The Complete Guide to Hazing, Fraternity Abuse, and Student Safety for Families in Bronco

If you’re a parent in Bronco and your child is heading to college, you’ve likely talked about grades, roommates, and staying safe. But there’s a hidden danger on campuses that doesn’t get enough honest discussion: hazing. It’s not just about silly pranks or rough initiations. In 2025, hazing is a calculated, often brutal practice that can lead to severe injury, lifelong trauma, and even death.

Right now, our law firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a student at the University of Houston who was hazed by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter. The lawsuit details a pattern of abuse—forced consumption of food until vomiting, extreme physical workouts, being sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and humiliating “pledge fanny pack” rules—that left Bermudez with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, hospitalized for four days, and at risk of permanent damage. This is happening right now in Texas, and it’s a stark reminder that hazing is a present and devastating reality.

This guide is written specifically for families in Bronco and across New Mexico. We’ll break down what hazing really looks like today, the laws that govern it, the national patterns that repeat on campuses, and the practical steps you can take if your child is at risk. While our firm is based in Texas, we serve families nationwide, and the same dangerous fraternity cultures and institutional failings exist everywhere.

If This Just Happened: Immediate Steps for Bronco Families

If your child is in danger right now:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for immediate legal guidance.

In the first 48 hours:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor, see a doctor. Conditions like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) or internal trauma may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Evidence: Take screenshots of all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text messages, and social media posts. Photograph any injuries from multiple angles. Save any physical items involved.
3. Document Everything: Write down a detailed timeline of events, including names, dates, locations, and what happened.
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
   • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
   • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
   • Post details on public social media.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears quickly, and institutions move fast to control the narrative. We can help protect your child’s rights and begin building a case. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025

Hazing is no longer just about clandestine paddling in a basement. It’s a sophisticated spectrum of abuse that exploits power imbalances and uses modern technology to control and humiliate.

The Three Tiers of Hazing:

1. Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize power imbalance. This includes forced servitude (being on-call for errands, cleaning), social isolation, being assigned degrading nicknames, and mandatory events that interfere with academics. Digitally, it manifests as required 24/7 monitoring of group chats and forced location sharing.

2. Harassment Hazing: Actions that cause physical or emotional discomfort. This includes sleep deprivation, yelling and verbal abuse, forced consumption of unpleasant substances (like hot sauce or spoiled food), and calisthenics used as punishment (“smokings”).

3. Violent Hazing: Activities with a high potential for serious injury or death. This is what we see in the worst cases:

   • Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights, lineup drinking games, “Bible study” where wrong answers mean drinking.
   • Physical Beatings: Paddling, punching, kicking.
   • Dangerous Physical Tests: “Glass ceiling” blindfolded tackles, extreme workouts leading to rhabdomyolysis (as in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case).
   • Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts.
   • Kidnapping and Restraint: Being taken to remote locations, tied up, or confined.

Modern Evasions: Organizations have become adept at hiding hazing. They call it “team building” or “wellness challenges.” They move activities off-campus to Airbnbs or private rentals. They use “optional” framing to create legal cover, though participation is socially mandatory. The abuse is often documented in group chats and on social media, only to be deleted when scrutiny arises.

Understanding the Law: Hazing Liability in New Mexico and Nationally

Hazing laws vary by state, but all 50 states have some form of anti-hazing statute. At the federal level, several laws create additional accountability.

New Mexico Hazing Law:
New Mexico criminalizes hazing under NMSA § 30-3C-1 et seq. The law defines hazing as any action that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission, or affiliation with any organization. It is a petty misdemeanor, but can become a fourth-degree felony if the hazing results in great bodily harm or death. Importantly, consent of the victim is not a defense.

Federal Laws That Apply:

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based violence, schools have a duty to respond under Title IX.
• The Clery Act: Requires colleges to report certain crimes, including assaults that occur during hazing, in annual security reports.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Lawsuit?
A civil lawsuit seeks compensation for damages and can target multiple parties:

• The Individuals who planned, carried out, or supervised the hazing.
• The Local Chapter of the fraternity, sorority, or team.
• The National Organization (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon) that may have known about a pattern of abuse and failed to intervene.
• The University or College if it was negligent in supervising recognized student organizations or failed to act on prior reports.
• Third Parties like property owners of off-campus houses or venues.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Repeat

The tragic stories from other states are not distant news; they are blueprints for the risks facing every student. Organizations with national chapters often repeat the same dangerous patterns.

Fatal Alcohol Hazing:

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State University (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge forced to drink a bottle of alcohol; died from alcohol poisoning. Result: $10 million settlement, criminal convictions, and chapter closure.
• Max Gruver, Louisiana State University (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, strengthening felony hazing penalties.

Violent Physical Hazing:

• Chun “Michael” Deng, Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted.

Athletic Hazing:

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

Why These Cases Matter for Bronco Families: They establish legal precedents, show how courts and juries view these cases, and prove that institutions can be held accountable. The same national fraternities involved in these tragedies have chapters across the country, including at schools attended by New Mexico students.

Where Bronco Families Send Their Kids: Hazing Risks at Regional and National Campuses

Students from Bronco attend universities across the region and the nation. Greek life and organizational hazing are present at many of them.

