. Students are pressured to create or share compromising images or videos, or to respond instantly to commands at all hours, leading to sleep deprivation and constant anxiety. This extends the reach of hazing far beyond physical gatherings.

Where Hazing Actually Happens

It’s a common misconception that hazing is exclusively a “frat boy” problem. In reality, hazing permeates various university organizations, driven by similar dynamics of power, tradition, and secrecy across a wide range of groups on and off campus.

• Fraternities and Sororities: This includes social Greek letter organizations across Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic, National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and multicultural Greek councils. While many chapters strive for positive experiences, the inherent pressure of “pledgeship” or “new member education” can easily be exploited.

• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups: Organizations that emphasize hierarchy and tradition, common at institutions like Texas A&M, often face hazing allegations involving physical endurance, sleep deprivation, and psychological pressure, sometimes under the guise of “training” or “discipline.”

• Spirit Squads, Tradition Clubs, and Student Organizations: Groups like “Texas Cowboys” at UT Austin or similar spirit organizations can develop their own dangerous traditions. Hazing here might involve forced public humiliation, servitude, or strenuous physical activities in the name of loyalty or team building.

• Athletic Teams: From football and basketball to baseball, cheerleading, and club sports, hazing on athletic teams can involve brutal physical conditioning, forced alcohol consumption, and sexualized rituals, often justified as “team bonding” or “toughening up.”

• Marching Bands and Performance Groups: Even seemingly innocuous groups can foster hazing cultures. This can involve physical abuse, sleep deprivation, or psychological manipulation related to performance anxiety or group cohesion.

• Other Groups: Some service, cultural, and academic organizations, particularly those with strong hierarchical structures or long-standing traditions, can also fall prey to hazing if not carefully monitored.

The common thread among all these groups is the powerful influence of social status, tradition, and secrecy. These factors create an environment where dangerous practices persist, often hidden from university oversight, despite explicit anti-hazing policies. Recognizing the broad scope of where hazing can occur is the first step toward prevention and accountability for Utah families and students.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas Hazing Law and Federal Overlays

For Utah families whose children attend universities in Texas, understanding the legal landscape of hazing is paramount. Texas has a clear legal framework to address hazing, covering both criminal and civil repercussions, which can operate alongside federal laws and university policies to hold individuals and institutions accountable.

Texas Hazing Law Basics: Education Code

In Texas, hazing is explicitly defined and prohibited under Texas Education Code – Chapter 37, Subchapter F (Hazing). This code outlines what constitutes hazing, the potential penalties, and mandates certain responsibilities for educational institutions.

Key Definition: Under § 37.151, hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, by an individual or a group, directed against a student, that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student; AND
• Occurs for the purpose of pledging, initiation into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students.

In plain English: If someone deliberately or recklessly makes a student do something dangerous, unhealthy, or demeaning to join or stay in a university group, that’s hazing. Importantly, this standard applies whether the act occurs on or off campus. The victim’s “consent” to the hazing activity is not a defense to prosecution, as clearly stated in § 37.155. This acknowledges the inherent power imbalances and coercion within hazing environments.

Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152):

• Class B Misdemeanor: The default penalty for hazing, carrying up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
• Class A Misdemeanor: If the hazing causes bodily injury requiring medical attention.
• State Jail Felony: If the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death.
  Additionally, knowingly failing to report hazing is a misdemeanor, and retaliating against someone who reports hazing is also a misdemeanor.

Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): Organizations themselves can face fines of up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if an officer or member acting in an official capacity knew about hazing and failed to report it. Universities can also revoke recognition of organizations found responsible for hazing.

Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§ 37.154): To encourage reporting, Texas law provides immunity from civil or criminal liability for individuals who report hazing incidents in good faith. This is crucial for students or witnesses who fear getting into trouble themselves.

Criminal vs. Civil Hazing Cases

Understanding the distinction between criminal and civil cases is vital for Utah families pursuing justice:

• Criminal Cases: These are initiated by the state (prosecutor) after a hazing incident. The goal is to punish the perpetrators (individuals and sometimes organizations) through jail time, fines, or probation. Charges can range from misdemeanor hazing to serious felony offenses like assault or even manslaughter in fatal cases. A criminal conviction serves as public acknowledgment of wrongdoing.

• Civil Cases: These are brought by the victims or their surviving families against the individuals and entities responsible for the hazing incident. The primary goal is to obtain monetary compensation, or “damages,” for physical injuries, emotional distress, medical expenses, lost educational opportunities, and, in tragic cases, wrongful death. Civil suits seek to establish accountability from all liable parties. A criminal conviction is not a prerequisite for a civil lawsuit; civil liability standards are generally lower than criminal standards.

Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, and Clery

Beyond state law, several federal statutes also impact how hazing is addressed on university campuses:

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This landmark federal law is designed to increase transparency and accountability for hazing on college campuses nationwide. Once fully implemented by 2026, it will require all colleges and universities receiving federal student aid to:

  • Report hazing incidents publicly and in greater detail than before.
  • Implement stronger anti-hazing policies and education programs.
  • Publish clear data on hazing violations and disciplinary actions.
    This act will provide invaluable public data for families in Utah and elsewhere to research the hazing records of potential universities and organizations.

• Title IX: This federal law prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. When hazing involves sexual misconduct, harassment, assault, or creates a hostile environment based on sex, Title IX obligations are triggered. This can compel universities to investigate, take corrective action, and provide support for victims, regardless of whether the hazing occurred on or off campus.

• Clery Act: The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires colleges and universities to report campus crime data, policies, and prevention efforts. If a hazing incident involves categories like assault, aggravated assault, or alcohol/drug-related offenses, it may fall under Clery reporting requirements, highlighting potential safety concerns on campus.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit

A civil hazing lawsuit can cast a wide net to ensure comprehensive accountability and compensation. Potential defendants can include:

• Individual Students: Those directly involved in planning or executing the hazing acts, or those who stood by and enabled them. This includes student leaders, pledgemasters, and other members.
• Local Organization/Chapter: The specific fraternity, sorority, club, or team itself, if it operates as a legal entity. Its local chapter officers can also be held accountable on behalf of the chapter.
• National Organization: The larger national fraternity, sorority, or governing body can be held liable, especially if there’s a pattern of similar hazing incidents across its chapters nationwide, or if it failed to adequately supervise or discipline its local chapters.
• University or Governing Board: The institution itself (e.g., University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor) can be sued for negligence, negligent supervision, or for failing to enforce its own policies, particularly if it had prior knowledge of hazing risks or a pattern of violating its duty of care. For public universities, like those in Texas, sovereign immunity can pose a challenge, though exceptions may apply, for example, in cases of gross negligence or Title IX violations. Private universities typically have fewer immunity protections.
• Third Parties: This might include property owners who knowingly allowed hazing activities on their premises, or even alcohol vendors who illegally furnished alcohol to minors contributing to hazing injuries.

