A Message to Parents in Cameron, Milam County: When Campus Tradition Turns to Trauma
If you’re a parent in Cameron, the heart of Central Texas, you’ve prepared your child for college with pride and hope. You’ve focused on academics, finances, and their future. But there’s a hidden danger we often don’t discuss until it’s too late—one that doesn’t come from classrooms or city streets, but from the very organizations meant to build community. It’s the reality of modern hazing, and it’s happening right now at universities across Texas, including those where our Milam County students study.
Picture this: a student from our community, eager to belong at a major Texas university, is told that membership in a prestigious fraternity requires enduring a “tradition.” What begins as odd tasks escalates over weeks—forced late-night driving for members, humiliating dress codes, a “pledge fanny pack” filled with degrading items. Then comes the physical abuse: being sprayed in the face with a hose “like waterboarding,” forced to overeat until vomiting, then ordered to sprint. He’s pushed through hundreds of squats and push-ups under threats of expulsion. Days later, he’s in a Houston emergency room, his urine brown, his body in acute kidney failure from severe muscle breakdown. This is not a hypothetical. This is the active, ongoing case of Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi, a $10 million lawsuit we are litigating right now.
At The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD (Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™), we represent victims like Leonel. We see firsthand how hazing shatters lives and how institutions often circle the wagons. This guide is for you, the parents and families in Cameron, Rockdale, Thorndale, and across Milam County. We’ll explain what hazing really looks like in 2025, the Texas laws designed to protect your child, where this is happening, and what your family can do if the unthinkable occurs.
IMMEDIATE HELP FOR A HAZING CRISIS
If you suspect your child is in immediate danger:
- Call 911 for any medical emergency.
- Then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate, 24/7 help.
- Preserve Evidence NOW: Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, texts), photograph injuries, save any physical objects, and write down everything your child tells you.
- Do NOT confront the organization, sign anything from the university, or let your child delete digital evidence.
The Flagship Case: Leonel Bermudez & The University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi Shutdown
To understand the seriousness of hazing litigation in Texas, you must know the case we are fighting today. In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student and Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu chapter) pledge. The detailed allegations, covered by Click2Houston, ABC13, and Hoodline, reveal a pattern of systematic abuse:
- Humiliation & Control: Pledges were forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, sex toys, and nicotine devices. They faced strict dress codes, overnight chauffeuring duties, and weekly interviews under threat of expulsion.
- Physical & Psychological Torture: Hazing acts included “save-your-brother” drills, bear crawls, lying in vomit-soaked grass, and cold-weather exposure in underwear. In one particularly egregious act, a pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.
- The “Waterboarding” Workout: Bermudez was sprayed in the face with a hose in a manner similar to waterboarding. During a November 3rd “workout,” he was forced to complete over 100 push-ups and 500 squats while reciting the creed.
- Catastrophic Injury: This abuse led to rhabdomyolysis—a severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. Bermudez passed brown urine, was hospitalized for four days, and faces a lifelong risk of permanent kidney damage.
The defendants in this case include not only the 13 individual fraternity leaders but also the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents. The institutional response was telling: Pi Kappa Phi nationals suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025, and the chapter voted to surrender its charter on November 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”
This case is your proof that hazing in Texas is not “boys will be boys.” It is a dangerous, often criminal enterprise that can land a young person in the ICU and shutter a national organization’s chapter. We are in the trenches on this case, and we bring the same relentless approach to every family we represent.
The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Mapping the Greek Ecosystem Relevant to Cameron Families
When your child is hazed, you’re not just up against a few students. You’re facing a network: the local chapter, its national organization, alumni housing corporations, and university oversight bodies. At Attorney911, we don’t start from scratch. We maintain a proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from public records, to map the entire ecosystem. This means we already know the legal entities, their tax IDs (EINs), and their addresses before we even take your case.
