The Truth About Hazing at Texas Universities: A Guide for Covington & Hill County Families

If you are a parent in Covington, Texas, and your child has left for college, you trust they are safe. You imagine them in classrooms, libraries, and dorms. But there is another reality on campuses across Texas—in fraternity houses, sorority lodges, Corps dormitories, and athletic facilities—where a hidden culture of abuse persists. It’s called hazing, and in 2025, it is not a relic of the past; it is a present, urgent, and often brutal danger.

Right now, in Houston, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country on behalf of a young man and his family. In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and 13 individual members of its Beta Nu chapter for the catastrophic hazing of our client, Leonel Bermudez. The details are horrific: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, forced overconsumption of food until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and extreme physical workouts that led to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown. He was hospitalized for four days. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter has been shut down.

This is not an isolated incident. It is a symptom of a systemic problem. For families in Covington, Hillsboro, Itasca, and across Hill County whose children attend Texas A&M, Baylor, UT Austin, or any of the dozens of universities in our state, understanding this reality is the first step toward protection and accountability.

This guide is for you. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, break down the Texas laws designed to stop it, reveal the national patterns behind local chapters, and show you the legal pathways to justice. If your child has been hurt, you are not alone, and you have powerful rights.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason.

In the first 48 hours:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor, see a doctor. Conditions like rhabdomyolysis can be fatal.
2. Preserve Evidence: Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts). Photograph injuries from multiple angles. Save any physical items used in hazing.
3. Write Everything Down: Document names, dates, locations, and what happened while memories are fresh.
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team.
   • Let your child delete any digital messages.
   • Sign anything from a university or insurance company.
   • Post details on social media.

Contact our firm within 24-48 hours. Evidence disappears quickly, and institutions move faster to control the narrative. We can help you secure evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is no longer just about silly pranks or “boys being boys.” It is a calculated spectrum of abuse designed to test loyalty through humiliation, exhaustion, and pain. For parents in Covington, whose children may be experiencing this far from home, recognizing the signs is critical.

Modern hazing falls into three escalating categories:

1. Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize power imbalance and set the stage for worse. This includes forced servitude (being an on-call driver, cleaning members’ rooms), social isolation from non-members, mandatory “study blocks” that interfere with class, and being required to carry degrading items (like the “pledge fanny pack” in the UH case).

2. Harassment Hazing: Acts that cause emotional or physical distress. This includes:

• Sleep Deprivation: 3 AM wake-up calls for “meetings” or tasks.
• Verbal Abuse: Yelling, humiliation, and threats.
• Forced Consumption: Eating excessive amounts of bland food (milk, hot dogs) or unpleasant substances.
• Extreme Exercise: “Smokings” with hundreds of push-ups or squats beyond safe limits, like the workout that hospitalized Leonel Bermudez.

3. Violent Hazing: Activities with high risk of serious injury or death.

• Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: The most common fatal hazing method. “Big/Little” nights, “family tree” drinking games, and lineups where pledges must chug alcohol.
• Physical Assault: Paddling, beatings, “glass ceiling” tackling rituals.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts.
• Dangerous Environments: Exposure to extreme cold, being tied up or restrained.

In 2025, hazing has also gone digital. Pledges are monitored 24/7 through GroupMe, forced to share their location via Snapchat Maps, and coerced into posting humiliating content on TikTok or Instagram. The abuse follows them into their dorm rooms via their smartphones.

The Texas Legal Framework: Your Child’s Rights

Texas has robust laws against hazing, found in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. Understanding this framework is essential for Hill County families.

What Texas Law Says:

• Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in any organization.
• Location Doesn’t Matter: The law applies on-campus and off-campus, at houses, retreats, or any other location.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is still hazing under Texas law. The power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations render true consent impossible.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a crime. It can range from a Class B misdemeanor to a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing or for retaliating against someone who does.