Each case is unique, and the exact parties named in a lawsuit depend on the specific facts and the extent of their involvement and foreknowledge. Experienced hazing attorneys deeply investigate to identify all potential avenues for accountability.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Anchor Stories and What They Mean for Utah Families

The tragic lessons learned from high-profile hazing cases nationwide provide critical insights for Utah families. These “anchor stories” reveal recurring patterns of abuse, institutional failures, and the profound human cost of hazing. More importantly, they clarify the legal strategies that lead to accountability and justice in civil litigation. The Manginello Law Firm leverages these national precedents to fight for families whose children are hazed at Texas universities.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death: A Repeating Tragedy

Forced alcohol consumption remains the leading cause of hazing deaths. These cases demonstrate a chillingly similar script:

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State University, Beta Theta Pi (February 2017):
  A 19-year-old pledge, Timothy Piazza, died following a “bid acceptance” initiation event where he was forced to consume dangerous amounts of alcohol. Fraternity cameras captured him falling repeatedly, suffering severe head injuries. Crucially, brothers delayed calling 911 for nearly 12 hours, fearing repercussions. This case led to over 1,000 criminal counts against multiple fraternity members, civil litigation with confidential settlements, and the enactment of the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania. For Utah families, this highlights the extreme danger of forced drinking and the catastrophic consequences of delayed medical care.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State University, Pi Kappa Phi (November 2017):
  Andrew Coffey, a pledge, died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother Night” event where he and others were given handles of hard liquor to consume. Multiple fraternity members faced criminal charges, and Florida State University temporarily suspended all Greek life. The incident spurred a statewide anti-hazing movement. This case reinforces that traditional “gift-giving” or “bonding” events often mask deadly forced-drinking scenarios.
• Maxwell “Max” Gruver – Louisiana State University, Phi Delta Theta (September 2017):
  Max Gruver, an 18-year-old pledge, died from alcohol toxicity with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.495% after a “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers led to forced drinking. Multiple members were charged, with one convicted of negligent homicide. This tragedy resulted in the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana, a felony hazing statute. It proves that seemingly innocent games can quickly turn deadly under the guise of hazing, and significant legislative change can follow.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (March 2021):
  Stone Foltz died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to consume an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” night. Multiple fraternity members were convicted of hazing-related crimes. His family reached a $10 million settlement in 2023, with $7 million from Pi Kappa Alpha national and approximately $3 million from Bowling Green State University. This landmark settlement demonstrates that both national fraternities and universities can be held financially liable for hazing deaths. For Utah families, such substantial settlements offer a measure of accountability for severe negligence.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing: Beyond Alcohol

While alcohol is a significant factor, physical and psychologically damaging hazing rituals also lead to tragic outcomes:

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (December 2013):
  Michael Deng, a pledge, died from a traumatic brain injury suffered at an off-campus fraternity retreat in the Pocono Mountains. He was blindfolded, forced to wear a heavy backpack, and repeatedly tackled during a brutal “glass ceiling” ritual. Fraternity members delayed calling 911 for hours. This unprecedented case resulted in multiple criminal convictions, and the national fraternity itself was criminally convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter, and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. This shows that hazing often moves off-campus to avoid detection, but the distance does not absolve liability.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse: A Broader Problem

Hazing is not confined to Greek life; it infiltrates other campus organizations, including high-profile athletic programs:

• Northwestern University Football Scandal (2023–2025):
  Former football players came forward with allegations of widespread sexualized and racist hazing within the program over many years. The scandal led to multiple lawsuits against Northwestern University and coaching staff, the firing of head coach Pat Fitzgerald (who later settled a wrongful-termination suit confidentially), and a major re-evaluation of institutional oversight. For Utah families, this illustrates that hazing can occur in any high-stakes, hierarchical group on campus, and universities bear responsibility for the culture that permits it, regardless of the type of organization.

What These National Cases Mean for Families in Utah

These national incidents—the alcohol poisoning deaths, the physical abuses, the cover-ups, and the institutional negligence—forge a pattern that is crucial for understanding hazing in Texas. For families in Utah whose children attend universities across the country, these cases underscore several critical points:

1. Foreseeability: When a local chapter in Texas repeats hazing behaviors that have injured or killed students at other chapters nationwide, it strengthens arguments that the national organization and university should have foreseen the danger and acted to prevent it. This “pattern evidence” is powerful in litigation.
2. Institutional Accountability: These cases set precedents for holding entire organizations—local chapters, national fraternities, and universities—liable, not just individual students. This is vital for pursuing justice against well-resourced defendants.
3. The Stakes are High: The multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts in many of these cases reflect the severe, often lifelong, damage caused by hazing, both to victims and their families. They demonstrate a legal system’s recognition of the profound loss and suffering.
4. Legislative Impact: Tragedies often spark legislative change, such as Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law and Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act. These laws make criminal prosecution of hazing more stringent and reflect society’s growing intolerance for such abuses.
5. No Place is Immune: From large public universities to small private colleges, and from Greek life to athletic programs and military corps, hazing is a pervasive issue. Utah families sending their children anywhere cannot assume their child’s campus is immune.

The Manginello Law Firm utilizes the lessons and legal strategies from these national anchor stories to build compelling hazing cases in Texas, including for families from Utah. We know the history, we understand the patterns, and we are prepared to take on the powerful institutions responsible for student safety.

Texas Focus: Major Universities and the Shadow of Hazing

For Utah families with students attending or considering universities in Texas, understanding the specific environments at major institutions is crucial. While all Texas universities operate under the same state hazing laws, their unique cultures, incident histories, and responses to hazing can differ significantly. Let’s delve into the major players: The University of Houston, Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin, Southern Methodist University, and Baylor University.

Whether your child is a local Utah student making their home in Texas, or simply an aspiring college student seeking education in the Lone Star State, being informed about these campuses is key.

University of Houston (UH): An Urban Campus Faces Hazing Realities

The University of Houston, a dynamic urban campus located in the heart of Houston, serves a diverse student body, blending residential and commuter students. Its Greek life community is active and varied, encompassing a wide array of fraternities and sororities alongside numerous other student organizations and sports clubs.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels:
UH maintains a strict anti-hazing policy, explicitly prohibiting any hazing activities, whether on or off campus, involving forced consumption of anything, sleep deprivation, or any physical or mental mistreatment. The university encourages reporting through the Dean of Students office, the Student Conduct office, and the University of Houston Police Department (UHPD). While UH outlines its expectations clearly, like many large institutions, it consistently faces hazing challenges.