For families in Cameron and Milam County, this intelligence is critical. Our students often attend schools within the Killeen-Temple MSA or travel to major hubs like Texas A&M, UT Austin, or Baylor. Here is a snapshot of the Greek organizational landscape that intersects with our community, drawn from IRS public filings and metro data:
Greek Organizations in the Killeen-Temple Metro & Surrounding Area:
- Beta Upsilon Chi (EIN: 742911848) – Fort Worth, TX 76244
- Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc (EIN: 273662583) – Lufkin, TX 75904
- Alpha Tau Omega Housing Corporation of Eta Iota Chapter (EIN: 300517788) – Nacogdoches, TX 75965
- Sigma Phi Lambda Inc (Multiple Chapter Entities) – Corinth, TX 76210
- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Zeta Beta Chapter (EIN: 237098953) – Prairie View, TX 77446
- Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M University Chapter (EIN: 900293166) – College Station, TX 77843
Major Statewide Hubs Where Cameron Families Send Students:
- Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN: 462267515) – Frisco, TX 75035
- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (EIN: 364091267) – Waco, TX 76710
- Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (Theta Delta Chapter, EIN: 475370943) – Houston, TX 77204
- Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN: 741380362) – Fort Worth, TX 76147
- Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter (EIN: 746084905) – Houston, TX 77204
This isn’t just a list. It’s a roadmap to liability. When hazing occurs, these are the types of entities—house corporations, alumni associations, national headquarters—that may carry insurance and bear legal responsibility. We use this data to ensure no accountable party escapes scrutiny.
Where Cameron & Milam County Students Go: Campus Gateways to Greek Life
Parents in our community have children at a diverse range of Texas institutions, from local colleges to flagship universities. Each campus has its own Greek life profile and history of incidents.
Local & Regional Campuses:
- Texas A&M University-Central Texas (Killeen) – Part of the growing Killeen metro, with active student organizations.
- University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton) – A private Baptist university with Greek life societies.
- Temple College & Central Texas College – While primarily two-year colleges, they feed directly into university Greek systems.
Major Texas Universities for Cameron Graduates:
- Texas A&M University (College Station) – One of the largest Greek systems in the nation, including a massive Corps of Cadets with its own documented hazing challenges.
- University of Texas at Austin – A flagship campus with a highly publicized hazing violation log.
- Baylor University (Waco) – A prominent private university with historic Greek life and athletic programs.
- University of Houston – A major urban campus, currently at the center of our flagship Bermudez litigation.
- Texas State University (San Marcos) & Texas Tech University (Lubbock) – Large state schools with significant Greek membership.
The journey from Cameron to College Station, Austin, or Waco is about more than geography; it’s a transition into environments where the pressure to belong can override safety. Knowing the specific landscape of your child’s school is the first step in informed vigilance.
Texas Law & Your Child’s Rights: Consent Is Not a Defense
Texas has clear laws against hazing, found in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. For Milam County families, understanding these statutes is power.
- Broad Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act on or off campus that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in any organization.
- Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals who fail to report hazing can also be charged.
- The Most Important Rule: Consent is NOT a Defense. Texas law (Sec. 37.155) explicitly states that the victim’s consent to the activity is not a defense against hazing charges. The power imbalance and coercion inherent in pledging make true consent impossible, and the law recognizes this.
- Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or team itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose its university recognition.
- Immunity for Reporting: Students who in good faith report hazing or call for emergency medical help are generally protected from disciplinary action by the university and prosecution for certain related offenses (like underage drinking).
Federal Laws Add Another Layer:
- The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires universities to report hazing incidents more transparently and maintain public data logs.
- Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, it triggers federal Title IX obligations for the school.
- The Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.
In practice, this means a Cameron family has multiple avenues: criminal prosecution (handled by the county where the hazing occurred), civil litigation for damages, and federal complaints for institutional failures.
Why Attorney911? The Texas Hazing Litigation Advantage
When your family is in crisis, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates who understand the battlefield. Here is why our Texas-based firm is uniquely equipped for hazing cases that affect families in Cameron and across the state:
- We Are Fighting the Big Case Now: The Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case is not history. It is active, high-stakes litigation we are managing right now. We know how national fraternities and major universities defend these cases because we are currently deposing their officers and reviewing their internal documents.