Civil Liability: Holding Everyone Accountable

A criminal case, pursued by the state, aims to punish. A civil lawsuit, which families can file, aims for compensation and accountability. In a civil hazing case, multiple parties can be held liable:

1. The Individuals Who Committed the Acts: The members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The fraternity, sorority, or club as an organization.
3. The National Headquarters: Organizations like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, or Pi Kappa Alpha can be liable if they knew or should have known about dangerous traditions and failed to act. Their national histories of similar incidents are critical evidence.
4. The University: Schools like UH, Texas A&M, and Baylor have a duty to protect students. They can be liable for negligence if they knew of risks and failed to intervene, or if their policies were inadequately enforced.
5. Property Owners & Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses or bars that overserve alcohol may also share liability.

Federal Laws That Apply: The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) now requires universities to report hazing incidents more transparently. Title IX can apply if hazing involves sexual harassment, and the Clery Act requires reporting of certain campus crimes.

The National Pattern: Why History Repeats Itself

The hazing that injured Leonel Bermudez at UH is not unique. It follows a tragic national script. Understanding these landmark cases shows how predictable—and preventable—these injuries are.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script:

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event; died. Settlement: $10 million.
• Max Gruver, LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Led to Louisiana’s felony hazing “Max Gruver Act.”
• Andrew Coffey, Florida State (Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died from alcohol poisoning at a “Big Brother” event. His is the same national fraternity involved in the UH case.

The Physical Assault Script:

• Timothy Piazza, Penn State (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injury after falling during a bid-acceptance night of heavy drinking; help was fatally delayed.
• Chun “Michael” Deng, Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from head trauma during a blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat.

The Severe Injury Script:

• Danny Santulli, Univ. of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent brain damage from forced drinking; requires 24/7 care for life. Settlements with 22 defendants.

These cases prove national fraternities are aware of the lethal patterns within their organizations. When a Texas chapter repeats the same deadly script, it demonstrates foreseeability—a key element in proving negligence and securing justice for families.

The Texas University Landscape: Where Covington Families Send Their Kids

Parents in Covington and Hill County often see their children attend both regional schools and major state universities. Hazing is a risk across this spectrum.

For Covington & Hill County Families: Your Local Campus Connections

Covington is in the heart of Texas, with students attending a variety of institutions. Major universities with significant Greek life and campus organization presence that are common destinations include:

• Baylor University (Waco, McLennan County): A major private university with active Greek life and athletic programs, less than an hour’s drive from Hill County.
• Texas A&M University (College Station, Brazos County): A flagship institution with a massive Greek system and the renowned Corps of Cadets, a common choice for Central Texas students.
• University of Texas at Austin (Travis County): The state’s premier public university, attracting students from every Texas county.
• Texas State University (San Marcos, Hays County): A growing university with a substantial Greek community.
• Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Erath County): Part of the Texas A&M System, with its own Greek life and traditions.
• University of North Texas (Denton, Denton County) & Texas Woman’s University: Major North Texas institutions.
• Community Colleges & Regional Campuses: Many students start at Hill College or other community colleges before transferring to four-year universities with Greek systems.

The legal jurisdiction for a hazing case depends on where the incident occurred. If your child is hazed at Baylor, the case would involve Waco and McLennan County courts. A Texas A&M case would center on Brazos County. Our firm operates statewide, so we navigate these local legal landscapes on behalf of families everywhere in Texas, including Covington.

University of Houston: A Case Study in Institutional Failure

The Leonel Bermudez case is a stark example happening right now in our state. The lawsuit alleges that the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters failed to stop known, systemic hazing at the Beta Nu chapter. Despite anti-hazing policies, pledges were subjected to:

• Weekly interrogations and overnight driving duties.
• Physical torture at the chapter house and at Yellowstone Boulevard Park.
• A “pledge fanny pack” humiliation rule.
• The November 3, 2025, workout that caused rhabdomyolysis.

The university called the conduct “deeply disturbing” only after the lawsuit was filed. This case demonstrates why families cannot rely solely on a university’s internal process. Real accountability often requires the pressure of civil litigation filed by experienced attorneys.

