The Complete Guide to Hazing Laws & Fraternity Accountability for Families in Godley, Texas

What Every Godley Parent Needs to Know About College Hazing

Right now, a family in our community is living a nightmare. Their son at the University of Houston, just a few hours east of Godley, nearly lost his kidneys after fraternity members forced him through brutal workouts, sprayed him with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and made him consume dangerous amounts of food until he vomited. When he finally called for help, his urine was brown—a sign of severe muscle breakdown called rhabdomyolysis that led to acute kidney failure and four days in the hospital.

This isn’t a sensationalized news story from somewhere else. This is Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu), a $10 million hazing lawsuit that attorneys at The Manginello Law Firm are actively litigating right now. The alleged hazing happened at the Pi Kappa Phi chapter house near UH, at a Culmore Drive residence, and at Yellowstone Boulevard Park—locations where Houston-area families send their children every day.

If your child from Godley attends any Texas university—whether nearby Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, the University of Texas at Arlington, or institutions farther like UT Austin, Texas A&M, or Baylor—they could face similar dangers hidden behind Greek letters and “traditions.”

This comprehensive guide explains exactly what hazing looks like in 2025, how Texas law protects (and sometimes fails) students, what major cases teach us, and what your legal options are when hazing injures someone you love. We created this resource specifically for parents and families in Godley, Johnson County, and throughout North Texas who need straight answers about campus safety, institutional accountability, and how to protect their children.

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 Beyond the Stereotypes

Modern Hazing Defined

For Godley families unfamiliar with today’s Greek life dynamics, hazing has evolved far beyond “pranks” or “roughhousing.” Hazing in 2025 means 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. The key misunderstanding we hear from Johnson County parents is: “But my child agreed to it.” Under Texas law, “consent” is not a defense when there’s peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion.

The Five Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the deadliest form. At the University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi chapter, pledges were allegedly forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then immediately forced to run sprints. Nationally, forced drinking games like “Big/Little” nights have killed students at Penn State, LSU, and Bowling Green State. The pattern is formulaic: older members provide excessive alcohol, create drinking “games” with punishment for wrong answers, and delay calling 911 when someone gets dangerously intoxicated.

2. Physical Hazing
The UH case shows this isn’t just “exercise.” Leonel Bermudez was allegedly forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion, then suffered rhabdomyolysis. Other physical hazing includes:

• Cold-weather exposure in underwear
• Bear crawls and wheelbarrow races until collapse
• Being hog-tied face-down with objects in the mouth (as allegedly happened to another UH Pi Kappa Phi pledge)
• Beatings with paddles, fists, or objects

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, wearing degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” rule in the UH case allegedly required pledges to carry condoms, sex toys, and humiliating items 24/7.

4. Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation, sleep deprivation, and forced confessions. At UH, pledges faced weekly interviews, overnight chauffeuring duties, and constant threats of expulsion for minor infractions.

5. Digital/Online Hazing
A growing category where Godley students might not recognize the danger. This includes:

• Group chat dares and challenges on GroupMe, WhatsApp, or Discord
• Public humiliation via Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok
• Pressure to create or share compromising images/videos
• 24/7 availability demands via text with punishment for delayed responses

Where Hazing Actually Happens in Texas

Godley families should understand that hazing extends far beyond “frat parties”:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural chapters)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC at Texas A&M and other military-style programs
• Athletic Teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer)
• Spirit Squads and Tradition Clubs like Texas Cowboys
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Some Academic and Service Organizations

The common thread across all groups: social status, tradition, and secrecy keep these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Texas Hazing Law: What Godley Families Need to Know

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Hazing Statute

Under Texas law—which governs cases involving Godley students at any Texas university—hazing is specifically defined in Education Code Chapter 37, Subchapter F:

§ 37.151 Definition: Hazing means 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.