- Insider Insurance Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense lawyer for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, deny coverage, and drag out proceedings. We use this insider knowledge to anticipate and counter their tactics from day one. You can learn more about Mr. Peña’s background at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/.
- Experience Against Goliaths: Founding partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City Explosion litigation. Taking on a billion-dollar corporation taught us how to manage complex, document-intensive cases against opponents with limitless resources. National fraternities and university systems play from the same playbook.
- Dual Civil & Criminal Mastery: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal side of hazing. We can adeptly navigate cases where criminal charges are pending, advise witnesses, and ensure the civil and criminal strategies work in concert.
- Data-Driven Investigations: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine ensures we never start an investigation blind. We identify all potentially liable entities—from the local chapter to the national housing corporation—immediately.
- A Network of Experts: We work with medical specialists (for injuries like rhabdomyolysis), digital forensics experts (to recover deleted group chats), economists, and life-care planners to build an undeniable case for maximum damages.
We serve families statewide from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. For a Cameron family, this means you have a dedicated, Texas-based legal team that understands both the intimacy of your community’s concern and the complexity of statewide institutional litigation.
What to Do If You Suspect Hazing: A Step-by-Step Guide for Cameron Parents
- Listen & Prioritize Safety: If your child confides in you, listen without judgment. If they are injured or intoxicated, seek medical attention immediately. Health comes first.
- Preserve Evidence:
- Digital: Have your child screenshot ALL relevant group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text threads, and social media DMs. Do not delete anything.
- Photographic: Take clear, dated photos of any physical injuries from multiple angles.
- Physical: Secure any items related to the hazing (clothing, paddles, “pledge” items).
- Documentary: Write down a detailed timeline of events with names, dates, locations, and witnesses while memories are fresh. We have a video guide on using your phone to document evidence.
- Report Strategically: You can report to campus police, the university’s Dean of Students office, and/or local law enforcement. However, consult with an attorney first to understand the implications. Universities often begin internal investigations that can conflict with a civil case.
- Avoid Critical Mistakes:
- DO NOT confront the fraternity/sorority directly. This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
- DO NOT let your child delete anything out of embarrassment or fear.
- DO NOT sign any agreements or accept a settlement from the university or its insurer without legal counsel.
- DO NOT discuss details publicly or on social media.
- For more on pitfalls, watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your case.
- Contact a Specialist Immediately: Hazing cases are time-sensitive. Evidence vanishes, witnesses close ranks, and statutes of limitations apply. In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit, but the clock starts ticking the moment harm occurs. Learn about Texas statutes of limitations here.
Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Conversation
We know that reaching out for legal help during this turmoil is a difficult step. At Attorney911, we provide compassionate, straightforward advice so you can make the best decision for your family.
In a free consultation, we will:
- Listen carefully to your story and review any evidence you have.
- Explain the legal options available to you under Texas law.
- Outline the investigation process and what you can expect.
- Discuss our contingency fee structure—you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. See how contingency fees work.
- Give you the clarity and confidence to move forward.
Whether your child is at a local college or a university hours from home, you are not alone. The same institutional failures and dangerous traditions exist across the state. We have the data, the experience, and the dedication to stand with your family.
Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD (Attorney911) Today:
- Call Our 24/7 Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
- Local Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
- Visit Our Website: https://attorney911.com
- Se habla Español: Contact Mr. Lupe Peña directly at lupe@atty911.com
Let us help you turn this crisis into accountability, recovery, and a safer campus for every student from Cameron and beyond.
Plain Text Links to Key Resources
News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:
- Click2Houston (KPRC 2):
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/ - ABC13 Eyewitness News (KTRK):
https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/ - Hoodline:
https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/
Attorney911 Educational Videos:
- Using Your Cellphone to Document Evidence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs - Texas Statutes of Limitations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c - Client Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY - How Contingency Fees Work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc
Attorney911 Main Website & Contact:
- Homepage & Free Consultation:
https://attorney911.com
Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Each case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts. If you need legal assistance, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD directly for a consultation regarding your individual situation.
