The Parent’s Guide to Texas Hazing: Legal Rights, Real Cases, and Answers for Jasper Families

If your child is at a Texas university, the nightmare can begin with a single text message. A summons to an off-campus house in Houston, a late-night “study session” in College Station, a mandatory “retreat” near Austin. What starts as an excited “I got a bid!” can spiral into a cascade of demands: forced drinking, humiliating acts, brutal workouts, and a suffocating code of silence.

Right now, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who nearly died after being hazed by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. His story is not an isolated incident in a far-off state; it’s a warning for every family in Jasper, Sam Rayburn, Kirbyville, and across East Texas who sends a child to college.

This guide is for you—the parent in Jasper who needs to understand what modern hazing really looks like, how Texas law protects (and sometimes fails) victims, and what legal recourse exists when institutions betray your trust. We will walk you through the harsh realities at Texas universities, the national fraternity patterns that repeat here, and the steps you can take if your child has been harmed.

If This Just Happened: Immediate Crisis Response for Jasper Families

IF YOUR CHILD IS IN PHYSICAL DANGER RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 immediately.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate legal guidance for emergencies.

IN THE FIRST 48 HOURS:

1. Get Medical Attention: Go to the ER or urgent care. Even if injuries seem minor, internal damage (like kidney failure from rhabdomyolysis) may not be apparent.
2. Preserve Digital Evidence: Screenshot every group chat (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text, and social media post related to the incident. Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
3. Write Everything Down: Document names, dates, times, locations, and what happened while memories are fresh.
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or group 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 Texas hazing attorney within 24-48 hours. Evidence disappears fast. Universities and national organizations move quickly to control narratives. We can help you preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is not about “boys will be boys” or harmless pranks. Under Texas law, it is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group. It evolves constantly, and Jasper parents need to recognize its modern forms.

The Digital Prison: Today’s hazing often happens in plain sight—on your child’s phone. Constant GroupMe demands, mandatory location-sharing via Snapchat Map, forced participation in humiliating TikTok challenges, and 24/7 accessibility create a psychological cage. Sleep deprivation is enforced through 3 AM wake-up texts; social isolation is mandated by rules controlling who pledges can speak to.

The “Voluntary” Coercion: Fraternities and sororities are adept at using coded language. “Optional” events that determine your “commitment level,” “team-building” workouts that cross into abuse, and “tradition” nights that involve forced alcohol consumption. The power imbalance between a desperate pledge and a powerful senior member means true consent is often impossible.

The Off-Campus Shift: To avoid university cameras and campus police, hazing has moved to private rentals, Airbnb properties, and remote retreats. The horrific Pi Delta Psi case that killed Chun “Michael” Deng occurred at a mountainside retreat. This geographic shift is a calculated move to evade accountability, not an accident.

Physical & Psychological Torture: The acts remain brutally physical: forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and pepper until vomiting (as in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case); being sprayed with a hose “like waterboarding”; paddling; being hog-tied; and extreme calisthenics that cause life-threatening medical conditions like rhabdomyolysis—a severe muscle breakdown that leads to kidney failure.

The Texas Law & Liability Framework

Texas takes hazing seriously on paper. The Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F, provides the legal backbone. For families in Jasper County, understanding this framework is the first step toward accountability.

The Criminal Statute:

• Definition: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers physical or mental health for purposes of initiation or affiliation into a group.
• Key Point: Consent of the victim is NOT a defense. A student “agreeing” to participate does not make it legal.
• Penalties:
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes bodily injury.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.

Civil Liability: The Path to Accountability & Compensation
A criminal conviction is not needed to file a civil lawsuit. The civil system allows victims and families to seek justice and recover damages from every responsible party.

Who Can Be Sued in a Texas Hazing Case?

1. The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, carried out, or facilitated the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The fraternity or sorority chapter as an entity.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters that collect dues, set policies, and have a history of similar incidents at other chapters. Their knowledge of patterns is key.
4. The University: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations (if hazing is sexualized). Public universities like Texas A&M or UT have certain immunity hurdles, but exceptions exist.
5. Housing Corporations & Property Owners: Entities that own or control the houses or properties where hazing occurs.
6. Third Parties: Bars that overserved alcohol, security companies that failed to act.

Federal Laws That Overlay Texas Cases:

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires universities receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, it triggers federal Title IX obligations for the university.
• The Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.

