Fighting Hazing in Chambers County: A Comprehensive Legal Guide for Texas Families

A crisp autumn evening in Anahuac, Chambers County, shifts into a night of forced “bonding” at an off-campus house where students from a nearby university are engaging in initiation rituals. The air hangs heavy with the scent of stale beer and fear. Fresh-faced pledges, barely out of high school, are lined up, forced to chug handles of liquor while older fraternity members chant their names. The laughter and shouts grow louder, fueled by alcohol, as the pressure mounts. One student stumbles, his face ashen, his eyes rolling back. He collapses, unconscious, amidst a nervous silence that quickly turns into panicked whispers. Someone yells, “Don’t call 911! We’ll get busted!” The fear of accountability outweighs the immediate need for medical help, a delay that could have devastating and permanent consequences for a young life.

This isn’t just a hypothetical scenario; it is a chillingly common pattern repeating across Texas campuses, including schools where many Chambers County families send their children. Whether it’s in Anahuac, Mont Belvieu, or Winnie, the reality of hazing is closer than you think, and its consequences are often far more tragic than many realize.

This comprehensive guide aims to shed light on hazing and the law in Texas for families in Chambers County and across the Lone Star State who need to understand the realities of hazing in 2025. We will explore:

• What hazing looks like today, far beyond the outdated stereotypes.
• The specific legal framework governing hazing in Texas and its federal overlays.
• Critical lessons from major national hazing cases and how they impact Texas.
• Documented incidents and insights into hazing culture at prominent Texas universities like the University of Houston (UH), Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin (UT), Southern Methodist University (SMU), and Baylor University.
• How the national histories of fraternities and sororities contribute to liability in hazing litigation.
• The comprehensive legal options available for victims and their families in Chambers County and throughout Texas.

Please remember, this article provides general information and is not specific legal advice. Every hazing case is unique, and we encourage you to contact Attorney911 for a confidential evaluation. We serve families across Texas, including Chambers County.

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

For Chambers County families unfamiliar with modern Greek life or campus organizations, hazing often remains a shadowy, misunderstood risk. It’s not just the benign “initiation pranks” of old movies; it has evolved into a dangerous and often life-threatening practice. Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. It is critical to understand that saying “I agreed to it” does not automatically make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure and a significant power imbalance.

Clear, Modern Definition of Hazing

At its core, hazing strips individuals of their dignity and can inflict severe harm. It often relies on a potent blend of tradition, psychological manipulation, and the fear of exclusion. The “consent” of a new member is often compromised by the strong desire to belong, fear of social ostracization, and intense peer pressure. Legal frameworks, including those in Texas, recognize that such “consent” is not freely given.

Main Categories of Hazing

Modern hazing manifests in various insidious forms:

• Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This is arguably the most common and deadliest form of hazing. It involves forced or coerced drinking, such as chugging challenges, “lineups” where students are made to consume excessive amounts rapidly, or games designed to promote extreme intoxication. It can also include pressure to consume unknown or mixed substances, endangering individuals with potentially fatal overdoses.
• Physical Hazing: Beyond the stereotypical paddling, physical hazing includes extreme calisthenics, brutal “workouts,” or “smokings” far beyond typical athletic conditioning. Sleep deprivation is rampant, often stretching over days, combined with food or water deprivation, leaving pledges exhausted and vulnerable. Exposure to extreme cold or heat, or being abandoned in dangerous environments, are also common tactics.
• Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: This particularly egregious form of hazing includes forced nudity or partial nudity, simulated sexual acts, or degrading positions like the “roasted pig.” New members may be forced to wear humiliating costumes or endure acts with racial, homophobic, or sexist overtones, including the use of slurs or forced role-play that perpetuates stereotypes.
• Psychological Hazing: Often overlooked but deeply damaging, psychological hazing involves verbal abuse, threats, and social isolation. Manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming—whether in person, on social media, or within group messages—can lead to severe mental and emotional distress.
• Digital/Online Hazing: With the ubiquity of smartphones and social media, hazing has moved into the digital realm. This includes group chat dares, “challenges,” and public humiliation via platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Discord. There is often immense pressure to create or share compromising images or videos of themselves or other pledges.

Where Hazing Actually Happens

It is a common misconception that hazing is limited to “frat boys.” While fraternities and sororities remain significant sites of hazing, the practice permeates a much broader range of organizations. Hazing occurs in:

• Fraternities and Sororities: This includes Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic, National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and multicultural Greek-letter organizations.
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups: These groups, particularly in tradition-rich environments like some Texas universities, can have intense, often unofficial, initiation practices.
• Spirit Squads, Tradition Clubs, and Student Organizations: Groups like “spirit organizations” or even some tradition-heavy clubs can engage in hazing under the guise of “building character” or “preserving traditions.”
• Athletic Teams: From football and basketball to swimming, baseball, and cheerleading, hazing can be found in college athletic programs, often disguised as “team building” or “conditioning.”
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups: Even organizations dedicated to the arts can fall prey to hazing, with new members forced to endure demeaning or dangerous acts.
• Some Service, Cultural, and Academic Organizations: While less common, the desire for exclusivity and “earning” membership can lead to hazing in seemingly innocuous groups.

The underlying common thread is that social status, tradition, and secrecy keep these practices alive. Despite widespread knowledge that hazing is illegal and dangerous, members perpetuate it due to misguided loyalty, fear of being targeted themselves, or a belief that “this is how it’s always been done.”

LAW & LIABILITY FRAMEWORK (TEXAS + FEDERAL)

Understanding the legal landscape surrounding hazing in Texas is crucial for Chambers County families seeking justice and accountability. Under Texas law, which governs cases in Chambers County, hazing is clearly defined and comes with severe criminal and civil consequences.

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code)

Texas has specific anti-hazing provisions outlined in the Texas Education Code, particularly Chapter 37, Subchapter F. Texas Education Code § 37.151 defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, by one person alone or with others, 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.

This definition is critical. It means that whether the act involves physical endangerment (e.g., beating, forced exercise, forced consumption of alcohol or drugs) or substantially affects mental health and safety (e.g., extreme humiliation, intimidation), it can be categorized as hazing. Crucially, the location — whether on or off-campus — does not matter, and the act doesn’t have to be malicious; “reckless” behavior (knowing the risk and proceeding anyway) is sufficient.

Under Texas Education Code § 37.152, hazing carries significant penalties:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is generally a Class B Misdemeanor. However, if hazing causes an injury requiring medical attention, it can be elevated to a Class A Misdemeanor. If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death, it becomes a State Jail Felony, carrying severe prison sentences. Additionally, individuals who are members or officers with knowledge of hazing and fail to report it can face misdemeanor charges. Retaliating against someone who reports hazing is also a misdemeanor.
• Organizational Liability: Texas Education Code § 37.153 dictates that organizations (fraternities, sororities, clubs, teams) can be criminally prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized, encouraged, or knew about hazing by an officer or member acting in an official capacity and failed to report it. Universities also have the power to revoke recognition and ban organizations.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases

It is important for Chambers County families to understand the distinction between criminal and civil hazing cases:

• Criminal Cases: These are brought by the state (prosecutors) against individuals and/or organizations. The goal is to punish the wrongdoers through jail time, fines, or probation. Hazing-related criminal charges often include actual hazing offenses, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, or even manslaughter in fatal cases.
• Civil Cases: These are initiated by victims or their surviving family members. The objective is to achieve monetary compensation for damages suffered and to hold responsible parties accountable. Civil claims often involve allegations of negligence, gross negligence, wrongful death, negligent hiring or supervision, premises liability, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Both types of cases can proceed concurrently, and a criminal conviction is not a prerequisite for pursuing a civil case.

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

While Texas law provides a strong foundation, federal statutes also play a role:

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This federal law mandates that colleges and universities receiving federal aid must be more transparent about hazing incidents, enhance prevention and education efforts, and publicly report hazing data. This public availability of data, expected to be fully implemented by 2026, will be invaluable for families seeking to understand an institution’s history and for attorneys building cases.
• Title IX / Clery Act: When hazing involves sex discrimination, sexual harassment, or sexual assault, Title IX obligations are triggered, requiring universities to investigate and respond. The Clery Act requires institutions to disclose campus crime statistics, including certain hazing incidents that may overlap with assault, alcohol, or drug-related crimes.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit

In a civil hazing lawsuit, several parties can be held accountable:

• Individual Students: Those who actively planned, enforced, or participated in the hazing, or those who supplied alcohol or other substances.
• Local Chapter/Organization: The fraternity, sorority, club, or team itself if it is a legally recognized entity. Chapter officers or “pledge educators” can be particularly vulnerable to liability.
• National Fraternity/Sorority: The national headquarters can be held liable if they knew or should have known about hazing within their chapters, failed to enforce their own anti-hazing policies, or showed a pattern of indifference to previous incidents.
• University or Governing Board: The institution (e.g., the University of Houston System, Texas A&M System) may be sued under theories of negligence, gross negligence, or premises liability, especially if there were prior warnings, a failure to properly supervise, or a pattern of deliberate indifference to hazing.
• Third Parties: This can include landlords or property owners of off-campus houses or event venues, or bars and alcohol providers who serve minors or over-serve patrons, potentially under dram shop laws.

Each case is unique, and liability depends heavily on the specific facts and evidence presented. An experienced hazing attorney can help identify all potentially liable parties.