Selected Documented Incidents & Responses:
A notable instance occurred around 2016 involving Pi Kappa Alpha. Pledges were allegedly deprived of food, water, and sleep during an event. One student reportedly suffered a lacerated spleen from a physical altercation or impact. The chapter faced misdemeanor hazing charges and a university suspension, highlighting the severe physical risks involved even in events termed “initiation.” UH’s disciplinary records also show other instances where fraternities faced suspensions or probation for behavior “likely to produce mental or physical discomfort,” including alcohol misuse and policy violations, underscoring the ongoing nature of the problem.

How a UH Hazing Case Might Proceed:
Hazing incidents at UH can involve investigations by both UHPD and the Houston Police Department, depending on the severity and location of the incident. Civil lawsuits would typically be filed in courts with jurisdiction over Houston and Harris County. Potential defendants would include the individual students involved, the local chapter, the national fraternity/sorority, and potentially the university itself, given its duty to provide a safe educational environment. The Manginello Law Firm is located in Houston, offering direct local expertise for families pursuing claims against UH.

What UH Students & Parents Should Do:

• Report promptly: Utilize UH’s official reporting channels, including the Dean of Students office or the anonymous reporting system.
• Document relentlessly: Keep detailed records of any incidents, particularly including screenshots of digital communications, photos of injuries, and accounts of witnesses.
• Prioritize safety: In any medical emergency, seek immediate care and ensure medical staff are aware of hazing as a contributing factor.
• Seek legal counsel: For families in Utah, contacting a lawyer experienced in Houston-based hazing cases, like Attorney911, can help navigate the complex process of uncovering prior discipline and internal files that may not be publicly accessible.

Texas A&M University: Tradition Meets Risk

Texas A&M University, located in College Station, is deeply interwoven with rich traditions, none more prominent than its Corps of Cadets. Alongside its robust Greek life, Texas A&M’s unique culture, particularly within the Corps, often raises specific questions regarding hazing, sometimes disguised as “tradition,” “training,” or fostering “esprit de corps.” For Utah families considering Texas A&M, this blend of tradition and a large Greek system warrants careful attention.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels:
Texas A&M explicitly prohibits hazing, adhering to state law and its own stringent codes of conduct. The university outlines reporting options through the Student Conduct Office, the Corps of Cadets leadership, and the Texas A&M University Police Department (UPD). The unique hierarchical structure of the Corps offers specific challenges in distinguishing acceptable training from prohibited hazing.

Selected Documented Incidents & Responses:

• Around 2021, a lawsuit involving Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Texas A&M alleged severe hazing where pledges were covered in various substances, including an industrial-strength cleaner. This caused severe chemical burns that necessitated emergency skin grafts. The fraternity chapter was suspended, and legal action ensued.
• In 2023, parents of a Corps of Cadets member filed a lawsuit alleging degrading hazing. The cadet reportedly endured simulated sexual acts and was bound in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million, drawing attention to hazing within the Corps. Texas A&M stated it addressed the matter under its student conduct rules.
  These incidents underscore that hazing can occur in both Greek-letter organizations and highly traditional, quasi-military groups.

How a Texas A&M Hazing Case Might Proceed:
Investigations often involve UPD and, if serious enough, the College Station Police Department. Civil litigation for hazing at Texas A&M typically proceeds in Brazos County courts. Cases can be complex, potentially involving claims against individual cadets, fraternity members, the local chapter, the national organization, and the university and its leadership, particularly if policies were not adequately enforced.

What Texas A&M Students & Parents Should Do:

• Understand Corps regulations: Families from Utah should specifically familiarize themselves with the strict rules governing conduct within the Corps, as well as general university policy.
• Distinguish tradition from abuse: Encourage open communication with your student to differentiate challenging, but safe, traditions from illegal hazing.
• Report all credible concerns: Utilize Texas A&M’s various reporting avenues, emphasizing incidents within both Greek life and Corps environments.
• Consider legal consultation: For Utah families, attorneys experienced in Texas A&M hazing can help analyze the unique nuances of its institutional culture and prior incident history.

University of Texas at Austin (UT): Transparency and Persistent Challenges

The University of Texas at Austin is a flagship institution known for its vibrant academic and social scene, including a large and active Greek life. UT has been more transparent than many universities in publicly detailing hazing violations, which ironically highlights the persistent challenges the campus faces despite these efforts.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels:
UT Austin has a rigorous anti-hazing policy aligning with Texas state law, prohibiting all forms of hazing. The university maintains a dedicated Hazing Violations website (hazing.utexas.edu) that lists organizations, dates, specific conduct, and sanctions. Reporting channels include the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity, Title IX Office, UT Police Department (UTPD), and an anonymous online reporting form.

Selected Documented Incidents & Responses:
UT’s public registry provides numerous examples:

• In 2023, Pi Kappa Alpha was sanctioned after new members were directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics, actions clearly identified as hazing. The chapter faced probation and mandatory hazing-prevention education.
• Other spirit organizations, such as the Texas Wranglers, have faced sanctions for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, and punishment-based practices targeting new members.
  The strength of UT’s transparency is that it makes prior violations public, creating a record that parents can review and that attorneys can leverage to demonstrate patterns of misconduct and institutional knowledge.

How a UT Austin Hazing Case Might Proceed:
Investigations typically involve the UTPD or the Austin Police Department and the Office of Student Conduct. Civil suits would be filed in Travis County courts. Given UT’s status as a public university, claims might face sovereign immunity defenses, though exceptions can apply for gross negligence or Title IX violations. Previous transparency regarding hazing incidents at UT means that attorneys will have a public record to demonstrate patterns and establish foreseeability in such cases.

What UT Austin Students & Parents Should Do:

• Utilize transparency: Families from Utah should proactively review UT’s Hazing Violations website to research any organization their student considers joining.
• Document quickly: Given UT’s active Greek scene, documenting any suspicious activity, including digital evidence, is critical.
• Be aware of resources: UT provides counselors and crisis support that can be accessed confidentially.
• Consult an attorney with a track record at UT: An attorney familiar with UT’s public records and internal investigative processes can quickly access relevant information to build a strong case.

Southern Methodist University (SMU): Private University, Public Challenges

Southern Methodist University, a private university in Dallas, is known for its strong academic programs and a particularly active Greek life scene, often drawing students from affluent backgrounds in Utah and across the country. Like many private institutions, SMU’s internal disciplinary processes can be less transparent than public universities, but its commitment to anti-hazing policies remains firm.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels:
SMU strictly prohibits hazing, defining it broadly to include any act that could cause physical or psychological harm or discomfort, or create an undue burden on new members. Reporting can be made through the Dean of Students office, the Office of Institutional Access and Equity (for Title IX concerns), and its confidential online reporting system, Real Response.