Plain English Translation: If someone makes your child do something dangerous, harmful, or degrading to join or stay in a group, and they meant to do it or were reckless about the risk, that’s hazing under Texas law regardless of location or “consent.”

Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152)

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, fine up to $2,000)
• Class A Misdemeanor: If hazing causes injury requiring medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death

Additional criminal provisions:

• Failing to report hazing (if you’re a member/officer and knew about it): misdemeanor
• Retaliating against someone who reports hazing: misdemeanor

Organizational Liability (§ 37.153)

Fraternities, sororities, clubs, and teams can be criminally prosecuted if:

• The organization authorized or encouraged the hazing, OR
• An officer or member acting in official capacity knew about hazing and failed to report it

Penalties for organizations:

• Fine up to $10,000 per violation
• University can revoke recognition and ban the organization from campus

Critical Protections for Godley Families

§ 37.154 Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: A person who in good faith reports a hazing incident to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result from the report.

§ 37.155 Consent Not a Defense: It is not a defense to prosecution that the person being hazed consented to the hazing activity. This directly rebuts the #1 excuse we hear: “They wanted to do it.”

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by the state (district attorney)
• Aim: punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical hazing-related charges: hazing offenses, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases

Civil Cases:

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Aim: monetary compensation and accountability
• Focus on: negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress

Key Insight: Both types can run side-by-side, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. Many Godley families pursue civil cases even when prosecutors decline to file criminal charges, because the burden of proof is lower (preponderance of evidence vs. beyond reasonable doubt).

Federal Law Overlay: Additional Protections

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):

• Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently
• Strengthens hazing education and prevention
• Maintains public hazing data (phased in by 2026)

Title IX/Clery Act:

• When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger
• Clery requires reporting certain crimes; hazing often overlaps with assault/alcohol crimes

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

For Godley families considering legal action, understanding potential defendants is crucial:

1. Individual Students
The ones who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover up. In the UH case, 13 individual fraternity leaders/members are named.

2. Local Chapter/Organization
The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if it’s a legal entity). The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation is a defendant in the UH case.

3. National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters
Organizations that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters is named in the UH lawsuit.

4. University or Governing Board
Schools may be liable under negligence or civil-rights theories. The University of Houston and UH System Board of Regents are defendants in the Bermudez case.

5. Third Parties
Landlords of houses/event spaces, bars/alcohol providers (dram shop liability), security companies.

Every case is fact-specific, but experienced hazing attorneys know how to identify all potentially liable parties rather than just the obvious ones.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What They Mean for Godley Families

The UH Pi Kappa Phi case follows patterns seen nationwide. Understanding these patterns helps Godley families recognize warning signs and understand what successful litigation looks like.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
The 20-year-old pledge was forced to consume an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” night and died from alcohol poisoning. Multiple fraternity members were convicted, and the family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). Lesson for Godley families: “Tradition” drinking nights are predictable scripts for disaster.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
The pledge was forced to participate in a “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking. He died with a 0.495% BAC. The case led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act (felony hazing statute). Lesson: Legislative change often follows public outrage from clear hazing deaths.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State University, Pi Kappa Phi (2017)
The pledge died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother Night” where pledges were given handles of liquor. Lesson: The same national fraternity involved in the UH case (Pi Kappa Phi) has a history of deadly alcohol hazing.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
The pledge was blindfolded, weighted with a backpack, and repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a remote retreat. He died from traumatic brain injuries while members delayed calling 911. The national fraternity was convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter. Lesson: Off-campus “retreats” can be as dangerous as parties, and national organizations face serious sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged widespread sexualized and racist hazing within the football program. Multiple lawsuits were filed, head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired (then settled a wrongful-termination suit confidentially). Lesson for Godley families: Hazing extends beyond Greek life into major athletic programs with systemic abuse.