The Texas A&M University Ecosystem: Greek Life and the Corps

Texas A&M’s unique culture includes a powerful Greek system and the Corps of Cadets, both with documented hazing issues.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges allegedly had industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth as part of hazing. The suit sought over $1 million in damages.
• A Culture of Secrecy: The intense loyalty and tradition at A&M can create a barrier to reporting. Families need attorneys who understand this unique culture to effectively investigate and litigate.

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency and Repeated Violations

UT Austin maintains a public hazing violations log, which reveals a pattern of recurring issues even among punished organizations.

• Public Logs Show Patterns: Organizations like Pi Kappa Alpha have been sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Other spirit groups have been disciplined for forced workouts and alcohol hazing.
• The Value of Public Records: This transparency can be a powerful tool for families building a case, as it establishes prior knowledge and a pattern of behavior that the university and national organizations were aware of.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University: Private School Challenges

At private institutions like SMU and Baylor, the dynamics differ but the risks remain.

• SMU’s Affluent Greek Culture: Past incidents, like the 2017 Kappa Alpha Order suspension for paddling and forced drinking, show hazing persists. Private universities may control information more tightly, making skilled legal discovery essential.
• Baylor’s Athletic & Greek Scrutiny: Following major scandals, Baylor remains under a microscope. Hazing incidents within baseball and other programs indicate systemic challenges. Navigating liability at a private, religious-affiliated institution requires specific expertise.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: A Texas-Wide Network

When hazing occurs, liability doesn’t stop with the students in the room. A vast network of legally recognized organizations stands behind every fraternity and sorority chapter. Our firm maintains the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, a proprietary database built from public records that tracks this network. This is a fraction of what we see:

Public Records: Greek Organizations Operating in Texas
The following are real entities registered with the IRS or identified in public metropolitan databases that support fraternity and sorority life connected to Texas campuses. This illustrates the deep organizational structure families are up against.

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation, EIN 37-1768785, Missouri City, TX 77459 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 74-6084905, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc, EIN 45-3325054, Mansfield, TX 76063 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, EIN 36-4091267, Waco, TX 76710 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 90-0293166, College Station, TX 77843 (TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY – IRS B83 Filing)
• Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi, EIN 74-6047117, Austin, TX 78705 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Sigma Incorporated, EIN 88-2755427, San Marcos, TX 78666 (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Houston, TX (Cause IQ Metro Listing)

Why This Data Matters for Your Case:
These aren’t just names. They are legal entities that may hold insurance policies, own property, and share liability. A chapter house is often owned by a separate “housing corporation.” Alumni activities are run by an “alumni chapter.” National headquarters operate under their own corporate structures. When we take a case, we use this data engine to identify every possible responsible party from day one. We don’t start from scratch—we start with a map. This comprehensive approach is why national fraternities and their insurers know we understand the full battlefield.

Building a Hazing Case with Attorney911: Our Data-Driven Strategy

When your family comes to us, we deploy a methodology refined over decades of complex litigation against billion-dollar corporations, including our work on the BP Texas City explosion litigation.

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation & Investigation:
We move faster than the opposition. While chapters are deleting GroupMe chats and universities are consulting their counsel, we are:

• Employing Digital Forensics: Recovering “deleted” messages and social media data.
• Securing Physical Evidence: Preserving clothing, medical devices, and objects used in hazing.
• Identifying Witnesses: Locating and interviewing other pledges, members, and bystanders before they are coached.
• Issuing Preservation Letters: Legally requiring universities and fraternities to save all relevant records.

2. Uncovering the Pattern & Institutional Knowledge:
We don’t just look at the single incident. We investigate the history.

• Subpoenaing National Fraternity Records: We demand risk management files, prior incident reports for the chapter, and internal communications showing what the national headquarters knew.
• Analyzing University Discipline Files: Through public records requests and discovery, we obtain the school’s complete history with the offending organization.
• Connecting to National Cases: We demonstrate how the hazing methods used against your child mirror those used in fatal cases across the country, proving foreseeability.