Selected Documented Incidents & Responses:

• Around 2017, the Kappa Alpha Order chapter at SMU faced severe disciplinary action. New members were reportedly subjected to paddling, forced alcohol consumption, and sleep deprivation. The chapter was suspended and prohibited from recruiting new members for several years, highlighting the university’s response to severe violations.
  While official documentation of specific incidents may be less publicly prominent than at state schools, these cases often become known through student reports or internal university communications.

How an SMU Hazing Case Might Proceed:
SMU, as a private institution, generally does not have the same sovereign immunity protections as public universities, which can sometimes simplify the path to civil litigation. Lawsuits would typically be filed in Dallas County courts. Defendants could include individual members, the local chapter, the national organization, and SMU itself, particularly if there’s evidence of negligent supervision or a failure to enforce anti-hazing policies already in place. Attorneys must work to compel discovery of internal records.

What SMU Students & Parents Should Do:

• Engage with SMU resources: Students from Utah should utilize the confidential Real Response system if they experience or witness hazing, taking advantage of SMU’s stated commitment to investigating such claims.
• Prioritize documentation: Since public records may be limited, meticulous personal documentation of any hazing incidents (texts, photos, eyewitness accounts) is even more crucial.
• Understand private institution dynamics: For Utah families, recognizing that private university investigations might be handled differently than those at public universities is important. Legal counsel can help navigate these internal processes effectively.

Baylor University: Faith-Based Values and Hazing Scrutiny

Baylor University, situated in Waco, Texas, is a private Baptist university with a strong emphasis on faith-based values. Despite its mission-driven approach, Baylor has faced significant scrutiny over student safety, particularly concerning sexual assault and general misconduct, which can also extend to hazing issues. Baylor’s Greek life includes both traditional organizations and campus-specific groups like its “lines” or “societies.”

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels:
Baylor’s policies strictly prohibit hazing, emphasizing the dignity of every individual, consistent with its Christian mission. Reporting options include the Dean of Students office, the Title IX Coordinator, Baylor Police Department (BPD), and anonymous reporting. Baylor’s prior experiences with institutional accountability have led to a heightened focus on student well-being and a “zero tolerance” stance.

Selected Documented Incidents & Responses:

• Around 2020, the Baylor baseball program faced a hazing scandal that resulted in the suspension of 14 players. The suspensions were staggered to address the misconduct without crippling the team’s season, which itself sparked debate on the transparency and severity of consequences. This incident demonstrated that hazing can occur in high-profile athletic programs, even within an ethically focused university context.
  Baylor’s administration has made public statements reiterating its commitment to combating hazing, but the occurrence of such incidents indicates ongoing challenges in enforcement and cultural change.

How a Baylor Hazing Case Might Proceed:
As a private university, Baylor does not benefit from sovereign immunity, making it potentially more susceptible to civil lawsuits than public institutions. Litigation for hazing at Baylor would typically take place in McLennan County courts. Claims might name individual perpetrators, the local chapters, national organizations, and Baylor University itself, particularly if there’s evidence that the university failed in its duty of care or the enforcement of its policies, especially given its history of broad institutional scrutiny.

What Baylor Students & Parents Should Do:

• Align with values: For Utah families who chose Baylor for its faith-based values, it’s essential to ensure that the organizations your student joins genuinely uphold those values and not engage in abusive practices.
• Document all discrepancies: Any contradiction between the university’s stated values and actual on-the-ground behavior, particularly concerning hazing, should be meticulously documented.
• Be persistent with reporting: Given Baylor’s past, administrators should be responsive to hazing concerns. Families from Utah should be persistent in seeking a thorough investigation if hazing is suspected.
• Seek specialized legal assistance: An attorney familiar with Baylor’s institutional culture and past accountability issues can effectively navigate a hazing claim, addressing both legal and reputational aspects.

For Utah families across the region, these snapshots of major Texas universities illustrate that hazing is a complex and persistent problem, demanding vigilance and proactive measures. No institution, regardless of its size, reputation, or public statements, is entirely immune from the shadow of hazing.

Fraternities & Sororities: Campus-Specific and National Histories Fuel Liability

For families in Utah whose students engage with Greek life at Texas universities, understanding the relationship between local chapters and their powerful national organizations is key to grasping the full scope of hazing liability. While each campus has its own unique student culture, hazing patterns often reflect a national script, handed down through generations and across chapters of the same fraternity or sorority.

Why National Histories Matter

Many fraternities and sororities active at the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Southern Methodist University, and Baylor University are part of expansive national organizations. These national bodies, often with decades or even centuries of history, maintain large infrastructures, collect dues, and issue strict anti-hazing policies and risk management guidelines. They do so precisely because they have a long history of members injured or killed during hazing incidents at chapters across the country.

When a local chapter in Texas repeats hazing behaviors that have injured or killed students at other chapters nationwide—such as forced alcohol consumption on “Big/Little” nights, ritual paddlings, or extreme physical challenges—it creates a powerful argument of foreseeability and prior notice. This evidence strengthens claims of negligence and gross negligence against the national organization, regardless of how often they claim a local chapter went “rogue.” They knew the dangers, and they often failed to prevent them.

Organization Mapping: National Patterns at Texas Campuses

We will specifically examine patterns relevant to fraternities and sororities common in Texas:

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike):

• National Presence: Pike has active chapters across Texas universities, including at the University of Houston.
• National Hazing History: Nationally, Pi Kappa Alpha has faced devastating hazing liabilities. The most tragic recent case is that of Stone Foltz at Bowling Green State University (March 2021). Foltz died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to consume a bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event. This led to multiple criminal convictions and a $10 million settlement for his family. Another significant case involved David Bogenberger at Northern Illinois University (2012), who also died from alcohol poisoning after a fraternity event, leading to a $14 million settlement for his family.
• Significance for Texas: These cases demonstrate a national pattern of forced alcohol consumption within Pi Kappa Alpha, particularly related to new member events. If similar incidents occur at Texas chapters, it is powerful evidence of the national organization’s foreseeable risk and potential oversight failures.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / SAE):

• National Presence: SAE maintains a strong presence at many Texas universities, including Texas A&M and UT Austin.
• National Hazing History: Sigma Alpha Epsilon has been infamously dubbed “America’s deadliest fraternity” due to a tragic number of hazing-related deaths and severe injuries nationwide. High-profile incidents include the death of Carson Starkey at Cal Poly in 2008 from alcohol poisoning during hazing, which resulted in a substantial confidential settlement and inspired a national anti-hazing foundation. More recently, lawsuits have alleged a traumatic brain injury during hazing at the University of Alabama (2023) and severe chemical burns from industrial cleaner poured on pledges at Texas A&M (2021), requiring skin grafts. An Australian exchange student also sued the UT Austin chapter in 2024 for a dislocated leg, fractured tibia, and broken nose after an alleged assault, with the chapter already under suspension for prior hazing.
• Significance for Texas: The recurring nature of severe incidents across SAE chapters, including within Texas, underscores a national pattern of dangerous hazing practices that should be readily foreseeable to the national organization. This makes it challenging for the national body to claim ignorance of risks at any of its chapters.