NATIONAL HAZING CASE PATTERNS (ANCHOR STORIES)

National hazing cases serve as stark reminders of the recurring dangers lurking within campus culture. These incidents, though they occurred outside of Texas, establish critical precedents and reveal patterns of behavior that are unfortunately mirrored at many Texas universities, including schools where Chambers County families send their children. These stories highlight the severe consequences and the legal battles that often follow, demonstrating the foreseeability of harm when hazing is allowed to persist.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

The most common and consistently fatal form of hazing involves forced or excessive alcohol consumption. The pattern is tragically predictable across the nation:

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State University, Beta Theta Pi (2017): Timothy Piazza, a 19-year-old pledge, died from traumatic brain injuries after a “bid acceptance” event where he was forced to consume dangerous amounts of alcohol. Fraternity security cameras captured his agonizing struggle, frequently falling, and the unforgivable hours of delayed medical care by fraternity brothers. This case led to over a thousand criminal charges against fraternity members and significant civil litigation. The tragic outcome spurred the enactment of the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania, a landmark piece of legislation. For Chambers County families, this case underscores how a culture of silence and delayed 911 calls can escalate a dangerous situation into a fatal one, and how such egregious conduct can lead to legislative change and severe legal repercussions for chapters and individuals.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State University, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Andrew Coffey, another pledge, died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother Night” event. Pledges were given handles of hard liquor and pressured to finish them. Multiple fraternity members were prosecuted, and FSU temporarily suspended all Greek life, overhauling its anti-hazing policies. This case powerfully illustrates how formulaic, tradition-based drinking nights are a repeating script for disaster, showing university leadership that these events pose an undeniable risk.
• Max Gruver – Louisiana State University, Phi Delta Theta (2017): Max Gruver died with a blood-alcohol content of 0.495% after participating in a “Bible study” drinking game. Pledges were made to drink if they answered questions incorrectly. His death led directly to the felony hazing law in Louisiana, the Max Gruver Act. For Texas families, this highlights that specific, reckless hazing activities, even those disguised as innocuous games, can be lethal and lead to significant legislative responses.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Stone Foltz, an 18-year-old pledge, died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to consume a bottle of whiskey as part of a “Big/Little” night. The case resulted in multiple criminal convictions against fraternity members. Bowling Green State University, a public institution, agreed to nearly $3 million in settlement with the family, in addition to further settlements with the fraternity and individuals. The university’s involvement in the settlement, despite being a public institution, signals that even sovereign immunity doesn’t fully shield schools from the financial and reputational fallout of hazing. For Chambers County families, the $10 million settlement reached in 2023, with $7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national and ~$3M from BGSU, demonstrates the immense financial liability involved in such cases.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Beyond alcohol, physical and ritualistic hazing can lead to severe harm or death:

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Michael Deng died after being subjected to the infamous “glass ceiling” ritual during a fraternity retreat in the Pocono Mountains. Blindfolded and weighted with a heavy backpack, he was repeatedly tackled. Fraternity members delayed calling 911 for crucial hours. This case led to multiple criminal convictions, and the national fraternity itself was criminally convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter—a landmark ruling—and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. For Texas families, the Deng case is a stark reminder that off-campus “retreats” are not safe havens; they can be as dangerous or even more so than parties, and national organizations can face severe sanctions, including criminal liability.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Hazing is not confined to Greek life; it is a pervasive issue in various campus groups, including high-profile athletic programs:

• Northwestern University Football (2023–2025): Former football players came forward with allegations of widespread sexualized and racist hazing within the program over multiple years. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the university and coaching staff. The head coach, Pat Fitzgerald, was fired, then settled a wrongful-termination lawsuit confidentially. This scandal demonstrates that hazing extends beyond Greek life into major athletic programs, often fueled by power dynamics and a culture of silence. It raised significant questions about institutional oversight and accountability. For Chambers County families, this shows that no student activity, regardless of its prestige, is immune to hazing.

Multi-Organization / University-Wide Hazing Investigations

• University of Maryland – Fraternity/Sorority Suspension Wave (2024): In a widespread investigation, multiple chapters at the University of Maryland were implicated in severe hazing, including forced heavy drinking, beatings with paddles, and exposure to cold. While many suspensions were eventually lifted, five chapters remained under scrutiny, highlighting a systemic hazing culture that can affect an entire Greek system.

What These Cases Mean for Texas Families

These national cases share common, tragic threads: forced drinking, physical or ritualized humiliation, violence, deliberate delays in calling for medical care, and concerted efforts to cover up the hazing. For Chambers County families, these stories are more than distant tragedies; they are powerful warnings and precedents that directly impact the landscape of hazing accountability in Texas. When hazing occurs at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, or Baylor, litigating attorneys draw on these national lessons to demonstrate foreseeability, establish patterns of misconduct, and seek justice. Reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements often only follow after tragedy and sustained litigation by determined families and their legal representatives who demand accountability.

TEXAS FOCUS: UH, TEXAS A&M, UT, SMU, BAYLOR

The Texas higher education landscape is rich with vibrant universities, many of which attract students from Chambers County seeking diverse academic and social experiences. However, like institutions nationwide, these schools are not immune to the pervasive issue of hazing. Understanding the specific context, policies, and documented incidents at these major Texas universities is crucial for families in Chambers County.

University of Houston (UH)

The University of Houston, a bustling urban campus in the heart of Houston, is a popular choice for many Chambers County students, being less than an hour’s drive away. Its active Greek life, comprising various fraternities and sororities, alongside numerous student organizations and sports clubs, creates a dynamic but sometimes challenging environment for new members.

5.1.2 Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels

UH maintains an explicit anti-hazing policy. As reflected in recent versions, hazing is strictly prohibited, whether occurring on-campus or off-campus. The policy specifically bans forced consumption of alcohol, food, or drugs, sleep deprivation, physical mistreatment, and activities designed to cause mental distress as part of initiation or affiliation. UH provides clear reporting channels through its Dean of Students office, Student Conduct offices, and the University of Houston Police Department (UHPD). An anonymous reporting option is also available. While UH does publish a general statement against hazing, detailed disciplinary information can sometimes be less transparent than at other institutions.

5.1.3 Selected Documented Incidents & Responses

The University of Houston has faced its share of hazing allegations and incidents. A notable case involved Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) in 2016. Pledges were allegedly subjected to extreme sleep deprivation and forced consumption of alcohol during a multi-day event. One student reportedly suffered a lacerated spleen after being violently slammed onto a table or similar surface. This incident led to misdemeanor hazing charges against individuals and a significant university suspension for the chapter. Attorney911 is currently representing Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, stemming from a severe hazing incident in late 2025. Bermudez, a transfer student and pledge, was allegedly forced to carry a degrading “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms, a sex toy, and nicotine devices. He endured forced physical exertion, including hundreds of push-ups and squats, often at Yellowstone Boulevard Park, and was hosed down “like waterboarding.” He was allegedly forced to consume milk and hot dogs until vomiting, leading to acute kidney failure and rhabdomyolysis, requiring a four-day hospitalization. His urine was brown, a clear sign of severe muscle breakdown. This incident tragically illustrates the dangerous blend of physical, psychological, and alcohol hazing that can lead to catastrophic medical outcomes. The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter was suspended by the national organization and then permanently shut down after its members voted to surrender their charter. This ongoing case highlights the serious, life-altering consequences of hazing at UH and the commitment of Attorney911 to holding all accountable parties responsible. Other fraternities at UH have faced disciplinary action, citing behaviors “likely to produce mental or physical discomfort,” including alcohol misuse and policy violations leading to suspensions or probation. These prior incidents are crucial, as they demonstrate a pattern of potential negligence and a failure to enforce existing policies, which can strengthen civil claims against the university and the organizations involved.

5.1.4 How a UH Hazing Case Might Proceed

A hazing case at the University of Houston can involve multiple agencies. Depending on whether the incident occurred on-campus or off-campus within city limits, the University of Houston Police Department (UHPD) or the Houston Police Department (HPD) may be involved in criminal investigations. Civil lawsuits would typically be filed in courts with jurisdiction over Houston and Harris County. Potential defendants would include the individual students directly involved, the local chapter, the national fraternity or sorority, and potentially the University of Houston and any involved property owners. An attorney experienced in Houston-based hazing cases understands the nuances of navigating these local jurisdictions.

5.1.5 What UH Students & Parents Should Do

For Chambers County families with students at UH:

• Report Hazing: Immediately report any suspected hazing to the UH Dean of Students office, UHPD, or utilize the anonymous online reporting forms mentioned in the university’s anti-hazing policy.
• Document Everything: If your child is willing, document any prior complaints or known past incidents involving the organization. These can provide crucial context if future incidents occur.
• Seek Legal Counsel: Given the close proximity of Chambers County to Houston, talking to a lawyer experienced in Houston-based hazing cases, like Attorney911, can help to effectively uncover prior discipline and internal university files, which are often key to building a strong case.
• Prioritize Safety: Remind your child that their safety and well-being always come before any organizational loyalty or “tradition.”
• Confidentiality: All communications with Attorney911 are confidential, ensuring your family’s privacy while exploring legal options.

5.2 Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University, located in College Station, is a cherished institution for countless Texas families, including many from Chambers County, approximately 1.5 hours away. Renowned for its strong traditions and the Corps of Cadets, A&M fosters a unique campus culture with significant Greek life presence and numerous student organizations.

5.2.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot

Texas A&M’s identity is deeply intertwined with its military-style Corps of Cadets, known for its rigorous discipline and strong sense of tradition. This environment, alongside a thriving Greek system and various student leadership groups, sets a unique backdrop against which hazing can occur, often masked by notions of “building character” or “upholding tradition.”

5.2.2 Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels

Texas A&M has a clear anti-hazing policy aligned with Texas state law, strictly prohibiting hazing whether on or off-campus. The university emphasizes reporting through its Division of Student Affairs, Texas A&M University Police Department (UPD), and various online reporting mechanisms. The university has also implemented educational programs aimed at preventing hazing and promoting a safe campus environment.