A Landmark Case Unfolding Now: Leonel Bermudez vs. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi

To understand the stakes, look no further than the lawsuit we are actively litigating. This is not a historical reference; it is a current, multi-million-dollar fight happening in Harris County right now, and it illustrates every element Jasper families must comprehend.

The Victim: Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student and Pi Kappa Phi pledge in Fall 2025.

The Hazing Conduct (As Alleged in the Complaint):

• Humiliation & Control: A “pledge fanny pack” rule requiring Bermudez to carry condoms, a sex toy, and nicotine devices at all times. Enforced dress codes, weekly interrogations, and overnight driving duties for members.
• Physical Torture: Sprints, bear crawls, and “save-your-brother” drills. Being forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass. Exposure to cold weather in only underwear.
• Simulated Waterboarding: Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding” with threats of actual waterboarding.
• Forced Consumption & Violence: Being made to consume massive quantities of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then forced to immediately sprint. On October 13, 2025, another pledge was allegedly hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.
• The Breaking Point: On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was forced through over 100 push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion from the pledge class.

The Medical Catastrophe:
The extreme physical abuse caused Bermudez to develop rhabdomyolysis—a severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. He began passing brown urine, could not stand without help, and was rushed to the hospital by his mother. He was hospitalized for four days with critically elevated creatine kinase levels, confirming the life-threatening diagnoses. He faces an ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

The Institutional Response & Defendants:
Our lawsuit names a universe of defendants, because accountability must be comprehensive:

• The University of Houston and the UH System Board of Regents.
• Pi Kappa Phi’s National Headquarters.
• The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu Housing Corporation.
• 13 Individual Fraternity Leaders (Chapter President, Pledgemaster, Risk Manager, etc.).
  After media exposure, Pi Kappa Phi suspended the chapter (Nov. 6, 2025), and members voted to surrender their charter (Nov. 14, 2025). UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

This case, covered by Click2Houston and ABC13, is the benchmark for serious hazing litigation in Texas. It shows the medical horrors, the detailed evidence required, and the need to sue every entity with responsibility.

Where Jasper Families Send Their Kids: The Texas University Landscape

Parents in Jasper and Jasper County typically have children attending a mix of regional universities and major state flagship schools. Understanding the hazing environment at each is critical.

Lamar University (Beaumont) – The Primary Local Hub

For many Jasper families, Lamar University in Beaumont is the closest and most accessible four-year university.

• Campus Snapshot: A public university in Jefferson County with a significant commuter population and growing residential life, including Greek organizations.
• Hazing Policy & Reporting: Lamar prohibits hazing and requires student organizations to comply with university policies and state law. Reports go through the Office of Student Conduct.
• Greek Life Context: Lamar has Interfraternity Council (IFC) fraternities, National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations, and sororities. Off-campus houses and apartments in Beaumont are common venues for social events.
• Legal Jurisdiction for Jasper Families: A hazing case at Lamar would likely involve the Beaumont Police Department and could be filed in Jefferson County courts. The university, as part of the Texas State University System, has certain governmental immunities but can still be held accountable under specific legal theories.

Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches) – The Historic Regional Choice

SFA is another major destination for East Texas students, known for its strong school spirit and tradition-rich campus life.

• Campus Snapshot: A public university in Nacogdoches with a robust Greek system and numerous student organizations.
• Documented Incidents: Like most universities, SFA has faced hazing incidents. Past disciplinary records have included fraternities suspended for alcohol-related hazing and endangerment.
• Key Consideration: The culture of “tradition” at SFA can sometimes be used to mask or justify hazing behaviors within certain groups, including spirit organizations beyond Greek life.
• Legal Jurisdiction: Cases could involve Nacogdoches Police and would be filed in Nacogdoches County courts.

The Major Texas Flagships: Where Many Jasper Students Aspire To

Jasper’s high-achieving students often attend the state’s largest universities, where Greek life and large organizations pose significant hazing risks.

Texas A&M University (College Station):

• The Dual Threat: Home to a massive Greek system and the Corps of Cadets. Both have deep-seated traditions that can devolve into abuse.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being doused with industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged being bound between beds in a degrading, simulated sexual position as part of hazing.
• For Jasper Parents: A&M’s sheer size can make oversight challenging. Hazing often occurs in off-campus “aggie apartments” or at remote “ranch” properties.