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ):

• National Presence: Phi Delta Theta has established chapters at many Texas universities, including Texas A&M and Baylor.
• National Hazing History: The fraternity’s national reputation was severely impacted by the death of Maxwell “Max” Gruver at Louisiana State University (2017). Gruver died from alcohol poisoning after a forced drinking game. This incident led to criminal convictions and the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana, making felony hazing punishable by jail time.
• Significance for Texas: The Gruver case serves as clear prior notice to the national Phi Delta Theta organization about the deadly potential of forced drinking games. Any similar incident at a Texas chapter could strongly leverage this national precedent for accountability.

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ):

• National Presence: Pi Kappa Phi has numerous chapters in Texas, including a well-known chapter at the University of Houston.
• National Hazing History: The national organization was implicated in the death of Andrew Coffey at Florida State University (2017), who died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother Night” event. Multiple members were prosecuted.
• Significance for Texas: The Coffey case is a stark warning to Pi Kappa Phi national about alcohol-fueled new member events. If similar scenarios arise at Texas chapters, the lessons from FSU would be directly applicable.

Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ):

• National Presence: Kappa Alpha Order has a traditional and often prominent presence at Texas universities, including SMU and Texas A&M.
• National Hazing History: While specific national-level deaths are not as frequently cited as for some other fraternities, chapters of Kappa Alpha Order have faced numerous hazing suspensions across various campuses for alcohol abuse, physical hazing, and other misconduct, which highlights a pattern of recurring issues within the organization. The SMU chapter, for instance, faced a multi-year suspension around 2017 after allegations of paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.
• Significance for Texas: A history of multiple suspensions for similar hazing behaviors at various chapters suggests a systemic challenge in enforcing anti-hazing policies, making national liability more plausible in the event of severe incidents in Texas.

The Bermudez Case: A Real-Time Test in Houston

Our firm, Attorney911, is actively representing Leonel Bermudez in a prominent $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, its Board of Regents, the national Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, its housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders and members. This case, filed in late 2025 in Harris County, is a prime example of the type of severe hazing that continues to plague Texas campuses and necessitates strong legal action.

The Allegations: Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student and fall 2025 pledge, suffered acute kidney failure and rhabdomyolysis (severe skeletal muscle breakdown) following alleged severe hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. The hazing activities detailed in the lawsuit include:

• Being required to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing degrading items like condoms, a sex toy, and nicotine devices.
• Forced physical exertion, including more than 100 push-ups and 500 squats in a single November 3rd workout at Yellowstone Boulevard Park, leaving Bermudez unable to stand.
• Sprays with a hose described as “similar to waterboarding” and threats of actual waterboarding.
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed immediately by sprints.
• Overnight and late-night driving duties as a chapter chauffeur.
• Cold-weather exposure in underwear and being made to lie in vomit-soaked grass.

Medical Outcome: Bermudez’s medical condition was severe, characterized by critically high creatine kinase (CK) levels, passing “brown urine” (a classic symptom of rhabdomyolysis), and requiring a four-day hospitalization. He faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage, along with long-term physical and psychological harm. As Ralph Manginello stated, “His urine was brown,” vividly describing the kidney damage.

Institutional Response: The chapter was suspended by the university on November 6, 2025, and voted to surrender its charter on November 14, permanently shutting down. The University of Houston acknowledged the “deeply disturbing” conduct and promised disciplinary measures.

Why this case matters:

• Proof of Action: The Bermudez case demonstrates that Attorney911 is actively engaged in serious hazing litigation against major university and national fraternity defendants.
• Severity of Modern Hazing: The allegations highlight that hazing can involve extreme physical torture, forced consumption, and degrading rituals, leading to life-threatening medical conditions.
• Comprehensive Liability: By naming individuals, the local chapter, the national fraternity, the housing corporation, and the university, this lawsuit seeks to hold all responsible parties accountable.
• As Lupe Peña stated, “If this prevents harm to another person…Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” Attorney Manginello added, “We’re almost in 2026. This has to stop.”

This case is being closely watched nationally, and details are available from various media outlets, including Click2Houston: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/, ABC13: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/, and Hoodline: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/.

Tie Back to Legal Strategy

The documented national histories of fraternities and sororities expose critical patterns:

• Repetitive Conduct: Many organizations have demonstrated a pattern of similar hazing incidents across different campuses, year after year. This pattern negates any claim of “we didn’t know” or “it was an isolated incident.”
• Foreseeability: Given past deaths and severe injuries linked to specific hazing types (like alcohol binges or physical abuse), national organizations have a heightened duty to prevent such acts. Failure to do so can be used to prove negligence.
• Enforcement Gaps: The existence of strict anti-hazing policies means little if those policies are not rigorously enforced, consistently monitored, and violations aggressively punished. A paper policy without diligent enforcement is a liability.
• Impact on Liability: This evidence is crucial for overcoming common defenses, influencing settlement negotiations, and potentially increasing awards for punitive damages, which aim to punish gross negligence and deter future misconduct.

For Utah families, knowing that these national patterns exist and can be legally leveraged in Texas courts is empowering. It means that an incident affecting your child is rarely isolated; it’s often part of a wider, documented history that can be brought to light.

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy in Hazing Lawsuits for Utah Families

When a Utah family faces the trauma of hazing, their focus is on their child’s well-being. However, pursuing accountability requires a meticulous legal strategy, centered on uncovering and preserving evidence, understanding the full scope of damages, and anticipating the defenses of powerful institutions. At Attorney911, we recognize that a hazing lawsuit is not merely about compensation; it’s about holding individuals and organizations responsible and preventing future tragedies.

Evidence: The Cornerstones of a Hazing Case

Modern hazing cases are often won or lost based on the quality and volume of evidence, especially digital evidence. Time is always of the essence, as incriminating information can be quickly deleted or destroyed.

• Digital Communications: In 2025, group messaging apps are goldmines of hazing evidence. Platforms like GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and even fraternity-specific apps are where plans are made, commands are given, and activities are documented. Photos and videos of hazing are often shared here. Crucially, digital forensics experts can sometimes recover deleted messages, but original screenshots with timestamps and participants visible are always preferable. Attorney911’s video on documenting legal cases with your cellphone (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs) provides practical guidance on how families can preserve this critical data.