3. Navigating Insurance & Liability Complexities:
This is where Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm is invaluable. He knows the playbook. Fraternity and university insurers will immediately look for ways to deny coverage, arguing hazing is an “intentional act” excluded from policies. We combat this by:

• Building claims around negligent supervision and failure to train, which are often covered.
• Identifying all potential insurance policies across individuals, chapters, housing corporations, and nationals.
• Anticipating and defeating bad-faith denial tactics.

4. Calculating Full & Fair Damages:
We work with a network of experts to document the complete harm, which often includes:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (ER, hospital, surgery, future care), lost earning capacity, and educational costs.
• Non-Economic Damages: Pain and suffering, PTSD, severe emotional distress, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In tragic cases, we seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and the family’s profound grief.

Our goal is never a quick, lowball settlement. We prepare every case with the readiness to go to trial to force full accountability, and that posture leads to more meaningful resolutions.

Critical Guidance for Covington Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & First Steps

• Watch For: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, sudden secrecy, personality changes (anxiety, withdrawal), panic around phone notifications, constant requests for money.
• Talk to Your Child: Ask open-ended questions. “Has anything made you uncomfortable during pledging?” “Are you able to get enough sleep for your classes?” Reassure them that their safety is more important than any organization.
• If They Are Injured: Seek medical care immediately. Use your phone to document injuries. Write down everything they tell you. Then, call us.

For Students: Your Rights & Safety

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No tradition is worth your health, your education, or your life.
• “Consent” is Not a Defense in Texas: You cannot legally agree to be hazed.
• Exiting Safely: You can quit at any time. Send a clear text/email to the chapter president stating your resignation. Inform a university official (Dean of Students) simultaneously. Do not attend a “final meeting.”
• Reporting: You can report anonymously to university hotlines or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1+888-NOT-HAZE). For true accountability and to protect your legal rights, consulting an attorney is crucial.

The Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy a Case:

1. Deleting Digital Evidence: Screenshot everything first.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
3. Signing University Settlement Offers: These often waive your right to sue for fair compensation.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys scour social media for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence vanishes, witnesses disappear, and the legal clock (statute of limitations) runs out.

Why Attorney911 Is the Right Firm for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family is facing a hazing crisis, you need more than a lawyer; you need a team with proven experience taking on the largest institutions and winning. Based in Houston, we serve families across Texas, from Covington and Hill County to every corner of the state.

Our Proven Advantage:

• Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: We are not theorists. We are currently lead counsel for Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. We are in the fight right now.
• The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. We know the legal landscape before we even begin your case.
• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and devalue your claim. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. A national fraternity or major university does not intimidate us.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: 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 on all aspects of a case.
• 25+ Years of Courtroom Experience: We are trial lawyers. We prepare every case to be presented to a jury, which gives us maximum leverage in negotiations.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Se habla Español.

You Don’t Have to Face This Alone: Contact Us Today

If you are a parent in Covington, Hillsboro, or anywhere in Texas, and you believe your child has been subjected to hazing, abuse, or dangerous initiation rituals, we are here to listen and to help.

We offer a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation. In this meeting, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Discuss the realistic pathways forward, whether through negotiation, litigation, or other means.
• Answer all your questions about the process, timelines, and our contingency-fee structure (you pay nothing unless we win your case).

Do not let intimidation, shame, or institutional pressure silence you. What happened to your child was wrong, and it was preventable. Let us help you hold the right people accountable and secure the resources your family needs to heal.

Call The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) today at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070 or via email at ralph@atty911.com.

For Spanish-language services, please contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com.

We serve families throughout Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly for a consultation regarding your individual situation.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:

• Click2Houston Report: 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 Coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Hoodline Summary: 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
• Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Statute of Limitations Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Firm Website:

• Attorney911 Main Contact: https://attorney911.com