University of Texas at Austin:

• Transparency & Persistent Problems: UT maintains a public Hazing Violations log. Entries show repeated sanctions against fraternities like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced consumption and strenuous calisthenics.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (2024): An Australian exchange student allegedly suffered a dislocated leg, broken nose, and other injuries at an SAE party, leading to a lawsuit.
• For Jasper Parents: UT’s public log is a valuable research tool, proving patterns of known misconduct.

University of Houston:

• The Active Litigation Epicenter: As detailed with the Bermudez case, UH is ground zero for a high-stakes hazing lawsuit. The allegations show systematic, violent hazing occurring at the chapter house, off-campus residences, and city parks.
• For Jasper Parents: UH’s urban environment means hazing disperses across Houston, making evidence collection and jurisdiction more complex but not impossible.

Other Notable Schools:

• Sam Houston State University (Huntsville): A popular choice with an active Greek community.
• Texas State University (San Marcos): Known for a large Greek system and a history of hazing-related suspensions.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Mapping the Organizations Behind the Letters

When we take a hazing case, we don’t start from scratch. We deploy a proprietary data engine built from public records to identify every entity with potential liability. This is crucial for Jasper families because the “fraternity” is often a web of legal entities.

The IRS Backbone: Texas-Registered Greek Organizations
The IRS grants tax-exempt status (code B83) to fraternities, sororities, and related entities. These public records show who actually holds assets and insurance. Examples relevant to East Texas and the campuses Jasper students attend include:

• Alpha Tau Omega Housing Corporation of Eta Iota Chapter. EIN: 300517788. 316 E Lakewood St, Nacogdoches, TX 75965. (IRS B83 filing – likely linked to SFA).
• Epsilon Tau Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity. EIN: 756053083. 321 Old Tyler Rd, Nacogdoches, TX 75961. (IRS B83 filing).
• Chi Omega Fraternity – Epsilon Zeta. EIN: 756041410. 402 N Steen Dr, Nacogdoches, TX 75965. (IRS B83 filing).
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter. EIN: 746064445. 1855 Highway 69 N, Nederland, TX 77627. (IRS B83 filing – linked to Lamar University alumni).
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Zeta Beta Chapter. EIN: 237098953. PO Box 2142, Prairie View, TX 77446. (IRS B83 filing).
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Xi Chi. EIN: 364091267. 1101 Melrose Dr, Waco, TX 76710. (IRS B83 filing).

Cause IQ Metro Analysis: The Beaumont-Port Arthur & Houston Corridors
Our data shows a dense network of Greek organizations in the regions connected to Jasper:

• Beaumont-Port Arthur Metro Area: 22+ Greek-related organizations, including alumni chapters, housing corps, and honor societies serving Lamar University and the community.
• Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metro: 188+ Greek organizations. This is the ecosystem that fuels universities like UH.

Why This Data Matters for Your Case:
If your child is hazed at Lamar, SFA, or UH, we already have a map of the registered entities—the housing corporations that own properties, the alumni associations that provide funding, and the national affiliates that set policy. This allows us to trace liability and insurance coverage that other firms might miss.

National Fraternity Patterns: The Same Playbook in Texas

The organizations on Texas campuses are chapters of national brands with long, documented histories of hazing. This pattern evidence is powerful in court.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): The fraternity involved in the Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green State University ($10M settlement). Their “Big/Little” drinking tradition is a repeated, lethal script.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): One of the deadliest fraternities in the U.S., involved in multiple fatalities. Facing active lawsuits at Texas A&M (chemical burns) and UT Austin (assault).
• Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): Responsible for the Max Gruver hazing death at LSU, which led to Louisiana’s felony hazing “Max Gruver Act.”
• Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): The national organization we are currently suing in the Bermudez case. Previously involved in the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State University.
• Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ): Frequently sanctioned for hazing, including a suspension at SMU for paddling and forced drinking.

When a chapter at UH or Texas A&M engages in the same conduct that has killed students elsewhere, it demonstrates the national organization had foreseeable knowledge of the risk. This shatters their defense of being “surprised” by rogue members.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires an investigative approach that anticipates defense tactics. Here’s how we build a case for Jasper families.