• Photos & Videos: Beyond direct communications, content filmed by members during events—whether for illicit “fun” or as a means of pressure—is invaluable. This includes footage shared in group chats, posted on private social media accounts, or captured by security cameras (e.g., Ring cameras at off-campus houses). Such visual evidence can clearly show the nature of the hazing, who was involved, and the victim’s physical state.

• Internal Organization Documents: Subpoenas can uncover pledge manuals, initiation scripts, “tradition” lists, rules for new members, and communications between local chapters and national headquarters. These documents can reveal systemic issues, official knowledge of hazing practices, or a disparity between stated anti-hazing policies and actual chapter behavior.

• University Records: Through formal legal discovery and public records requests, an attorney can access disciplinary files, prior conduct reports for the involved organization, campus police incident reports, and even Clery Act disclosures which might show patterns of misconduct that the university was aware of. These records can demonstrate a pattern of negligence or a failure to act despite repeated warnings.

• Medical and Psychological Records: These are central to proving physical and emotional harm. Emergency room and hospitalization records, toxicology reports (crucial in alcohol-related cases), surgical notes, and ongoing therapy documentation all establish the extent of the damage. Psychological evaluations can diagnose conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety, which are often overlooked but devastating consequences of hazing.

• Witness Testimony: The accounts of other pledges, current or former members, roommates, Resident Assistants (RAs), coaches, or bystanders are vital. While many witnesses may initially fear retaliation, their testimony can corroborate the victim’s account and provide critical details about the hazing culture.

Damages: Recovering What Was Lost

Hazing incidents can result in devastating financial, physical, and emotional costs. A civil lawsuit seeks to recover damages that compensate victims and their families for these losses.

• Medical Bills & Future Care: This includes all past medical expenses (ambulance rides, ER visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, physical therapy) and critically, estimates for future medical care. For victims of severe rhabdomyolysis or brain injuries, lifetime care plans, ongoing therapy, and psychological support represent substantial, calculable damages.

• Lost Earnings / Educational Impact: This covers lost wages if the victim or a parent had to leave work. More significantly, it includes the cost of missed semesters, lost scholarships, delayed graduation, and the potential diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent and affect their ability to pursue their chosen career.

• Non-Economic Damages: These address the intangible but profound suffering:

  • Physical Pain and Suffering: The immediate and ongoing pain from injuries, and any loss of physical abilities.
  • Emotional Distress, Trauma, Humiliation: This includes diagnoses like PTSD, anxiety, depression, along with the deep sense of humiliation, shame, and loss of dignity.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation for the inability to participate in activities once loved, social withdrawal, and the overall diminishment of quality of life.

• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): In the most tragic cases, families can seek compensation for funeral costs, the loss of financial support the deceased would have provided, and the loss of companionship, love, guidance, and society. The emotional suffering of parents and siblings is a significant component in wrongful death claims.

Role of Different Defendants and Insurance Coverage

Part of the legal strategy involves identifying all potentially liable parties and understanding their insurance coverage. National fraternities/sororities and universities often carry substantial insurance policies designed to cover such incidents. However, their insurers will often, initially, attempt to deny coverage by arguing that hazing involves “intentional acts” or “criminal conduct,” which some policies exclude.

Experienced hazing lawyers, like those at Attorney911, understand how to:

• Navigate these complex insurance coverage disputes.
• Argue negligent supervision: Even if hazing was intentional, a national organization or university’s failure to prevent it (negligent supervision) can still be covered.
• Identify multiple layers of coverage: This includes local chapter policies, national policies, housing corporation policies, and university umbrella policies.
• Leverage prior incidents: Documented patterns of hazing help establish foreseeability, making it harder for the insurance company to deny responsibility.

For Utah families, knowing that this complex legal landscape is navigable is crucial. Attorney911’s Lupe Peña, with her background as a former insurance defense attorney (https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/), offers an invaluable insider perspective on how to challenge these defenses and ensure maximum recovery.

The Strategy for Accountability

Building a hazing case against powerful institutions requires more than just knowing the law; it demands a strategic approach to evidence, negotiation, and, if necessary, litigation. Attorney911 focuses on:

• Rapid Evidence Preservation: Acting quickly before crucial digital and physical evidence disappears.
• Thorough Investigation: Uncovering all relevant documents, witness accounts, and institutional failures.
• Expert Collaboration: Working with medical specialists, psychologists, and digital forensics experts to fully document harm and causation.
• Aggressive Advocacy: Standing firm against well-funded defense teams who aim to minimize liability or blame the victim.
• Seeking Comprehensive Accountability: Targeting all responsible parties, from individual perpetrators to national organizations and the university itself, to ensure justice and prevent future harm.

This meticulous approach is essential to securing not just financial recovery, but also the accountability that can drive systemic change and help prevent another family in Utah or across Texas from enduring the same pain.

Practical Guides & FAQs: Supporting Utah Families Through Hazing Challenges

For families in Utah, navigating a hazing incident can feel overwhelming and isolating. Knowing what to do, who to trust, and what questions to ask is critical. This section provides practical guidance for parents, students, and witnesses, empowering them with actionable steps and clear answers to common questions.

For Parents: Recognizing & Responding to Hazing

The most powerful tool a parent has is vigilance. Being aware of the signs and knowing how to respond can make all the difference.

• Warning Signs of Hazing: Be alert to changes in your child’s behavior. Look for:

  • Unexplained injuries: Bruises, cuts, burns, or repeated “accidents” with vague explanations.
  • Sudden exhaustion or sleep deprivation: Constant late nights, early morning calls, or physical fatigue.
  • Drastic mood changes: Increased anxiety, depression, irritability, or social withdrawal from friends and family.
  • Secrecy: Evasive answers about group activities, using phrases like “It’s a secret,” or “I can’t talk about it.”
  • Obsessive phone use: Constantly checking for group chat notifications, or intense anxiety if they miss a “mandatory” message.
  • Academic decline: Grades dropping, missing classes, or neglecting studies due to organizational demands.
  • Changes in appearance: Neglecting hygiene, wearing specific clothes, or unusual haircuts.
  • Devaluing self: Believing they “deserve” certain treatment or must “earn” their place.

• How to Talk to Your Child: Approach the conversation with empathy, not judgment. Reassure them that their safety and well-being are your top priorities. Ask open-ended questions like, “How are you really doing with [the organization]?” or “Is there anything making you uncomfortable?” Emphasize that they have a choice, and you will support them regardless of their decision.

• If Your Child is Hurt: Prioritize medical care immediately. Document everything meticulously: take clear photos of injuries (with a ruler or object for scale), screenshot any relevant text messages or social media posts, and write down a detailed account of what they tell you, including dates, times, and names. This evidence is crucial.