5.2.3 Selected Documented Incidents & Responses

Texas A&M has a documented history of hazing incidents, challenging its reputation for honor and respect:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Lawsuit (around 2021): This case involved allegations that pledges were deliberately covered in substances, including caustic cleaning agents, leading to severe chemical burns that required emergency skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and the affected pledges pursued a lawsuit, underscoring the severe and lasting physical harm that can result from hazing. Such an incident brings into question the effectiveness of university oversight and national chapter enforcement of anti-hazing policies.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A former cadet filed a lawsuit alleging degrading hazing within the Corps, including forced simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth. This lawsuit sought over $1 million and brought to light allegations of hazing extending beyond Greek life into the deeply traditional Corps culture. While A&M stated it addressed the matter under its internal rules, such allegations prompt concerns about systemic issues within highly regimented campus groups.
• Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) (2018): In 2018, Joseph Little, an incoming pledge for Phi Gamma Delta, collapsed and died during pledging activities. Initially called suspicious by law enforcement, the incident led to findings by administrators that hazing acts were involved. Tragically, this was the same chapter where Trey Walker had died in 1997, highlighting a concerning pattern of recurring incidents.

These incidents demonstrate that hazing at Texas A&M is not isolated but spans various recognized groups, including high-profile fraternities and the Corps of Cadets.

5.2.4 How a Texas A&M Hazing Case Might Proceed

Hazing investigations at Texas A&M can be complex, often involving the Texas A&M University Police Department (UPD) or College Station Police Department. Civil lawsuits are typically filed in Brazos County courts. Potential defendants may include individual students, the local chapter, the national fraternity/sorority, the Corps of Cadets leadership (if applicable), and the university itself, particularly the Texas A&M University System.

5.2.5 What Texas A&M Students & Parents Should Do

For Chambers County families with students at Texas A&M:

• Report Concerns Promptly: Use A&M’s official reporting channels, including the Division of Student Affairs and UPD, for any suspected hazing.
• Scrutinize Traditions: Be aware that some hazing activities may be disguised as “traditions,” particularly within the Corps of Cadets. Question any activity that demands secrecy or endangers well-being.
• Document & Seek Counsel: As highlighted by the A&M lawsuits, thorough documentation of incidents, no matter how minor, is crucial. Consulting with an attorney experienced in Texas hazing law, like Attorney911, can provide invaluable guidance.

5.3 University of Texas at Austin (UT)

The University of Texas at Austin, a flagship institution in the state, attracts a significant number of students from Chambers County, offering a dynamic campus experience just over two hours west. UT Austin boasts a large and active Greek system, renowned athletic programs, and numerous student organizations, creating a vibrant yet sometimes challenging environment.

5.3.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot

UT Austin has a rich history and a strong sense of pride, often intertwined with its competitive academic programs, spirited athletic teams, and extensive Greek life. This blend of tradition and high-achieving student culture sets a unique stage where hazing can become embedded in “initiation rites” and “traditions,” sometimes blurring the lines between harmless fun and dangerous misconduct. The university’s official commitment to an anti-hazing stance is visible, yet incidents persist.

5.3.2 Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels

UT Austin maintains a robust anti-hazing policy that strictly prohibits hazing both on and off campus. The university encourages reporting through various channels, including the Dean of Students office, the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity, and the University of Texas Police Department (UTPD). Importantly, UT Austin also provides a publicly accessible Hazing Violations webpage (hazing.utexas.edu) that lists organizations, dates, conduct involved, and disciplinary sanctions imposed. This transparency is a valuable resource for Chambers County families researching campus organizations.

5.3.3 Selected Documented Incidents & Responses

UT Austin has a history of addressing hazing incidents, though the list of violations remains extensive on their public database:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Among many entries, Pi Kappa Alpha was cited in 2023 for directing new members to consume milk until vomiting and performing strenuous calisthenics. This was deemed hazing, leading to the chapter being placed on probation and mandated to conduct additional hazing-prevention education.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Organization): The Texas Wranglers, a prominent spirit organization tied to tradition, has also faced sanctions for hazing involving demanding physical activities and other forms of new member misconduct.
• Texas Cowboys (Spirit Organization) (2018): This highly visible spirit organization was involved in a tragic incident in 2018 involving a car accident that led to the death of a “New Man” (pledge). Allegations of sleep deprivation and other hazing activities as contributory factors were part of the subsequent investigations and civil action. This case highlighted that hazing extends to non-Greek, tradition-based campus groups.

The existence of UT’s public Hazing Violations page is a double-edged sword: it offers transparency but also reveals a persistent pattern of various organizations engaging in prohibited conduct.

5.3.4 How a UT Austin Hazing Case Might Proceed

Hazing cases at UT Austin are often investigated by the University of Texas Police Department (UTPD) for on-campus incidents, or the Austin Police Department (APD) for off-campus events. Civil suits against individuals, chapters, or the university would typically be filed in Travis County courts. The publicly available records of prior violations on UT’s website can be critical evidence in such civil actions, demonstrating a pattern of hazardous behavior and the university’s knowledge thereof.

5.3.5 What UT Austin Students & Parents Should Do

For Chambers County families with students at UT Austin:

• Utilize UT’s Public Resources: Regularly check UT Austin’s Hazing Violations webpage (hazing.utexas.edu) for any disciplinary history of organizations your child is considering.
• Understand Reporting: Be aware of the multiple reporting channels available through the Dean of Students office and UTPD.
• Document All Concerns: If your child experiences or witnesses hazing, immediately gather evidence as outlined in this guide. The transparency of UT’s reporting can aid in accountability but also underscores how frequently incidents occur.

5.4 Southern Methodist University (SMU)

Southern Methodist University, a private institution nestled in Dallas, is another favored destination for students from Chambers County, located about two hours east. Known for its academic rigor, picturesque campus, and thriving Greek life, SMU’s environment also presents unique challenges when it comes to hazing.

5.4.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot

SMU’s culture is characterized by a strong sense of community and tradition, with a prominent Greek presence that heavily influences social life. This strong Greek identity, combined with a highly competitive student body, can sometimes lead to intense pledging processes where hazing might occur under the guise of “building brotherhood” or “sorority sisterhood.” The university strives to uphold an image of excellence and integrity, making hazing incidents particularly sensitive.

5.4.2 Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels

SMU strictly prohibits hazing, adhering to Texas law and its own institutional values. The university’s policy broadly defines hazing and outlines clear prohibitions against physical, mental, and alcohol-related abuses. Reporting mechanisms are available through the Office of Student Conduct, the SMU Police Department, and an anonymous reporting system called “Real Response.” SMU regularly communicates its commitment to a hazing-free campus and provides educational resources to students, faculty, and staff.

5.4.3 Selected Documented Incidents & Responses

SMU has also faced significant hazing incidents that have led to disciplinary actions and increased scrutiny:

• Kappa Alpha Order Incident (2017): In one prominent case, the Kappa Alpha Order chapter at SMU was suspended after allegations surfaced that new members were subjected to paddling, forced alcohol consumption, and significant sleep deprivation. The chapter faced a multi-year suspension, severely restricting its activities and recruitment until around 2021. This incident highlighted the deep-seated nature of physical and alcohol-related hazing that can persist even at universities with strict policies.
• Sigma Chi (2014): A Sigma Chi pledge was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning after an alleged hazing incident. This led to university-mandated sanctions and a reevaluation of Greek life policies.

These incidents demonstrate that even at private institutions with a focus on student well-being, hazing remains a significant concern. While private universities like SMU may not always disclose disciplinary actions as publicly as state institutions, such incidents are recorded and can become critical evidence in legal proceedings.

5.4.4 How an SMU Hazing Case Might Proceed

As a private university, SMU operates under a different legal framework than public institutions in Texas, with less protection from sovereign immunity. Hazing cases at SMU are investigated by the SMU Police Department or the Dallas Police Department for off-campus incidents. Civil lawsuits would typically be filed in Dallas County courts. The private status of SMU means that transparency around internal investigations and disciplinary actions might be less forthcoming than at public universities, often requiring legal action to uncover crucial details and evidence through discovery processes.

5.4.5 What SMU Students & Parents Should Do

For Chambers County families with students at SMU:

• Familiarize with Policies: Understand SMU’s anti-hazing policies and the available “Real Response” anonymous reporting system.
• Prioritize Confidentiality: Given the private nature of SMU’s disciplinary records, any evidence gathered should be immediately shared with an attorney to ensure preservation and strategic utilization.
• Seek Experienced Counsel: An attorney experienced in Texas hazing cases, particularly those involving private institutions, is essential for navigating the complex legal landscape and compelling necessary disclosures from the university and organizations involved.

5.5 Baylor University

Baylor University, located in Waco, holds a unique place in Texas higher education as the largest Baptist university in the world. Approximately 2 hours from Chambers County, Baylor is a private institution with a strong emphasis on Christian values and a vibrant student life that includes Greek organizations, athletic teams, and numerous faith-based groups.

5.5.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot

Baylor’s distinct culture is shaped by its religious founding and mission, fostering a close-knit community but also creating a complex environment where institutional reputation and student experiences can intersect. Its Greek system is active, and athletic traditions are strong. Recent history has seen Baylor under intense scrutiny for its handling of sexual assault allegations within its football program and Title IX compliance, bringing issues of institutional oversight and student safety to the forefront.