Major Universities in New Mexico with Greek Life:

• University of New Mexico (Albuquerque)
• New Mexico State University (Las Cruces)
• Eastern New Mexico University (Portales)

Nearby Universities with Significant Greek Systems:

• Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)
• University of Texas at El Paso (El Paso, TX)
• Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
• University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)

National Greek Life Hubs: Many New Mexico students also attend large universities in the SEC, Big Ten, Pac-12, and other conferences known for robust Greek life, where hazing incidents are frequently reported.

The national organizations implicated in hazing deaths and injuries—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi, and others—have chapters at hundreds of campuses. The risk is not confined to one school or one state; it is a systemic issue in Greek life and athletic cultures nationwide.

Fraternities and Sororities: National Histories and Local Chapters

When a local chapter hazes, it’s rarely an isolated incident. National organizations often have long histories of similar incidents, which can be crucial in proving they knew of the risks.

Patterns of Known Dangerous Organizations:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Multiple deaths including Stone Foltz (BGSU) and David Bogenberger (Northern Illinois University). Known for “Big/Little” alcohol hazing.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Has faced numerous hazing allegations, including a traumatic brain injury lawsuit at the University of Alabama and a chemical burns case at Texas A&M.
• Phi Delta Theta: The death of Max Gruver at LSU.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The death of Andrew Coffey at Florida State University and the severe injury of Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston.
• Kappa Alpha Order: Multiple chapter suspensions for hazing, including at Southern Methodist University.

For a family pursuing justice, this history is vital. It shows foreseeability—the national organization knew or should have known that this type of abuse was a recurring problem in their chapters. This can break down defenses like “this was a rogue chapter” and can support claims for punitive damages.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

If hazing has caused harm, building a strong case requires immediate action and strategic depth.

Critical Evidence in the Digital Age:

• Group Chats: Messages on GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord, and iMessage that plan, discuss, or boast about hazing activities.
• Social Media: Photos, videos, and stories on Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok that document events.
• Medical Records: Detailed documentation of injuries, including emergency room reports, lab results (like elevated creatine kinase for rhabdomyolysis), and psychological evaluations for PTSD.
• University Records: Prior complaints against the same organization, disciplinary history, and internal investigation reports.
• National Organization Files: Obtained through litigation, these can show prior incident reports and whether the national body failed to enforce its own policies.

Types of Recoverable Damages:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost educational opportunities (tuition, scholarships), and diminished earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship, love, and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme recklessness or intentional conduct, to punish the wrongdoer and deter future behavior.

Practical Guide for Bronco Parents and Students

For Parents – Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight changes.
• Sudden secrecy about organizational activities.
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Requests for large sums of money with vague explanations.

For Students – How to Protect Yourself:

• Trust Your Gut: If it feels dangerous, degrading, or coerced, it is hazing.
• Know Your Rights: “Consent” is not a legal defense for hazing. You have the right to leave.
• Preserve Evidence: Screenshot everything. Take photos of injuries. Save texts and emails.
• Report Safely: You can report to campus police, the Dean of Students, or anonymously through national hotlines (1-888-NOT-HAZE). New Mexico law and most schools offer some immunity for those who report in good faith or seek medical help.
• Seek Support: Talk to a trusted adult, a counselor, or a lawyer. You don’t have to handle this alone.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case:

1. Deleting digital evidence.
2. Confronting the organization before preserving evidence.
3. Signing university settlement offers without legal advice.
4. Posting about the incident on public social media.
5. Waiting too long to act, allowing memories to fade and evidence to vanish.

Why Attorney911 for Hazing Cases

When your family is facing the aftermath of hazing, you need attorneys who understand the unique challenges of these cases: powerful institutional defendants, complex insurance coverage issues, and the deeply personal nature of the harm.

Our firm, The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911), brings a unique set of skills to hazing litigation:

• Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: We are currently representing Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. We are in the fight right now.
• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows how fraternity and university insurers try to deny, delay, and minimize claims. We use that insider knowledge to build stronger cases for our clients.
• Experience Against Massive Institutions: Attorney Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas lawyers involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar corporations or wealthy national fraternities. We know how to conduct complex discovery and hold powerful entities accountable.
• Dual Civil and Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can advise clients and witnesses navigating both systems.
• Nationwide Service from a Texas Base: While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve hazing victims and their families across the country. We can act as lead counsel for cases with Texas connections, and as co-counsel with local attorneys in other states, including New Mexico. We provide free, confidential consultations to families anywhere in the U.S.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you suspect your child has been hazed—whether at a university in New Mexico, Texas, or anywhere else—you do not have to navigate this crisis alone. The institutions involved will have teams of lawyers. You deserve expert advocacy on your side.

Contact Attorney911 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, explain your legal options, and help you understand the path forward. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach out via our website at https://attorney911.com or email Ralph Manginello directly at ralph@atty911.com.

Se habla Español. For Spanish-speaking families, contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com.

For families in Bronco and across New Mexico, the goal is safety, accountability, and prevention. Let’s work together to achieve it.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different, and outcomes depend on the specific facts and applicable law. Contacting The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information until such a relationship has been formally established.