What These Cases Mean for Godley, Texas Families

Common threads in successful hazing litigation:

1. Forced drinking, humiliation, violence
2. Delayed or denied medical care
3. Cover-up attempts and destruction of evidence
4. Institutional knowledge of prior incidents

Godley families facing hazing at Texas universities aren’t alone—they’re operating in a landscape shaped by these national lessons and multimillion-dollar verdicts.

Texas University Focus: Where Godley Students Attend

Godley families typically send students to universities throughout North Texas and across the state. Here’s what you need to know about hazing at institutions Godley students attend:

Texas Christian University (Fort Worth)

Distance from Godley: Approximately 30 miles
Relevance to Godley Families: TCU is the closest major university with significant Greek life to Johnson County

Campus Culture Snapshot:
TCU has active Greek life with approximately 40% of undergraduates participating in fraternities or sororities. The university has faced multiple hazing incidents in recent years.

Documented Incidents & Responses:

• Kappa Sigma Chapter Suspension (2018): The chapter was suspended for hazing violations including forced alcohol consumption
• Multiple Chapter Probations: Various Greek organizations have faced disciplinary action for alcohol-related hazing and endangerment

TCU’s Hazing Policy & Reporting:
TCU prohibits hazing as defined by Texas law and maintains an online reporting system. The university typically investigates through Student Affairs and can impose sanctions including chapter suspension, individual expulsion, and loss of university recognition.

How a TCU Hazing Case Might Proceed:

• Jurisdiction: Fort Worth Police Department and/or TCU Campus Police
• Civil Venue: Tarrant County courts
• Potential Defendants: Individual students, local chapter, national fraternity/sorority, TCU

What TCU Students & Godley Parents Should Do:

• Report to TCU’s Office of Student Affairs: (817) 257-7926
• Document everything before TCU begins its internal investigation
• Understand that TCU’s process is administrative, not criminal or civil
• Contact an attorney familiar with Tarrant County courts and TCU’s disciplinary procedures

University of Texas at Arlington

Distance from Godley: Approximately 35 miles
Relevance to Godley Families: UTA serves many Johnson County residents as a commuter-friendly option

Campus Culture Snapshot:
UTA has growing Greek life with particular concerns about off-campus housing and unofficial events.

Hazing Transparency:
Unlike UT Austin, UTA does not maintain a public hazing violations database, making it harder for Godley families to research organization histories.

What UTA Students & Godley Parents Should Know:

• Many UTA Greek events occur in off-campus apartments rather than university-controlled housing
• Reporting should go to UTA’s Office of Student Conduct: (817) 272-2354
• Arlington Police Department may have jurisdiction over off-campus incidents

Major Statewide Universities Godley Students Attend

University of Texas at Austin

• UT’s Public Hazing Violations Page: Lists organizations, dates, conduct, and sanctions
• Example Entry: Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) – new members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; chapter placed on probation
• Takeaway for Godley Families: UT’s transparency allows research into organization histories before your child joins

Texas A&M University

• Corps of Cadets Culture: Tradition-heavy environment with reported discipline issues
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Lawsuit (~2021): Pledges allegedly covered in industrial-strength cleaner causing chemical burns requiring skin grafts
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): Cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts
• Takeaway: Both Greek life and Corps programs present hazing risks

Baylor University

• Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following hazing investigation
• Context: Baylor’s history of scrutiny over institutional responses to misconduct
• Takeaway: Religious branding doesn’t eliminate hazing risks

The University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi Case: Texas’s Current Flagship Hazing Litigation

Why Godley Families Should Pay Attention:
Even though UH is several hours from Johnson County, the Bermudez case establishes critical Texas precedents about:

1. University liability for off-campus hazing
2. National fraternity responsibility for chapter conduct
3. Medical evidence standards for rhabdomyolysis and kidney injury claims
4. Insurance coverage fights with multiple defendant types

The alleged hazing methods at UH—forced consumption rituals, extreme workouts, psychological control—are not unique to that campus. Godley students at any Texas university could face similar dangers.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Godley Families

If you are a parent in Godley, you deserve to know who really stands behind the Greek organizations connected to your child. Below are actual public records of Texas-registered Greek organizations that we maintain in our investigative database. These entities—with their EINs, legal names, and addresses—are the organizations that may hold insurance coverage and legal responsibility when hazing occurs.