5.5.2 Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels

Baylor University strictly prohibits hazing in all forms, consistent with Texas law and its own commitment to a safe and respectful campus environment. The university’s hazing policy covers physical, mental, and alcohol-related hazing, as well as any activity that causes humiliation or endangers student well-being. Reporting channels include the Baylor Police Department (BUPD), the Office of Student Conduct, and an anonymous reporting hotline. Baylor’s policies emphasize a “zero tolerance” stance for hazing violations, though the effectiveness of enforcement has, at times, faced public question.

5.5.3 Selected Documented Incidents & Responses

Baylor’s recent history underscores the challenges of preventing and responding to misconduct within its student organizations:

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): In 2020, 14 players from the Baylor baseball team were suspended following an investigation into hazing allegations. The university confirmed hazing had occurred, leading to staggered suspensions that impacted the team’s season. This incident, while not resulting in death or catastrophic injury, highlighted that hazing permeates even prominent athletic teams at Baylor, challenging the institution’s stated “zero tolerance” policy.
• Baylor Chamber of Commerce Hazing (1967): In a historic incident, John E. Clifton died after consuming a foul concoction and laxatives as part of a hazing ritual for the Baylor Chamber of Commerce, a social club. The university initially ruled the incident an accident, defining it as non-hazing, but faced public backlash that eventually led to a reversal of stance by President Abner McCall, banning “physical” hazing. This historical case is a precursor to modern challenges in defining and addressing hazing.

These and other incidents point to an ongoing need for vigilant oversight and consistent enforcement of hazing policies at Baylor, particularly given its past institutional challenges with student safety and accountability.

5.5.4 How a Baylor Hazing Case Might Proceed

As a private institution, similar to SMU, Baylor University is not shielded by sovereign immunity in the same way public Texas universities are. Hazing incidents at Baylor are investigated by the Baylor Police Department (BUPD) for on-campus events or the Waco Police Department for off-campus incidents. Civil lawsuits would be filed in McLennan County courts. Given Baylor’s recent history of high-profile litigation related to institutional misconduct, particularly Title IX issues, any hazing case would likely face intense scrutiny and a thorough legal battle, requiring experienced counsel to navigate the complexities of discovery and liability against a well-resourced private university.

5.5.5 What Baylor Students & Parents Should Do

For Chambers County families with students at Baylor:

• Be Diligent: Given Baylor’s past challenges, families should exercise high vigilance regarding any new member activities within Greek organizations, athletic teams, or other student groups.
• Report Immediately: Utilize Baylor’s official reporting channels and consider the anonymous hotline for any suspected hazing.
• Legal Expertise for Private Institutions: Due to the nuances of litigating against private universities, engaging an attorney with specific experience in such cases is highly advisable to ensure all avenues for accountability are explored.

FRATERNITIES & SORORITIES: CAMPUS-SPECIFIC + NATIONAL HISTORIES

For families in Chambers County, connecting a local Texas chapter to its broader national organization’s history is critical. While a specific chapter at the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, or Baylor might claim to be “different” or “new,” it operates under the umbrella of a national body that often carries a long and tragic record of hazing incidents across the country. This pattern of behavior is not merely historical trivia; it directly impacts legal arguments concerning foreseeability, negligence, and liability.

Why National Histories Matter

National fraternities and sororities (and their associated foundations) maintain extensive manuals, policies, and risk management programs. These are not created in a vacuum; they exist precisely because these organizations have faced deaths, catastrophic injuries, and multi-million-dollar lawsuits from hazing incidents at various chapters nationwide. When a Texas chapter repeats a dangerous “tradition” that previously led to injury or death at another chapter in a different state, attorneys can argue that the national organization had foreseeable notice of the risk. They knew what could happen, and they failed to prevent it.

For Chambers County families who might be looking at Greek life at college, this is a crucial distinction. It means that the individual students, the local chapter, and the national organization can all be held accountable.

Organization Mapping: Connecting Local Chapters to National Patterns

Here, we explore some prominent national Greek organizations with a history tied to hazing, many of which have chapters at major Texas universities:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Many Texas campuses have active Pike chapters. Nationally, Pike has a tragic history of alcohol-related hazing deaths. This includes the death of Stone Foltz at Bowling Green State University in 2021, where a pledge died from alcohol poisoning during a “Big/Little” night, leading to an almost $10 million settlement, with a portion paid by the national fraternity. Another case involved David Bogenberger at Northern Illinois University in 2012, who also died from alcohol poisoning during a fraternity event, resulting in a $14 million settlement paid by multiple members. These cases demonstrate a pattern of dangerous “traditions” involving alcohol that the national organization should be acutely aware of.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): SAE has been labeled “America’s deadliest fraternity” by Bloomberg News due to multiple alcohol-related deaths. Locally relevant, a Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter at Texas A&M University faced a lawsuit around 2021 where pledges alleged chemical burns from being doused in industrial-strength cleaner, resulting in severe injuries needing skin grafts. Nationally, SAE has faced allegations of a traumatic brain injury during hazing at the University of Alabama (filed 2023) and a $1 million lawsuit against a UT Austin chapter in 2024 related to an assault on an exchange student, highlighting that hazing can range from physical abuse to severe physical trauma. In 2008, Carson Starkey died from alcohol poisoning during an SAE hazing ritual at Cal Poly, leading to a substantial confidential settlement that funded a national anti-hazing foundation. These incidents demonstrate a long history of severe and repetitive hazing that the national SAE should actively work to prevent.
• Phi Delta Theta: With chapters at many Texas schools, Phi Delta Theta’s national history is stained by the death of Max Gruver at Louisiana State University in 2017. Gruver died from alcohol poisoning during a “Bible study” drinking game, leading to criminal convictions and the enactment of the comprehensive Max Gruver Act in Louisiana. This case is a prime example of how seemingly innocent games can become deadly hazing rituals, and the national fraternity’s liability is increased by such documented prior incidents.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The national Pi Kappa Phi organization has chapters across Texas, including the University of Houston, where Attorney911 is currently litigating the Leonel Bermudez case. Nationally, Pi Kappa Phi was involved in the death of Andrew Coffey at Florida State University in 2017, where pledges were forced to consume large amounts of alcohol during a “Big Brother Night.” The national organization’s continued exposure to such incidents, often involving similar alcohol-related acts, demonstrates their repeated failures to curtail dangerous practices within their chapters.
• Omega Psi Phi (NPHC): This historically Black fraternity has chapters at numerous Texas universities. Nationally, Omega Psi Phi faced a federal lawsuit in 2023 from a former student at the University of Southern Mississippi, Rafeal Joseph, who alleged severe physical hazing, including repeated beatings with a wooden paddle, resulting in emergency surgery and months of rehabilitation. These allegations underscore that hazing crosses all Greek council lines and can involve extreme physical violence.
• Kappa Sigma: Chapters are present at many Texas schools. Nationally, Kappa Sigma was held liable in the tragic death of Chad Meredith at the University of Miami in 2001, where he drowned after being coerced by fraternity members to swim across a lake while intoxicated. A jury awarded his parents a $12.6 million verdict, establishing a powerful precedent about fraternity liability for alcohol-related hazing. More recently, a Kappa Sigma chapter at Texas Christian University faced scrutiny in 2018 for hazing allegations that led to members being charged. An ongoing lawsuit against a Kappa Sigma chapter at Texas A&M University in 2023 involves allegations of hazing resulting in severe cases of rhabdomyolysis—severe muscle breakdown from extreme physical activity—showcasing the evolving and dangerous nature of hazing.
• Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI): With chapters at Texas A&M and other universities, FIJI’s national organization gained notoriety following the severe hazing of Danny Santulli at the University of Missouri in 2021. Santulli suffered permanent brain damage after consuming excessive alcohol during a “pledge dad reveal” night. His family settled lawsuits with 22 defendants, including the national fraternity, for reportedly multi-million-dollar amounts. This case shows how seemingly innocent “reveal” events can turn catastrophic.
• Pi Delta Psi: Although primarily known for its East Coast presence, the national organization’s history is relevant to any Texas chapter. The tragic death of Chun Michael Deng at a 2013 retreat in Pennsylvania led to the criminal conviction of the national fraternity itself for aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter, and a 10-year ban from Pennsylvania. This established a critical precedent for organizational liability on a national scale.
• Alpha Tau Omega (ATO): A chapter at Old Dominion University contributed to the death of Terry Stirling in 2000, who succumbed to alcohol poisoning after a “bottle exchange” event. His family filed for $5.35 million, settling for a confidential amount, highlighting the financial repercussions for national chapters.

Tie Back to Legal Strategy

These national patterns of hazing underscore a critical legal principle: foreseeability. When repeated incidents of a particular hazing activity (e.g., forced alcohol consumption, physical abuse) occur across multiple chapters of the same national organization, it becomes increasingly difficult for that national body to claim ignorance or lack of control when similar events happen again.

For investigations and civil litigation involving Chambers County families:

• Attorneys can use these documented patterns to show that national organizations had prior knowledge of dangerous “traditions” and failed to adequately intervene, supervise, or enforce their own policies.
• This evidence can be crucial in disputing claims that hazing was a “rogue” act by a local chapter, and instead argue that the national organization was negligent in its oversight.
• Such patterns can also impact insurance coverage disputes, making it harder for national fraternities and universities to argue that the hazing was an “unforeseeable” event not covered by their policies.
• Ultimately, these national histories can strengthen claims for compensatory and punitive damages, as they demonstrate a pattern of willful indifference or gross negligence towards the safety of new members.

Every tragic incident reinforces the argument that stronger internal controls, consistent enforcement, and genuine commitment to anti-hazing education are not just aspirational goals but legal imperatives for these organizations. When they fail, Attorney911 is ready to hold them accountable.