Critical Evidence We Secure:

1. Digital Forensics: Deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text messages can often be recovered. We work with experts to obtain this data.
2. Chapter & National Records: Through discovery, we subpoena the fraternity’s internal files: prior incident reports, risk management meeting notes, emails from nationals, and pledge education materials.
3. University Files: We use public records requests and litigation discovery to obtain the school’s prior disciplinary records on the group, Clery Act reports, and internal communications about the incident.
4. Medical Documentation: Comprehensive records linking the injuries directly to the hazing events. For rhabdomyolysis, this includes ER reports, creatine kinase lab results, and nephrology consultations.
5. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, neighbors, and vendors can provide crucial accounts. We know how to approach them to overcome the “code of silence.”

Overcoming Common Defenses:

• “They Consented”: Texas law voids this defense. We demonstrate the coercive power imbalance.
• “Rogue Members, Not the National”: We use pattern evidence from other chapters to prove the national knew or should have known this was likely.
• “It Was Off-Campus”: Liability is based on duty and control, not just property lines. Nationals and universities that sponsor groups retain responsibility.
• “Our Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”: We argue that the negligence of the organization (failing to supervise, train, or intervene) is what’s covered, and we fight bad-faith denial of coverage.

Damages: What Families Can Recover
Civil lawsuits seek to make victims whole and hold defendants accountable.

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, diminished earning capacity if permanently disabled, and educational costs (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships).
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: For families who have lost a child, damages include funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional anguish.
• Punitive Damages: In egregious cases, to punish the defendants and deter future conduct.

A Practical Guide for Jasper Parents & Students

For Parents – Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Drastic weight change or constant exhaustion.
• Secrecy about group activities; being “on call” 24/7 for the group.
• Sudden personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal.
• Financial strain from unexplained “fines” or mandatory purchases.

For Students – If You’re Being Hazed:

• Your Safety Comes First: If you are in danger, call 911.
• Preserve Evidence: Screenshot everything. Take photos of injuries. Do not delete messages.
• Know Your Rights: Texas has “Good Samaritan” protections for those who call for help in an alcohol-related emergency. You cannot be punished for saving a life.
• Report Anonymously: Use the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE.
• You Can Leave: No social penalty is worth your life or health. Send a clear text/email resigning your membership and keep a record.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case:

• Deleting Digital Evidence: This is the #1 mistake. It looks like a cover-up and destroys your credibility.
• Confronting the Fraternity Directly: This gives them a head start to destroy evidence and lawyer up.
• Signing University “Resolution” Papers: Universities may offer a quick, confidential settlement that waives your right to sue for far less than your case is worth.
• Waiting Too Long: Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury, but evidence and witness memories fade fast. Our video on statutes of limitations explains this urgency.

Why Attorney911 for Hazing Cases in Texas

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need attorneys who understand the institutional playbook and have the resources to fight it. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) is built for this specific fight.

Our Active Texas Hazing Litigation:
We are lead counsel in the Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are in the trenches right now, facing the same national fraternities, university lawyers, and insurance companies that other Texas families are up against. This isn’t theoretical knowledge; it’s active, daily experience.

Insider Insurance Knowledge:
Our attorney, 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 minimize your claim. He knows their valuation formulas, their coverage arguments, and how to counter them. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience:
Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. We are not intimidated by university regents or national fraternity headquarters. We have federal court experience and a network of medical experts, economists, and digital forensics specialists. See Ralph Manginello’s full credentials.

A Data-Driven Investigation:
We don’t just take your word for it. We deploy the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—the same system mapping 1,423 Greek entities across Texas—to identify every possible defendant and source of insurance from day one. We investigate like your child’s future depends on it, because it does.

We Serve Families Throughout Texas, Including Jasper.
Based in Houston with offices in Austin and Beaumont, we are positioned to serve Jasper and all of East Texas. Whether your child was hazed at Lamar University, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M, UH, or any other Texas campus, we can help.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you suspect your child has been hazed, you are not alone, and you do not have to navigate this complex, emotional crisis by yourself.

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

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights under Texas law.
• Outline the potential pathways: internal university process, criminal complaint, civil lawsuit, or a combination.
• Discuss how we investigate and build hazing cases.
• Explain our contingency fee structure: You pay nothing unless we win your case. Watch our video explaining how contingency fees work.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) Today:

• 24/7 Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Office: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com
• Spanish Services: Se habla español. Contact Mr. Lupe Peña directly.

For parents in Jasper, Evadale, Buna, and across Jasper County, the time to act is now. Evidence disappears, witnesses become reluctant, and institutions close ranks. Let us help you secure the evidence, demand accountability, and fight for the justice and compensation your family deserves.

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. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911. Principal office in Houston, Texas.