North Texas Greek Organizations (Serving Johnson County & Surrounding Areas)

Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity
EIN: 74-2911848 | Fort Worth, TX 76244
Data Source: IRS B83 filing & Cause IQ metro listing

Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc
EIN: 74-1380362 | Fort Worth, TX 76147-0061
Data Source: IRS B83 filing

Frank Heflin Foundation (Phi Delta Theta alumni)
EIN: 20-3507402 | Canyon, TX 79015-5815
Data Source: IRS B83 filing & Cause IQ Amarillo metro data

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc
EIN: 45-3325054 | Mansfield, TX 76063-0169
Data Source: IRS B83 filing

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority
EIN: 36-4091267 | Waco, TX 76710-4154
Data Source: IRS B83 filing & Cause IQ Houston/Beaumont metro overlap

Major University Greek Housing Corporations (Where Godley Students May Live)

Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter
EIN: 74-6064445 | Nederland, TX 77627-8843
Data Source: IRS B83 filing & Cause IQ Beaumont metro overlap

Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc
EIN: 46-2267515 | Frisco, TX 75035-6629
Data Source: IRS B83 filing (related to UH case organization)

Chi Omega Fraternity House Corporation
EIN: 74-0555581 | Austin, TX 78705-4018
Data Source: IRS B83 filing & Cause IQ Austin metro data

Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi
EIN: 74-6047117 | Austin, TX 78705-4017
Data Source: IRS B83 filing

Statewide Honor Societies & Professional Organizations

Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M Chapter
EIN: 90-0293166 | College Station, TX 77843-0001
Data Source: IRS B83 filing & multiple Cause IQ metro overlaps

Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – UT Tyler Chapter
EIN: 35-2335400 | Tyler, TX 75799-6600
Data Source: IRS B83 filing

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Inc
EIN: 76-0221936 | Houston, TX 77277-1704
Data Source: IRS B83 filing

Why This Directory Matters for Godley Families

These aren’t just names—they’re legal entities with insurance policies, assets, and responsibility. When hazing occurs, experienced attorneys know how to:

1. Identify every potentially liable organization (not just the obvious chapter)
2. Trace insurance coverage through national networks
3. Subpoena internal documents showing prior knowledge of hazing
4. Hold the right parties accountable, not just sacrificial “rogue members”

The University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi case targets 13 entities: UH, UH System Board, Pi Kappa Phi national, Beta Nu housing corporation, and individual members. This comprehensive approach is what maximizes accountability and compensation.

Fraternities & Sororities: Campus-Specific + National Histories

Why National Histories Matter to Godley Families

Many fraternities/sororities at Texas universities (Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi, Kappa Alpha Order) are part of national organizations with documented hazing patterns. When a Texas chapter repeats conduct that got another chapter shut down or sued in another state, that shows foreseeability—a critical legal concept that supports negligence claims against national headquarters.

Organization Patterns Relevant to Godley Students

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike)

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University (2021): $10M settlement
• David Bogenberger – Northern Illinois University (2012): $14M settlement
• Texas Pattern: Multiple Texas chapters have faced hazing allegations
• Godley Relevance: Active at TCU, UT Austin, Texas A&M

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / SAE)

• University of Alabama – Traumatic brain injury lawsuit (2023)
• Texas A&M University – Chemical burns case (2021): $1M lawsuit
• University of Texas at Austin – Assault case (2024): $1M+ lawsuit
• Godley Relevance: Active at TCU, UT Austin, Texas A&M, SMU

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ)