• Dealing with the University: Document all communications with university administrators. When speaking with them, ask specific questions about:

  • Any prior hazing incidents involving the organization.
  • What steps the university took in response to those incidents.
  • The specific process for their investigation and disciplinary actions.

• When to Talk to a Lawyer: If your child has suffered significant physical or psychological harm, or if you feel the university or organization is minimizing or hiding what happened, it’s time to consult an attorney. Early legal counsel can help you navigate university processes, protect your child’s rights, and prevent the loss of critical evidence.

48-Hour Action Checklist for Parents

HOUR 1–6 (IMMEDIATE CRISIS):

✅ Medical: If injured or intoxicated, get to ER immediately
✅ Safety: Remove child from dangerous situation and ensure they are safe
✅ Evidence: Screenshot any messages they show you; photograph visible injuries from multiple angles
✅ Notes: Write down everything they tell you (date, time, what happened, who was there)
✅ Call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate legal guidance and to get a legal emergency lawyer on your side.

HOUR 6–24 (EVIDENCE PRESERVATION):

✅ Digital: Help your child preserve all group chats, DMs, texts (emphasize: do NOT delete anything)
✅ Physical: Secure clothing, receipts, objects used in hazing (if any)
✅ Medical records: Begin the process of requesting copies of all ER/hospital records
✅ Witnesses: Write down names and contact info for any other pledges or bystanders your child might know
✅ University: Note any communications received from the school (emails, calls, meetings) but do NOT respond unless advised by your attorney

HOUR 24–48 (STRATEGIC DECISIONS):

✅ Legal consultation: Speak with an experienced hazing attorney from Attorney911 (1-888-ATTY-911)
✅ Reporting decision: Decide whether to report to campus police, local police, Dean of Students, or other authorities (with your lawyer’s guidance)
✅ University response: If the school contacts you, refer them to your Attorney911 lawyer
✅ Insurance: Do NOT talk to any insurance adjuster without your lawyer present
✅ Evidence backup: Upload all screenshots and photos to secure cloud storage or email to yourself for safekeeping

WEEK ONE PRIORITIES:

✅ Medical follow-up: Continue documenting injuries; see specialists if needed; obtain a psychological evaluation if emotional trauma is present
✅ Evidence gathering: Your Attorney911 lawyer will begin subpoenaing records and pursuing digital forensics to obtain deleted messages
✅ Witness interviews: Your Attorney911 legal team will contact other pledges and witnesses as appropriate
✅ Strategy session: Work with Attorney911 to decide on the best path forward: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or internal university process
✅ Protection: If any retaliation occurs, document it immediately and report it to your Attorney911 lawyer

For Students / Pledges: Self-Assessment & Safety Planning

You are not alone, and you have rights. Your safety and well-being should always come first.

• Is This Hazing or Just Tradition? Ask yourself these critical questions: Am I being pressured to do something I don’t want to do? Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal? Would my parents or the university approve if they knew? Am I being told to keep secrets or lie? If you answer yes to any of these, it’s likely hazing, regardless of how it’s framed as “tradition” or “bonding.” The key is the presence of coercion and potential harm.

• Why “Consent” Isn’t the End of the Story: Texas law explicitly states that a victim’s “consent” is not a defense to hazing. The desire to belong, fear of exclusion, and intense peer pressure create an environment where true consent is impossible. You are not to blame.

• Exiting and Reporting Safely: If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or campus police. Get to a safe place. You have the legal right to leave any organization at any time. Inform a trusted adult (parent, RA, friend) immediately. If you fear retaliation, report your concerns to the Dean of Students or campus police; local police can also offer protections.

• Good-Faith Reporting and Amnesty: Many universities and Texas law provide amnesty for students who call for help in a medical emergency, even if underage drinking was involved. This “Good Samaritan” protection means you won’t face disciplinary action for seeking help, prioritizing saving a life over punishing minor infractions.

For Former Members / Witnesses

Your experience and testimony can prevent immense suffering for others.

• Acknowledging Your Role: It’s common to feel guilt or fear if you were involved in or witnessed hazing. However, your decision to come forward can be pivotal.
• Preventing Future Harm: Your testimony is crucial for achieving accountability and preventing future students from enduring similar abuse. Your information can lead to genuine policy changes and save lives.
• Seeking Legal Advice: If you are a former member or witness, and especially if you fear criminal or civil repercussions, it is vital to seek your own legal counsel. An attorney can advise you on your rights and how to navigate cooperation with authorities or victims’ legal teams.

8.4 Critical Mistakes that Can Destroy Your Hazing Case

For Utah families contemplating legal action for hazing, avoiding common pitfalls is as crucial as gathering evidence. Defense teams and institutions are skilled at exploiting missteps. Attorney911’s Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña regularly advise families on these critical errors. As our video explains, “Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY), knowing what not to do is paramount.

MISTAKES THAT CAN RUIN YOUR HAZING CASE:

1. Letting your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence:

   • What parents think: “I don’t want them to get in more trouble.”
   • Why it’s wrong: Destroying evidence looks like a cover-up, can be considered obstruction of justice, and makes proving a case nearly impossible.
   • What to do instead: Preserve everything immediately, even potentially embarrassing content.

2. Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly:

   • What parents think: “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind.”
   • Why it’s wrong: They will immediately get lawyers involved, destroy evidence, coach witnesses, and prepare their defenses.
   • What to do instead: Document everything privately, then call a lawyer before any direct confrontation.

3. Signing university “release” or “resolution” forms:

   • What universities do: Sometimes pressure families to sign waivers or “internal resolution” agreements to resolve incidents quickly.
   • Why it’s wrong: You may inadvertently waive your right to sue or settle for far less than your case is worth.
   • What to do instead: Do NOT sign anything from the university or an organization without an attorney reviewing it first.

4. Posting details on social media before talking to a lawyer:

   • What families think: “I want people to know what happened.”
   • Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility, and it can waive attorney-client privilege.
   • What to do instead: Document all information privately; let your lawyer advise on public messaging.

5. Letting your child go back to “one last meeting”:

   • What fraternities say: “Come talk to us before you do anything drastic.”
   • Why it’s wrong: They can pressure, intimidate, or extract statements that may harm your future case.
   • What to do instead: Once you are considering legal action, all communication from the organization should be directed to your lawyer.

6. Waiting “to see how the university handles it”:

   • What universities promise: “We’re investigating; let us handle this internally.”
   • Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, the statute of limitations continues to run, and universities control their narrative. Internal investigations are rarely victim-focused.
   • What to do instead: Preserve evidence NOW; consult a lawyer immediately. The university’s process is different from true legal accountability.

7. Talking to insurance adjusters without a lawyer:

   • What adjusters say: “We just need your statement to process the claim.”
   • Why it’s wrong: Recorded statements can be used against you, and initial settlement offers are almost always lowball.
   • What to do instead: Politely decline and say, “My attorney will contact you.”