BUILDING A CASE: EVIDENCE, DAMAGES, STRATEGY

For Chambers County families confronting the aftermath of hazing, building a robust legal case requires meticulous evidence collection, an understanding of potential damages, and a clear legal strategy. The Manginello Law Firm excels at navigating the complexities of these cases, ensuring that no stone is left unturned.

Evidence

Modern hazing cases are often won or lost based on the strength of digital evidence, supported by medical records and witness testimony.

• Digital Communications: These are often the most crucial pieces of evidence. This includes group chats and direct messages from platforms like GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, Slack, and various fraternity/sorority-specific apps. Even seemingly innocent platforms like Instagram DMs, Snapchat, or TikTok comments can contain vital information. These digital trails often reveal planning, explicit instructions, coercion, threats, and discussions about cover-ups. We prioritize preserving all content, both live and potentially deleted messages, as digital forensics experts can often recover crucial information. We advise clients to screenshot everything immediately, as messages can disappear quickly.
• Photos & Videos: Content filmed by members during hazing events, shared in group chats, or even briefly posted on social media can be incredibly powerful. Security camera footage or doorbell cameras (Ring, Nest) at houses and venues can also capture entry/exit of victims or the scene of an incident. It’s critical to preserve any such media.
• Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, “traditions” lists, and communications (emails, texts) from officers about new member activities are vital. These can establish a pattern of hazing and show knowledge by leadership.
• University Records: Through discovery or public records requests, we seek prior conduct files, probation orders, suspensions, and letters of warning related to the involved organization. Incident reports filed with campus police or student conduct offices, along with Clery Act reports and similar disclosures, can reveal a history of misconduct.
• Medical and Psychological Records: Comprehensive medical documentation is essential. This includes emergency room reports, hospitalization records, surgery and rehabilitation notes, and toxicology reports. For cases involving severe muscle breakdown like rhabdomyolysis or kidney failure, specialized lab results are crucial. Equally important are psychological evaluations (PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation), which document the profound emotional and mental health impacts of hazing.
• Witness Testimony: Accounts from current and former pledges, members, roommates, Resident Assistants (RAs), coaches, trainers, and other bystanders can corroborate events. Former members who have left the organization due to hazing are often valuable, albeit sometimes reluctant, witnesses.

Damages

Hazing inflicts a wide range of harms, and the law provides avenues for victims and their families to recover both economic and non-economic damages.

• Medical Bills & Future Care: This covers all costs, from immediate emergency room visits and ambulance transport to long-term rehabilitation. For victims with catastrophic injuries like Leonel Bermudez (acute kidney failure, rhabdomyolysis), this includes lifelong medical management, physical therapy, and potentially future surgeries. In cases of permanent brain damage, life care plans covering 24/7 care can amount to millions of dollars over a lifetime.
• Lost Earnings / Educational Impact: This includes compensation for missed semesters, delayed graduation, and setbacks in entering the workforce. For individuals suffering permanent injuries, it can also encompass the significant loss of future earning capacity, calculated over their expected career span. Tuition and fees for semesters missed or scholarships lost also contribute to this category.
• Non-Economic Damages: These address the intangible but often devastating consequences, including:
  • Physical pain and suffering: From the moment of injury through ongoing chronic pain.
  • Emotional distress and psychological harm: Including PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, humiliation, and terror.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life: The inability to participate in activities that once brought joy, and the general diminishment of life’s quality.
  • Humiliation and reputational harm: The profound emotional impact of being degraded, especially if the hazing incident becomes public.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for Families): In the most tragic cases resulting in death, surviving family members can pursue claims for:
  • Funeral and burial costs.
  • Loss of financial support (if the deceased would have contributed to family income).
  • Loss of companionship, love, comfort, and society.
  • Grief and emotional suffering of parents, siblings, and other close family members.

We describe these potential damages not as guarantees, but as legitimate and necessary avenues for accountability and support for victims.

Role of Different Defendants and Insurance Coverage

Hazing cases often involve multiple defendants, each with their own legal counsel and insurance policies. National fraternities and universities, being large organizations, typically carry substantial insurance. However, their insurers frequently attempt to deny coverage, arguing that hazing, especially “intentional acts” or “criminal conduct,” falls under policy exclusions.

An experienced hazing attorney understands how to:

• Identify all potential sources of coverage: This includes not just national organization policies, but also local chapter policies, university umbrella policies, and even homeowners’ or general liability policies of individual members.
• Challenge insurance denials: We aggressively dispute arguments for exclusions, often by reframing the claim around negligent supervision or a failure to prevent foreseeable harm, which are typically covered.
• Force settlement: Often, the threat of extended litigation and the potential for a large jury verdict compels insurers to engage in serious settlement negotiations.

Successfully navigating these complex insurance coverage battles requires a deep understanding of policy language, a relentless pursuit of all available resources, and the willingness to take on well-funded opponents. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney is invaluable in anticipating and countering the strategies of these insurance companies. Her deep understanding of “their playbook” allows Attorney911 to effectively identify all potentially liable parties and ensure that maximum accountability is achieved.

PRACTICAL GUIDES & FAQS

For Chambers County families affected by hazing, knowing what to do and when to do it is critical. Timely action and proper documentation can make all the difference in achieving justice and preventing further harm.

8.1 For Parents

Parents in Chambers County are often the first to notice subtle changes in their child, but may struggle to identify them as signs of hazing.

Warning Signs of Hazing:

• Unexplained injuries or repeated “accidents” that don’t quite add up. Look for bruises, cuts, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue or exhaustion beyond normal college stress. Your child might be constantly sleep-deprived.
• Drastic changes in mood, such as increased anxiety, irritability, depression, or emotional withdrawal.
• Sudden secrecy around fraternity/sorority activities. Phrases like “I can’t talk about it” are major red flags.
• Constant secret phone use for group chats, especially a palpable fear of missing “mandatory” events or check-ins.
• Weight loss or gain, which could stem from forced exercise, sleep deprivation, or food/water restriction.
• Financial strains: unexpected large expenses, requests for money without clear explanation, or constant purchases of alcohol/items for others.

How to Talk to Your Child:

• Ask open-ended questions in a calm, non-judgmental way. Instead of “Are you being hazed?”, try “How are you really doing with [organization name]? Is there anything making you uncomfortable?”
• Emphasize their safety and well-being above any organizational “loyalty” or “status.” Assure them that you will support them no matter what.
• Listen more than you speak. Create a safe space for them to open up.

If Your Child is Hurt:

• Get them immediate medical care. Prioritize their physical and mental health above all else.
• Document everything: Take clear photos of injuries from multiple angles and at different stages of healing. If they show you messages or posts, screenshot them immediately. Write down what they tell you, including names, dates, and locations.
• Save significant items: This includes clothing worn during the incident, or any physical objects.

Dealing with the University:

• Document all communications with university administrators, including who you spoke to, when, and what was discussed.
• Ask specifically about prior incidents involving the same organization. This can reveal a pattern of behavior and the university’s awareness.
• Do not sign anything from the university or an insurance company without legal review.

When to Talk to a Lawyer:

• If your child has suffered significant physical or psychological harm.
• If you feel the university or organization is minimizing, ignoring, or attempting to cover up what happened.

8.2 For Students / Pledges

For students from Chambers County engaged in new member activities, distinguish between harmless traditions and dangerous hazing, and know your rights.

Is This Hazing or Just Tradition?

• Hazing is occurring if you feel unsafe, humiliated, or coerced. If you are forced to drink, endure pain, are deprived of sleep, or if the activity must be hidden from outsiders or university officials, it is hazing.
• True traditions should involve activities that are inclusive, promote genuine bonding, and are safe, legal, and something you would be proud to share with your family and the university.

Why “Consent” Isn’t the End of the Story:

• Organizations may use phrases like “everyone volunteered” or “you agreed to this.” However, under the immense peer pressure, fear of exclusion, and desire to belong, your “consent” is not freely given. The law often recognizes these power dynamics as inherently coercive.

Exiting and Reporting Safely:

• You have the legal right to leave any organization at any time, regardless of what they told you about “commitment.”
• If in a dangerous situation, call 911 immediately. Your safety is paramount.
• Report hazing privately or anonymously. Many campuses, including Texas universities, have anonymous tip lines. The National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE) provides an anonymous, 24/7 option.
• If you decide to leave, do so in a public place with a trusted friend or family member if you fear retaliation.
• Do not go back “for one last meeting” if you have decided to leave; any communication should be well-thought-out and ideally after consulting with an adult or attorney.

Good-Faith Reporting and Amnesty:

• Most schools and Texas law (Texas Education Code § 37.154) provide amnesty or immunity for students who, in good faith, report a hazing incident or call 911 in a medical emergency, even if they were involved or intoxicated. Prioritize getting help for yourself or others.

8.3 For Former Members / Witnesses

If you were once involved in hazing and now regret it or wish to speak out, your actions can prevent future tragedies and contribute to accountability.

• Acknowledge that it’s normal to feel guilt, fear of reprisal, or loyalty to past associations. Your courage to come forward can save lives.
• Your testimony and evidence are invaluable. Lawyers can help you understand your legal position as a witness or even a potential co-defendant.
• Cooperating with an investigation or sharing what you know can be a powerful step toward personal and communal accountability. It can offer a path forward for victims and their families.

8.4 Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

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: This looks like a cover-up, can be obstruction of justice, and makes a civil case nearly impossible to prove.
   • What to do instead: Preserve everything immediately, even embarrassing or incriminating content. Screenshot every message thread. Attorney911’s video on using your cell phone to document a legal case (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs) explains crucial steps.

2. Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly:

   • What parents think: “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind.”
   • Why it’s wrong: Direct confrontation will cause them to immediately seek legal counsel, destroy evidence, coach witnesses, and prepare their defense.
   • What to do instead: Document everything discreetly, then call a lawyer like Attorney911 before any direct confrontation.

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

   • What universities do: They might pressure families to sign waivers or “internal resolution” agreements before seeking legal advice.
   • Why it’s wrong: You may inadvertently waive your fundamental legal rights to pursue a lawsuit, and any implied settlement is likely far below the true value of the damages.
   • What to do instead: Do NOT sign anything 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: Anything posted online can be used by defense attorneys, inconsistencies hurt credibility, and it can waive certain legal privileges.
   • What to do instead: Document privately; let your lawyer control public messaging about the incident.

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 often use these opportunities to pressure, intimidate, or extract statements that can later be used against your child or the case.
   • What to do instead: Once you’re considering legal action, all communication should go through 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 runs, and the university often prioritizes its own reputation over transparency.
   • What to do instead: Preserve evidence NOW and consult a lawyer immediately. University processes rarely provide the same level of accountability as civil litigation.

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 and early discussions are often used to devalue or deny claims. Early settlement offers are typically lowball.
   • What to do instead: Politely decline and state, “My attorney will contact you.” Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney is crucial for navigating these conversations effectively.

For a deeper dive into common pitfalls, watch Attorney911’s video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY.

8.5 Short FAQ

• “Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
  Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities (like UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals in their personal capacity. Private universities (like SMU, Baylor) generally have fewer immunity protections. Every case depends on specific facts—contact Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a case-specific analysis.
• “Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
  It can be. Texas Education Code § 37.152 classifies hazing as a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals who are officers or members and fail to report hazing can also face misdemeanor charges.
• “Can my child bring a case if they ‘agreed’ to the initiation/hazing?”
  Yes. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts and juries recognize that individuals often “agree” under immense peer pressure, fear of exclusion, and a strong desire to belong, meaning such “consent” is not truly voluntary.
• “How long do we have to file a hazing lawsuit?”
  Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if the harm or its cause wasn’t immediately known. In cases involving cover-ups or fraud, the statute may be tolled (paused). Time is critical—evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and organizations can destroy records. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately. Learn more about statute of limitations in our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c.
• “What if the hazing happened off-campus or at a private house?”
  Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and national fraternities can still be liable based on their sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability. Many major hazing cases (like the Pi Delta Psi retreat death in Pennsylvania or the Sigma Pi death in an unofficial house in Ohio) occurred off-campus and still resulted in multi-million-dollar judgments.
• “Will this be confidential, or will my child’s name be in the news?”
  Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. While public lawsuits require public filings, we prioritize your family’s privacy and work to minimize media exposure while still pursuing full accountability. Any initial consultation with Attorney911 is always confidential.
• “How much does it cost to hire an attorney for a hazing case?”
  Attorney911 handles hazing and serious personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we don’t get paid unless we win your case. There are no upfront fees or hourly charges. Watch our video explaining how contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc.

ABOUT THE MANGINELLO LAW FIRM + CALL TO ACTION

When your family in Chambers County faces a hazing case, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who intimately understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway. This is where The Manginello Law Firm, operating as Attorney911, stands apart. We understand that hazing at Texas universities affects families in Chambers County and across the region. From our Houston office, we serve families throughout Texas, including Chambers County and surrounding areas.

Attorney911 brings unique and critical qualifications to the complex world of hazing litigation:

• Insurance Insider Advantage: Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña (https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/), previously worked as an insurance defense attorney at a national defense firm. This invaluable experience means we know the precise strategies and tactics that fraternity and university insurance companies will employ to deny, delay, or undervalue hazing claims. We’ve seen their playbook, and we know how to counter it effectively.
• Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions: Ralph Manginello, our managing partner (https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/), possesses a quarter-century of experience, including taking on formidable opponents in high-stakes litigation. Our firm was one of the few Texas firms involved in the massive BP Texas City refinery explosion litigation, a testament to our capability in federal court complex litigation. We are not intimidated by national fraternities, multi-million-dollar universities, or their well-funded defense teams. We’ve taken on billion-dollar corporations and won. We know how to fight powerful defendants.
• Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death and Catastrophic Injury Experience: We have a proven track record in complex wrongful death cases, collaborating closely with economists to fully value lifetime care needs for victims of catastrophic injuries, such as brain damage or permanent organ damage. We don’t settle cheap; we build cases that force genuine accountability. A hazing incident with severe injury or death often falls into the category of wrongful death. Attorney911 has extensive wrongful death experience (https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/), having recovered millions for families in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases.
• Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the prestigious Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) ensures that we understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation. This dual perspective is crucial for advising victims and even former members who might face criminal exposure related to hazing. For Chambers County families, this means we can provide comprehensive guidance through both the civil claim and any related criminal proceedings (https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/criminal-defense-lawyers/).
• Investigative Depth: We commit to a meticulous, in-depth investigation similar to how we’ve handled refinery explosions and other complex personal injury and wrongful death cases. This involves leveraging a network of experts—medical professionals, forensic accountants, digital forensics specialists, and psychologists—to uncover, preserve, and interpret crucial evidence. From obtaining deleted group chats and social media evidence to compelling the production of national fraternity records and university files through discovery and public records requests, we investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does.
• Empathy and Victim Advocacy: We know that this is one of the hardest things a family can face. Our approach balances legal rigor with genuine compassion. Our job is to get you answers, hold the responsible parties accountable, and contribute to preventing such tragedies from happening to another family. We believe in thorough investigation and real accountability, not just quick settlements. We understand how to investigate modern hazing—which spans not just fraternities and sororities, but also Corps programs and athletic departments—leveraging all available legal tools and forensic resources.

Call to Action: Your Next Step in Chambers County

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus, we want to hear from you. Families in Chambers County and throughout the surrounding region have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We’ll listen to what happened, explain your legal options under Texas law, and help you decide on the best path forward for your family.

What to expect in your free consultation:

• We’ll listen to your story without judgment.
• We’ll review any evidence you have (photos, texts, medical records).
• We’ll explain your legal options: a criminal report, a civil lawsuit, both, or neither.
• We’ll discuss realistic timelines and what to expect from the legal process.
• We’ll answer your questions about costs – our contingency fee model means we don’t get paid unless we win your case.
• There’s no pressure to hire us on the spot—we want you to make an informed decision.
• Everything you tell us is strictly confidential.

Whether you’re in Chambers County or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. Call us today.

Contact Attorney911:

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

Spanish-Language Services:

• Hablamos Español. Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish. Servicios legales en español disponibles.

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

Complete Texas University Directory

Attorney911 tracks every higher education institution in Texas. For reference:

• Abilene Christian University | Abilene, Taylor County | Private Non-Profit
• Amberton University | Garland, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Med | Houston, Harris County | Private For-Profit
• American InterContinental University-Houston | Houston, Harris County | Private For-Profit
• Amberton University | Garland, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• Angelo State University | San Angelo, Tom Green County | Public
• Arlington Baptist University | Arlington, Tarrant County | Private Non-Profit
• AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine | Austin, Travis County | Private For-Profit
• Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas | Dallas, Dallas County | Private For-Profit
• Austin Christian University | Austin, Travis County | Private Non-Profit
• Austin College | Sherman, Grayson County | Private Non-Profit
• Austin Community College District | Austin, Travis County | Public
• Austin Graduate School of Theology | Austin, Travis County | Private Non-Profit
• Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary | Austin, Travis County | Private Non-Profit
• Bakke Graduate University | Dallas, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• Baptist Health System School of Health Professions | San Antonio, Bexar County | Private For-Profit
• Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary | Jacksonville, Cherokee County | Private Non-Profit
• Baptist University of the Americas | San Antonio, Bexar County | Private Non-Profit
• Baylor College of Medicine | Houston, Harris County | Private Non-Profit
• Baylor University | Waco, McLennan County | Private Non-Profit
• Brazosport College | Lake Jackson, Brazoria County | Public
• Brite Divinity School | Fort Worth, Tarrant County | Private Non-Profit
• Chamberlain University-Texas | Houston, Harris County | Private For-Profit
• Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Dallas | Richardson, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• Christ Mission College | San Antonio, Bexar County | Private Non-Profit
• College of Biblical Studies-Houston | Houston, Harris County | Private Non-Profit
• College of the Mainland | Texas City, Galveston County | Public
• Collin County Community College District | McKinney, Collin County | Public
• Concordia University Texas | Austin, Travis County | Private Non-Profit
• Criswell College | Dallas, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• Dallas Baptist University | Dallas, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• Dallas Christian College | Dallas, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• Dallas College | Dallas, Dallas County | Public
• Dallas Theological Seminary | Dallas, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• Del Mar College | Corpus Christi, Nueces County | Public
• DeVry University-Texas | Irving, Dallas County | Private For-Profit
• East Texas Baptist University | Marshall, Harrison County | Private Non-Profit
• Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest | Austin, Travis County | Private Non-Profit
• Galen Health Institutes-Austin Campus | Austin, Williamson County | Private For-Profit
• Galen Health Institutes-Houston | Houston, Harris County | Private For-Profit
• Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio | San Antonio, Bexar County | Private For-Profit
• Galveston College | Galveston, Galveston County | Public
• Gemini School of Visual Arts & Communication | Austin, Williamson County | Private For-Profit
• Grace School of Theology | Conroe, Montgomery County | Private Non-Profit
• Grayson College | Denison, Grayson County | Public
• Hallmark University | San Antonio, Bexar County | Private Non-Profit
• Hardin-Simmons University | Abilene, Taylor County | Private Non-Profit
• Howard Payne University | Brownwood, Brown County | Private Non-Profit
• Houston Baptist University | Houston, Harris County | Private Non-Profit
• Houston Graduate School of Theology | Houston, Harris County | Private Non-Profit
• Huston-Tillotson University | Austin, Travis County | Private Non-Profit
• Jarvis Christian University | Hawkins, Wood County | Private Non-Profit
• Lamar University | Beaumont, Jefferson County | Public
• Laredo College | Laredo, Webb County | Public
• LeTourneau University | Longview, Gregg County | Private Non-Profit
• Lone Star College System | The Woodlands, Montgomery County | Public
• Lubbock Christian University | Lubbock, Lubbock County | Private Non-Profit
• McMurry University | Abilene, Taylor County | Private Non-Profit
• Messenger College | Bedford, Tarrant County | Private Non-Profit
• Miami International University of Art & Design-Art Institute Dallas | Dallas, Dallas County | Private For-Profit
• Midland College | Midland, Midland County | Public
• Midwestern State University | Wichita Falls, Wichita County | Public
• North American University | Stafford, Fort Bend County | Private Non-Profit
• North Texas Community College System | Fort Worth, Tarrant County | Public
• Northern Texas Adventist University | Keene, Johnson County | Private Non-Profit
• Oblate School of Theology | San Antonio, Bexar County | Private Non-Profit
• Odessa College | Odessa, Ector County | Public
• Our Lady of the Lake University | San Antonio, Bexar County | Private Non-Profit
• Parker University | Dallas, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• Paul Quinn College | Dallas, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• Prairie View A & M University | Prairie View, Waller County | Public
• Remington College-Dallas Campus | Dallas, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• Remington College-Fort Worth Campus | Fort Worth, Tarrant County | Private Non-Profit
• Remington College-North Houston Campus | Houston, Harris County | Private Non-Profit
• Rice University | Houston, Harris County | Private Non-Profit
• RCCGNA Seminary | Greenville, Hunt County | Private Non-Profit
• Saint Edward’s University | Austin, Travis County | Private Non-Profit
• Saint Mary’s University | San Antonio, Bexar County | Private Non-Profit
• Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, Walker County | Public
• San Antonio College | San Antonio, Bexar County | Public
• San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena, Harris County | Public
• Schreiner University | Kerrville, Kerr County | Private Non-Profit
• Southern Methodist University | Dallas, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• South Texas College | McAllen, Hidalgo County | Public
• South Texas College of Law Houston | Houston, Harris County | Private Non-Profit
• Southwestern Adventist University | Keene, Johnson County | Private Non-Profit
• Southwestern University | Georgetown, Williamson County | Private Non-Profit
• Southwestern Assemblies of God University | Waxahachie, Ellis County | Private Non-Profit
• Stephen F Austin State University | Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County | Public
• Strayer University-Texas | Farmers Branch, Dallas County | Private For-Profit
• Sul Ross State University | Alpine, Brewster County | Public
• Tarleton State University | Stephenville, Erath County | Public
• Texas A & M International University | Laredo, Webb County | Public
• Texas A & M University-Central Texas | Killeen, Bell County | Public
• Texas A & M University-College Station | College Station, Brazos County | Public
• Texas A & M University-Commerce | Commerce, Hunt County | Public
• Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi, Nueces County | Public
• Texas A & M University-Kingsville | Kingsville, Kleberg County | Public
• Texas A & M University-San Antonio | San Antonio, Bexar County | Public
• Texas A & M University-System Office | College Station, Brazos County | Public
• Texas A & M University-Texarkana | Texarkana, Bowie County | Public
• Texas Chiropractic College Foundation Inc | Pasadena, Harris County | Private Non-Profit
• Texas College | Tyler, Smith County | Private Non-Profit
• Texas Health and Science University | Austin, Travis County | Private For-Profit
• Texas Lutheran University | Seguin, Guadalupe County | Private Non-Profit
• Texas Southern University | Houston, Harris County | Public
• Texas State University | San Marcos, Hays County | Public
• Texas Tech University | Lubbock, Lubbock County | Public
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | Lubbock, Lubbock County | Public
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center-El Paso | El Paso, El Paso County | Public
• Texas Tech University System Administration | Lubbock, Lubbock County | Public
• Texas Wesleyan University | Fort Worth, Tarrant County | Private Non-Profit
• Texas Woman’s University | Denton, Denton County | Public
• The Art Institute of Austin | Bastrop, Bastrop County | Private For-Profit
• The Art Institute of Houston | Houston, Harris County | Private For-Profit
• The Art Institute of San Antonio | San Antonio, Bexar County | Private For-Profit
• The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest | Houston, Harris County | Private For-Profit
• The King’s University | Southlake, Tarrant County | Private Non-Profit
• The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary | Fort Worth, Tarrant County | Private Non-Profit
• The University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, Tarrant County | Public
• The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, Travis County | Public
• The University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson, Dallas County | Public
• The University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, El Paso County | Public
• The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | Houston, Harris County | Public
• The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | San Antonio, Bexar County | Public
• The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center | Houston, Harris County | Public
• The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston | Galveston, Galveston County | Public
• The University of Texas Permian Basin | Odessa, Ector County | Public
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg, Hidalgo County | Public
• The University of Texas System Office | Austin, Travis County | Public
• The University of Texas at Tyler | Tyler, Smith County | Public
• Trinity Valley Community College | Athens, Henderson County | Public
• Trinity University | San Antonio, Bexar County | Private Non-Profit
• Tyler Junior College | Tyler, Smith County | Public
• University of Dallas | Irving, Dallas County | Private Non-Profit
• University of Houston | Houston, Harris County | Public
• University of Houston-Clear Lake | Houston, Harris County | Public
• University of Houston-Downtown | Houston, Harris County | Public
• University of Houston-System Administration | Houston, Harris County | Public
• University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | Belton, Bell County | Private Non-Profit
• University of North Texas | Denton, Denton County | Public
• University of North Texas at Dallas | Dallas, Dallas County | Public
• University of North Texas Health Science Center | Fort Worth, Tarrant County | Public
• University of North Texas System | Dallas, Dallas County | Public
• University of Phoenix-Texas | Houston, Harris County | Private For-Profit
• University of St Thomas | Houston, Harris County | Private Non-Profit
• University of the Incarnate Word | San Antonio, Bexar County | Private Non-Profit
• University of Houston-Victoria | Victoria, Victoria County | Public
• Wade College | Dallas, Dallas County | Private For-Profit
• Weatherford College | Weatherford, Parker County | Public
• West Coast University-Dallas | Richardson, Dallas County | Private For-Profit
• West Texas A & M University | Canyon, Randall County | Public
• Western Technical College | El Paso, El Paso County | Private For-Profit
• Wiley College | Marshall, Harrison County | Private Non-Profit

Complete Texas Greek Organization Directory

Attorney911 tracks every IRS-registered fraternity and sorority in Texas:

• ALPHA OMEGA EPSILON | EIN: 56-2652714 | BEAUMONT, TX
• SOUTH TEXAS COTILLON INC | EIN: 26-2378154 | BROWNSVILLE, TX
• FRANK HEFLIN FOUNDATION | EIN: 20-3507402 | CANYON, TX
• DELTA EPSILON CHAPTER OF PHI KAPPA SIGMA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | EIN: 88-3932824 | CEDAR PARK, TX
• NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL NORTH DALLAS SUBURBIA | EIN: 26-4080411 | CARROLLTON, TX
• ALPHA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 81-2525354 | COLLEGE STA, TX
• ETA ALPHA HOUSE CORPORATION OF KAPPA DELTA SORORITY | EIN: 74-2930349 | COLLEGE STA, TX
• GENTLEMEN OF AGGIE TRADITION | EIN: 88-0537463 | COLLEGE STA, TX
• KAPPA SIGMA – MU CAMMA CHAPTER INC | EIN: 13-3048786 | COLLEGE STATION, TX
• HONOR SOCIETY OF PHI KAPPA PHI | EIN: 90-0293166 | COLLEGE STATION, TX
• TEXAS NU-PHI DELTA THETA FRATERNITY | EIN: 81-4123811 | COLLEGE STA, TX
• SIGMA NU CORPORATION OF OKLAHOMA | EIN: 73-6098935 | COLLEYVILLE, TX
• SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY ZETA ETA | EIN: 75-6060974 | COMMERCE, TX
• SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY | EIN: 75-2609909 | COMMERCE, TX
• LAMBDA NU GAMMA FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 93-2103520 | CONROE, TX
• LAMBDA OMEGA EPSILON SORORITY INC | EIN: 86-1854073 | CONROE, TX
• SIGMA PHI LAMBDA | EIN: 83-3053639 | CORINTH, TX
• SIGMA PHI LAMBDA ALPHA CHI CHAPTER | EIN: 86-3999517 | CORINTH, TX
• SIGMA PHI LAMBDA ALPHA PSI CHAPTER | EIN: 87-4252223 | CORINTH, TX
• SIGMA PHI LAMBDA INC | EIN: 82-3971493 | CORINTH, TX
• SIGMA PHI LAMBDA INC | EIN: 20-2203769 | CORINTH, TX
• SIGMA PHI LAMBDA INC | EIN: 20-1237505 | CORINTH, TX
• SIGMA PHI LAMBDA INC | EIN: 81-4575228 | CORINTH, TX
• SIGMA PHI LAMBDA INC | EIN: 26-0805977 | CORINTH, TX
• SIGMA PHI LAMBDA INC | EIN: 90-0657756 | CORINTH, TX
• SIGMA PHI LAMBDA INC | EIN: 32-0217610 | CORINTH, TX
• SIGMA PHI LAMBDA INC | EIN: 46-0766525 | CORINTH, TX
• ALPHA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 83-1418972 | CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
• AGGIE ADPI FAMILY CLUB | EIN: 93-2357531 | CYPRESS, TX
• CHI EPSILON SIGMA INC | EIN: 45-1677063 | DALLAS, TX
• DELTA ALPHA SIGMA MULTICULTURAL SORORITY | EIN: 36-4806998 | DALLAS, TX
• DELTA PHI CHAPTER OF THETA CHI FRATERNITY ALUMNI HOUSING | EIN: 90-0239693 | DALLAS, TX
• FRIENDSHIP-WEST MIZPAH FOUNDATION | EIN: 27-1863731 | DALLAS, TX
• KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY | EIN: 52-1278573 | DALLAS, TX
• ZETA SIGMA HOUSE CORPORATION OF KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 75-2620706 | DALLAS, TX
• ALPHA EPSILON PI FRATERNITY | EIN: 26-2025321 | DENTON, TX
• HONOR SOCIETY OF PHI KAPPA PHI | EIN: 26-3170920 | DENTON, TX
• ALPHA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 87-2222906 | EL PASO, TX
• HONOR SOCIETY OF PHI KAPPA PHI | EIN: 38-3742830 | EL PASO, TX
• DENTON-LEWISVILLE GUIDE RIGHT FOUNDATION | EIN: 86-1205340 | FLOWER MOUND, TX
• BETA UPSILON CHI | EIN: 74-2911848 | FORT WORTH, TX
• EPSILON MU CHAPTER OF THE SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY | EIN: 75-6203190 | FORT WORTH, TX
• FIRST COMMAND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | EIN: 75-1973894 | FORT WORTH, TX
• FORT WORTH ALUMNI CHAPTER OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED | EIN: 75-2755600 | FORT WORTH, TX
• GAMMA PHI DELTA CHRISTIAN FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 74-2893931 | FORT WORTH, TX
• KAPPA SIGMA FRATERNITY | EIN: 75-6067776 | FORT WORTH, TX
• PSI ZETA CHAPTER OF ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INCORPORATED | EIN: 52-1345182 | FORT WORTH, TX
• SIGMA PHI EPSILON FRATERNITY TEXAS GAMMA CHAPTER | EIN: 91-1981478 | FORT WORTH, TX
• TEXAS KAPPA SIGMA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC | EIN: 74-1380362 | FORT WORTH, TX
• BETA NU PI KAPPA PHI FRATERNITY HOUSING CORPORATION INC | EIN: 46-2267515 | FRISCO, TX
• ETA KAPPA CHAPTER OF SIGMA SIGMA SIGMA HOUSE CORPORATION | EIN: 75-2935462 | FRISCO, TX
• FRISCO TX ALUMNI CHAPTER OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI INCORPORATED | EIN: 92-0575785 | FRISCO, TX
• KAPPA THETA PI – MU CHAPTER CORPORATION | EIN: 33-1294470 | FRISCO, TX
• ARLINGTON-GRAND PRAIRIE ALUMNI CHAP OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRAT INC | EIN: 23-2452759 | GRAND PRAIRIE, TX
• ALPHA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 47-5370943 | HOUSTON, TX
• BETA LAMBDA CHAPTER – ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INC | EIN: 99-0483761 | HOUSTON, TX
• DELTA PHI UPSILON FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 80-0209640 | HOUSTON, TX
• HELLENIC PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF TEXAS | EIN: 74-2020182 | HOUSTON, TX
• LELAND COLLEGE PREP PTO | EIN: 47-2160315 | HOUSTON, TX
• SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY EPSILON XI CHAPTER | EIN: 74-6084905 | HOUSTON, TX
• SIGMA PHI EPSILON NEW YORK CHI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION INC | EIN: 26-2710856 | HOUSTON, TX
• SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS INC | EIN: 76-0221936 | HOUSTON, TX
• SOUTHWESTERN REGION OF IOTA PHI LAMBDA SORORITY INCORPORATED | EIN: 51-0194762 | HOUSTON, TX
• ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INCORPORATED – SIGMA GAMMA CHAPTER | EIN: 39-2352450 | HOUSTON, TX
• ALPHA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 92-1490845 | HUNTSVILLE, TX
• ONE CHAPTER ONE SHIELD | EIN: 92-1743777 | IOWA COLONY, TX
• OMICRON GAMMA SIGMA ALUMNI CHAPTER OF PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY | EIN: 92-1672050 | IRVING, TX
• ALPHA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 83-1418666 | KINGSVILLE, TX
• ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INC | EIN: 61-1562040 | LEWISVILLE, TX
• ALPHA OMEGA EPSILON-BETA ALPHA CHAPTER | EIN: 47-3967233 | LUBBOCK, TX
• EPSILON NU HOUSING CORPORATION | EIN: 23-7359384 | LUBBOCK, TX
• FARM HOUSE FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 75-1565336 | LUBBOCK, TX
• GAMMA PHI HOUSE CORPORATION OF KAPPA ALPHA THETA FRATERNITY | EIN: 75-1283953 | LUBBOCK, TX
• HONOR SOCIETY OF PHI KAPPA PHI | EIN: 82-0644459 | LUBBOCK, TX
• TKE OP HOUSING | EIN: 47-5033161 | LUBBOCK, TX
• KAPPA SIGMA – MU GAMMA CHAPTER INC | EIN: 27-3662583 | LUFKIN, TX
• KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 45-3325054 | MANSFIELD, TX
• ALPHA DELTA | EIN: 81-2724215 | MCALLEN, TX
• GULF COAST ALUMNI ET OF OX INC | EIN: 45-2717861 | MEXIA, TX
• PI KAPPA PHI DELTA OMEGA CHAPTER BUILDING CORPORATION | EIN: 37-1768785 | MISSOURI CITY, TX
• ALPHA TAU OMEGA HOUSING CORPORATION OF ETA IOTA CHAPTER | EIN: 30-0517788 | NACOGDOCHES, TX
• CHI OMEGA FRATERNITY | EIN: 75-6041410 | NACOGDOCHES, TX
• EPSILON TAU CHAPTER OF THETA CHI FRATERNITY | EIN: 75-6053083 | NACOGDOCHES, TX
• PHI KAPPA PSI TEXAS EPSILON CHAPTER | EIN: 45-2729519 | NACOGDOCHES, TX
• PI KAPPA ALPHA FRATERNITY | EIN: 74-6064445 | NEDERLAND, TX
• TEXAS EPSILON UPSILON CHAPTER | EIN: 76-0366414 | NEEDVILLE, TX
• ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INC | EIN: 52-1345951 | NOLANVILLE, TX
• ZETA OMICRON ALUMNI ASSOCIATION INC | EIN: 90-0949447 | PONDER, TX
• KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY | EIN: 23-7279532 | PRAIRIE VIEW, TX
• ZETA BETA CHAPTER OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 23-7098953 | PRAIRIE VIEW, TX
• SIGMA PHI EPSILON TEXAS ETA | EIN: 82-4398421 | RICHMOND, TX
• EPSILON PI PHI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HONOR SOCIETY | EIN: 47-4643399 | ROUND ROCK, TX
• 9THD BROTHERS KEEPER | EIN: 93-4008573 | ROWLETT, TX
• ZETA XI PEARLS EDUCATIONAL FUND INC | EIN: 88-3484848 | ROWLETT, TX
• ALPHA EPSILON DELTA | EIN: 52-1850764 | SAN ANTONIO, TX
• ALPHA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 81-5229133 | SAN ANTONIO, TX
• PHI DELTA THETA FRATERNITY | EIN: 90-0927378 | SAN ANTONIO, TX
• PHI UPSILON ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA FRATERNITY | EIN: 74-1016658 | SAN ANTONIO, TX
• UTSA SIGMA CHI | EIN: 84-2643090 | SAN ANTONIO, TX
• ALPHA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY INC | EIN: 47-5381060 | SAN MARCOS, TX
• SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON – TEXAS SIGMA INCORPORATED | EIN: 88-2755427 | SAN MARCOS, TX
• TEXAS BETA PSI CHAPTER OF ALPHA DELTA KAPPA SORORITY INC | EIN: 74-6088185 | SHAVANO PARK, TX
• THE ETHEL HEDGEMON LYLE FOUNDATION OF TEXAS | EIN: 76-0592907 | SPRING, TX
• RHO DELTA CHI NATIONAL BOARD | EIN: 93-4247450 | SUGAR LAND, TX
• GAMMA PHI BETA SORORITY INC | EIN: 16-1675890 | THE WOODLANDS, TX
• HONOR SOCIETY OF PHI KAPPA PHI | EIN: 35-2335400 | TYLER, TX
• HONOR SOCIETY OF PHI KAPPA PHI | EIN: 90-0293167 | VICTORIA, TX
• SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY | EIN: 36-4091267 | WACO, TX
• TEXAS RHO CHAPTER OF THE SIGMA PHI EPSILON FRATERNITY | EIN: 74-1942292 | WACO, TX
• ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INCORPORATED NU IOTA CHAPTER BAYLOR UNIVERSITY | EIN: 52-1346485 | WACO, TX
• BETA ALUMNAE CHAPTER OF ALPHA SIGMA KAPPA WOMEN IN TECHNICAL STUDIES | EIN: 73-1568644 | WEATHERFORD, TX
• GAMMA IOTA CHAPTER OF GAMMA PHI BETA SORORITY INC | EIN: 75-1225585 | WICHITA FALLS, TX
• REDWINE HONORS PROGRAM STUDENT COUNCIL | EIN: 84-5090974 | WICHITA FALLS, TX