• Andrew Coffey – Florida State University (2017): Death from alcohol poisoning
• Leonel Bermudez – University of Houston (2025): $10M lawsuit for rhabdomyolysis
• Godley Relevance: Active at UT Austin, Texas A&M

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)

• Max Gruver – LSU (2017): Death led to Louisiana felony hazing law
• Godley Relevance: Active at TCU, UT Austin, Texas A&M

How National Patterns Support Godley Families’ Cases

When we represent Johnson County families in hazing cases, we use national incident databases to show:

1. Foreseeability: The national organization knew or should have known this conduct was likely
2. Pattern Evidence: Similar conduct occurred at other chapters
3. Inadequate Prevention: Despite “anti-hazing policies,” the national failed to implement effective oversight
4. Punitive Damages Basis: Repeated warnings ignored

This approach transforms a “local chapter problem” into a national organizational failure with greater liability and insurance coverage.

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

Evidence Collection: What Wins Hazing Cases

For Godley families, evidence preservation in the first 48 hours can make or break a case:

Digital Communications (Most Critical)

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord: Screenshot entire threads with timestamps
• Social Media DMs: Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok (disappearing messages must be captured immediately)
• Fraternity-Specific Apps: Many chapters use custom apps for communication
• Digital Forensics: Even deleted messages can often be recovered

Photos & Videos

• Injuries: Photograph immediately and daily to show progression
• Locations: Pi Kappa Phi house, Culmore Drive residence, Yellowstone Park in UH case
• Events: Any media captured during hazing
• Medical Documentation: ER photos, hospital bracelets, medical equipment

Internal Organization Documents

• Pledge Manuals: “Traditions” lists, rules, requirements
• Emails/Texts: Planning communications between officers
• National Policies: Risk management manuals that weren’t enforced

University Records

• Prior Conduct Files: Previous hazing violations against same organization
• Incident Reports: Campus police or conduct office reports
• Clery Reports: Required crime statistics

Medical & Psychological Records

• ER/Hospital Records: Show causation between hazing and injury
• Toxicology Reports: Blood alcohol levels, drug screens
• Psychological Evaluations: PTSD, depression, anxiety diagnoses
• Specialist Reports: Nephrologist reports for kidney injuries like in UH case

Witness Testimony

• Other Pledges: Often afraid but may cooperate with protection
• Former Members: Those who quit or were expelled
• Roommates/RA’s: Observed physical or behavioral changes
• Medical Personnel: Documented statements about cause of injuries

Damages: What Godley Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable)

• Medical Bills: ER, hospitalization, surgery, medications, future care
• Lost Earnings: Time off work for victim or caregiving parents
• Educational Impact: Lost scholarships, delayed graduation, transfer costs
• Future Care: Lifelong treatment for permanent injuries (kidney damage, brain injury)

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical Pain & Suffering: From injuries and treatment
• Emotional Distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation
• Loss of Enjoyment: Can’t participate in activities they loved
• Reputational Harm: Social stigma and online harassment

Wrongful Death Damages (For Families)

• Funeral/Burial Costs
• Loss of Financial Support: Future earnings deceased would have provided
• Loss of Companionship: Emotional harm to parents and siblings
• Parents’ Emotional Suffering: Therapy and counseling costs

Punitive Damages (When Available)

• Purpose: Punish especially reckless or malicious conduct
• When Awarded: Prior warnings ignored, particularly cruel conduct, cover-up attempts
• Texas Caps: Generally limited but can be significant in intentional conduct cases

The Role of Insurance Coverage

National fraternities and universities have insurance policies that often become battlegrounds:

Common Insurance Arguments:

• “Hazing is an intentional act, not covered”
• “The policy doesn’t cover this defendant”
• “Claims exceed policy limits”

How We Counter:

• Identify all potential policies (chapter, national, university, homeowners)
• Argue negligent supervision is covered even if hazing was intentional
• Pursue bad faith claims against insurers who wrongfully deny coverage
• Use Texas insurance law expertise from our former defense attorney Lupe Peña