8.5 Short FAQ for Utah Families on Hazing Lawsuits

• “Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
  Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities in Texas (like the University of Houston, Texas A&M, and UT Austin) benefit from a degree of sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, willful misconduct, and Title IX violations. Private universities (like SMU and Baylor) generally have fewer immunity protections. Every case is unique, and liability depends entirely on the specific facts and the extent of the university’s knowledge and actions (or inactions). Contact Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a case-specific analysis.

• “Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
  It can be. While hazing is typically classified as a Class B misdemeanor, it becomes a state jail felony under Texas law if the activity results in serious bodily injury or death. Additionally, knowingly failing to report hazing is a misdemeanor, and retaliation against a reporter also carries penalties.

• “Can my child bring a case if they ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
  Yes. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing prosecution. This means that even if a student verbally “agreed” to participate, the law recognizes that true consent is often impossible under intense peer pressure, hierarchical power structures, and the fear of social exclusion often present in hazing environments.

• “How long do we have to file a hazing lawsuit in Texas?”
  Generally, families have 2 years from the date of injury or death to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in Texas. However, certain legal principles, such as the “discovery rule” (where the timeline starts when the harm or its cause was reasonably discovered) or tolling for minors, can sometimes extend this period. Because evidence disappears, memories fade, and the statute of limitations can be complex, time is critical. Contact Attorney911 by calling 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately to discuss your specific timeline. For more information on time limits, watch our video, “Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c).

• “What if the hazing happened off-campus or at a private house?”
  The location of hazing activities, whether on or off-campus, does not eliminate potential liability. Universities and national organizations can still be held accountable based on their knowledge, sponsorship, control over the chapter, and the foreseeability of hazing occurring. Many significant hazing cases, including those ending in multi-million-dollar judgments, have occurred at off-campus locations, such as private rentals or remote retreats.

• “Will this be confidential, or will my child’s name be in the news?”
  The decision regarding confidentiality is a strategic one made in consultation with your attorney. While some clients may choose public advocacy, most hazing cases involving civil litigation settle confidentially before trial. While court records are public, we work to protect your family’s privacy interests where possible during the legal process, balancing that with the pursuit of accountability.

About The Manginello Law Firm: Your Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for Hazing Accountability

When your family in Utah faces the devastating reality of hazing at a Texas university, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a legal team with the specialized knowledge, battle-tested experience, and unwavering commitment to stand against powerful institutions. The Manginello Law Firm, known as Attorney911, are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ who are uniquely equipped to handle these complex and emotionally charged cases.

We understand that hazing at Texas universities can profoundly impact families throughout the state, including those in Utah who send their children here for higher education. From our central office in Houston to our satellite locations in Austin and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, offering a Texas-tough approach with genuine empathy.

Why Attorney911 for Hazing Cases: Our Unmatched Advantage

1. Insurance Insider Advantage: Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña (https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/), brings a critical edge to hazing litigation. As a former insurance defense attorney for a national defense firm, she understands exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies operate. She knows their tactics for undervaluing claims, delaying processes, and arguing policy exclusions. “We know their playbook because we used to run it,” she asserts, giving our clients a strategic advantage from day one.

2. Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions: Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello (https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/), possesses a formidable track record in high-stakes litigation against some of the largest corporations. His experience includes being one of the few Texas firms involved in the massive BP Texas City explosion litigation. This background means we are not intimidated by the extensive legal resources of national fraternities, major universities, or their formidable defense teams. “We’ve taken on billion-dollar corporations and won. We know how to fight powerful defendants,” Ralph states. We bring the full force of this experience to every hazing case, ensuring that institutions are held accountable.

3. Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death and Catastrophic Injury Experience: Hazing too often leads to severe injuries or wrongful death. Attorney911 has a proven track record of securing significant results in complex wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases (https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/), collaborating with economists and medical experts to accurately value lifetime care needs for victims of brain injuries, organ damage, or other permanent disabilities. “We don’t settle cheap. We build cases that force accountability,” is our commitment.

4. Dual Civil and Criminal Expertise: Hazing frequently involves criminal charges against individuals alongside civil lawsuits for damages. Ralph Manginello’s membership in the prestigious Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) underscores our firm’s capability to navigate the intricate interplay between criminal proceedings and civil litigation. This means we can advise on both criminal exposure for perpetrators, and the civil avenues for victims and their families. This deep understanding of both sides of the courtroom offers a comprehensive legal strategy that many firms simply cannot provide.

5. Investigative Depth and Modern Evidence Collection: Modern hazing cases demand cutting-edge investigative techniques. We work with a network of experts, including digital forensics specialists who can recover deleted group chats, social media evidence, and other critical digital footprints. We expertly subpoena university and national fraternity records, uncovering patterns of prior misconduct and institutional failures. Our team investigates every angle to build an unshakeable case, because, as we believe, your child’s future, and the safety of others, depends on it.

We approach each case with compassion, understanding that hazing inflicts profound pain and challenges often faced by young adults and their families from Utah. Our job is to listen without judgment, gather impossible-to-get evidence, and deliver proven courtroom results in a field of law that few attorneys truly understand. Our approach balances aggressive advocacy with a deep commitment to our clients’ emotional and physical well-being.

Call to Action for Utah Families

If you are a parent in Utah, or anywhere in Texas, grappling with the unthinkable trauma of hazing, you do not have to face this alone. Whether your child attends the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Southern Methodist University, Baylor, or any other Texas campus, we want to hear from you. The patterns of abuse, the institutional failures, and the suffering they cause demand justice.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will provide a compassionate ear, listen to what happened without judgment, explain your legal options under Texas law, and help you determine the best path forward for your family. We understand that this is one of the hardest conversations you’ll ever have, and everything you share with us is held in the strictest confidence. For more information on how our contingency fees work, watch our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc.

What you can expect from your free consultation:

• We will listen empathetically to your story.
• We will thoroughly review any evidence you have, from photos and texts to medical records.
• We will explain your legal options transparently, including both criminal reporting and civil lawsuit possibilities.
• We will discuss realistic timelines and potential challenges without making false promises.
• We will answer all your questions, and there’s absolutely no pressure to hire us on the spot.

Time is of the essence in hazing cases—evidence disappears rapidly, witnesses graduate, and memories fade. You don’t have to wait “to see how the university handles it.”

Reach out to Attorney911 today for immediate legal guidance:

• Call our Emergency Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Visit our Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com

Hablamos Español: For Spanish-speaking families, contact Lupe Peña directly at lupe@atty911.com for a consultation in Spanish. Servicios legales en español disponibles.

Whether you’re in Utah or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. We are committed to achieving justice, accountability, and prevention. Call us today.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC.

Hazing laws, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com