The UH case involves multiple insurance carriers for: Pi Kappa Phi national, Beta Nu housing corporation, University of Houston, and individual defendants. Coordinating these claims requires experience most personal injury firms lack.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Godley Families

For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Godley Student May Be Hazed:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries (especially if excuses don’t add up)
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Weight loss/gain from food/water restriction
• Sleep deprivation (calls at 3 AM, can’t stay awake in class)
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities (“I can’t talk about it”)
• Withdrawal from family, old friends, or non-Greek activities
• Constant phone anxiety (checking group chats, fear of missing messages)
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability
• Academic decline (missing classes, dropping grades)
• Financial red flags (unexpected expenses, requests for money)

How to Talk to Your Child About Hazing:

1. Ask open questions: “How are things going with [organization]?”
2. Focus on safety: “Are they respectful of your time for classes and sleep?”
3. Listen without judgment: If they open up, don’t criticize their choices
4. Emphasize support: “We care about your safety more than your membership status”
5. Know when to intervene: If they show signs of physical danger, act immediately

If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Document everything: Write down dates, times, what your child says
2. Preserve evidence: Screenshot texts, photograph injuries, save physical items
3. Seek medical attention: Even if they resist, health comes first
4. Report strategically: Consider reporting to campus authorities AND local police
5. Consult an attorney BEFORE confronting the organization or signing university documents

For Students: Self-Assessment & Safety Planning

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something I don’t want to do?
• Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would the university or my parents approve if they knew exactly what was happening?
• Am I being told to keep secrets, lie, or hide this from outsiders?

If You Answer YES to Any: It’s Likely Hazing

How to Exit Safely:

1. Immediate danger: Call 911 or campus police
2. Tell someone outside the org first: Parent, RA, trusted friend
3. Send written resignation: Email/text to chapter president: “I resign effective immediately”
4. Do NOT go to “one last meeting”: This is when pressure/retaliation happens
5. Document any retaliation: Threats, harassment, property damage

Your Legal Rights in Texas:

• You cannot be punished for calling 911 in a medical emergency (good-faith immunity)
• Hazing is a crime—you are the victim, not the perpetrator
• You can file a civil lawsuit even if no criminal charges are filed
• You can request a no-contact order through the university

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Godley Hazing Case

MISTAKE #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: Looks like obstruction of justice; case becomes nearly impossible
• What to do instead: Preserve everything immediately, even embarrassing content

MISTAKE #2: Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly

• What parents think: “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind”
• Why it’s wrong: They immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
• What to do instead: Document everything, call a lawyer before any confrontation

MISTAKE #3: Signing university “release” or “resolution” forms

• What universities do: Pressure families to sign waivers or internal agreements
• Why it’s wrong: You may waive your right to sue; settlements are often far below value
• What to do instead: Do NOT sign anything without an attorney reviewing

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

• What families think: “I want people to know what happened”
• Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
• What to do instead: Document privately; let your lawyer control public messaging

MISTAKE #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 pressure, intimidate, or extract damaging statements
• What to do instead: Once considering legal action, all communication goes through your lawyer

MISTAKE #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, statute runs
• What to do instead: Preserve evidence NOW; consult lawyer immediately

MISTAKE #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 are used against you; early settlements are lowball
• What to do instead: Politely decline: “My attorney will contact you”

FAQ: Answers for Godley Families

“Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals in personal capacity. Private universities (SMU, Baylor, TCU) have fewer immunity protections. Every case depends on specific facts—contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case-specific analysis.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law 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. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing.

“Can my child bring a case if they ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Yes. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion is not true voluntary consent.

“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 (like deleting evidence or lying to investigators), the statute may be tolled (paused). Time is critical—evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and organizations destroy records. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately.

“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 sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability. Many major hazing cases (Pi Delta Psi retreat, Sigma Pi unofficial house)