The Complete Guide to Hazing in Texas: What Milano Families Need to Know About University Dangers

The Nightmare That Hits Close to Home

Imagine your child, a college student at one of Texas’s premier universities, returns home to Milano for the weekend. They’re quieter than usual, making excuses for bruises they can’t explain. Their phone buzzes constantly with group chat notifications that make them anxious. When you ask about their new fraternity or sorority, they change the subject, saying “it’s just tradition” or “everyone goes through it.” You notice their grades slipping, their personality changing—the bright, confident student you sent off to college is now withdrawn, exhausted, and afraid.

This isn’t just parental worry. Right now, in Texas, families are living this reality. In Houston, at the University of Houston, a young man named Leonel Bermudez nearly lost his life to fraternity hazing. He suffered rhabdomyolysis—severe muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure after being forced through brutal workouts, sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and made to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting. His urine turned brown. He was hospitalized for four days. The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at UH is now shut down, but the lawsuit we’re handling seeks $10 million in damages and represents everything that can go wrong when hazing culture goes unchecked.

For parents in Milano and across Milam County, this case matters profoundly. Your children attend or may attend these same Texas universities. The same national fraternities and sororities operate at campuses throughout our state. The same risks exist. This comprehensive guide explains what hazing really looks like in 2025, how Texas law protects victims, what’s happening at our major universities, and what legal options exist when things go terribly wrong.

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

The Modern Definition That Milano Parents Need to Understand

Hazing is no longer just about “harmless pranks” or “team building.” Under Texas law and in reality, hazing includes 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 critical factor Milano families must understand: “I agreed to it” does not automatically make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure and power imbalance.

Our work on the Leonel Bermudez case at University of Houston demonstrates this perfectly. He “agreed” to join Pi Kappa Phi. He “agreed” to attend pledge events. But what he faced—the forced physical abuse, the humiliating “pledge fanny pack” requirements, the threats of expulsion for non-compliance—wasn’t voluntary participation. It was coercion under the pressure of wanting to belong.

The Five Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the deadliest form. It includes forced or coerced drinking, chugging challenges, “lineups” where pledges must drink rapidly, and games that require consumption as punishment. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, Bermudez was forced to consume excessive amounts of food and liquids until vomiting, then immediately forced to sprint. This particular combination of forced consumption and extreme exercise directly caused his rhabdomyolysis.

2. Physical Hazing
Beyond traditional paddling, today’s physical hazing includes extreme calisthenics disguised as “workouts,” sleep deprivation rituals, food/water restriction, and exposure to dangerous environments. The UH case involved cold-weather exposure in underwear, lying in vomit-soaked grass, and “save-your-brother” drills that pushed physical limits beyond safety.

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and rituals with racial or sexist overtones. While not present in every case, these elements appear in many hazing incidents we investigate.

4. Psychological Hazing
The 24/7 digital control aspect is new. Pledges must respond instantly to group messages at all hours. They’re tracked via location-sharing apps. They face constant verbal abuse, threats, isolation, and public shaming in group chats. The psychological damage often outlasts physical injuries.

5. Digital/Online Hazing
Group chat dares, “challenges” shared on Instagram, compromising videos on Snapchat, public humiliation via TikTok—hazing has moved online. The evidence, however, remains digital and can be preserved if families act quickly.

Where Hazing Actually Happens in Texas

Milano families should understand that hazing isn’t limited to “frat parties”:

• Fraternities and Sororities (all councils: IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC at Texas A&M and other military-style programs
• Spirit Squads and Tradition Groups (like Texas Cowboys at UT)
• Athletic Teams from football to cheerleading
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Service, Cultural, and Academic Organizations

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

Texas Law & Federal Framework: What Milano Families Can Rely On

Texas Hazing Law: Education Code Chapter 37

For families in Milano and throughout Texas, our state has specific anti-hazing provisions that provide both criminal penalties and civil recourse. Texas defines hazing broadly as intentional, knowing, or reckless acts, on or off campus, directed against a student for purposes of initiation or affiliation that:

• Endanger physical health or safety (beating, forced exercise, forced consumption)
• OR substantially affect mental health or safety (extreme humiliation, intimidation)

Key provisions Milano parents should know:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor by default, but becomes a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also face charges for failing to report hazing or retaliating against reporters.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that victim “consent” doesn’t matter. Courts recognize that power imbalance and peer pressure negate true voluntary consent.
• Organizational Liability: Fraternities, sororities, and other organizations can be fined up to $10,000 per violation and lose university recognition.
• Good-Faith Reporting Protections: Those who report hazing or call for medical help in good faith receive immunity from certain liability.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Pathways

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by the state (district attorney)
• Aim: punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical charges: hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, manslaughter in fatal cases
• Example: In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, criminal investigations are possible alongside our civil lawsuit

Civil Cases:

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Aim: compensation and accountability
• Focus: negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, emotional distress
• Critical fact: No criminal conviction is needed to pursue a civil case

Federal Overlay: Additional Protections

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report incidents transparently and strengthen prevention (phased in by 2026)
• Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based hostility, additional federal protections apply
• Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain crimes; hazing often overlaps with reported assaults or alcohol crimes

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit

In cases like the UH Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit we’re handling, multiple parties face liability:

• Individual Students: Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover up
• Local Chapter: The fraternity/sorority itself as a legal entity
• National Headquarters: Organizations that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters
• Universities: Schools that knew or should have known about risks and failed to act
• Third Parties: Property owners, alcohol providers, security companies

In the Bermudez case, we’ve sued 13 individual fraternity leaders/members, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents.

National Hazing Cases: Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
A 20-year-old pledge forced to consume an entire bottle of alcohol during “Big/Little” night died from alcohol poisoning. Multiple members convicted, family received $10 million settlement ($7M from national Pi Kappa Alpha, ~$3M from BGSU). This case shows how formulaic drinking traditions kill.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
Pledge died from alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%) after “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking. Resulted in Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony. This fraternity operates at Texas A&M, UT Austin, and other Texas schools.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State University, Pi Kappa Phi (2017)
Pledge died from acute alcohol poisoning during “Big Brother Night.” This is the same national fraternity involved in our UH case, showing patterns across chapters.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
Pledge died from traumatic brain injury after blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. National fraternity convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter, banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. Shows off-campus hazing carries equal liability.

Athletic Program Hazing

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program. Multiple lawsuits, head coach fired, confidential settlements. Demonstrates hazing extends beyond Greek life to big-money athletic programs.

What These Cases Mean for Milano Families

These national precedents matter because:

• The same fraternities operate at Texas universities
• The same drinking “traditions” get repeated
• The same defense tactics get used (“It was voluntary,” “We didn’t know”)
• The same legal strategies we’ve used in national cases apply here in Texas

Texas University Focus: Where Milano Students Attend

Understanding Milano’s University Connections

Families in Milano, Milam County typically send students to several key Texas institutions. Some commute to nearby schools, while others attend major universities across the state. Here’s what you need to know about each:

Texas A&M University – The Closest Major University

For Milano Families: Located approximately 70 miles from Milano, Texas A&M in College Station represents both a commutable option and a traditional residential choice for many Milam County students. The university’s Corps of Cadets and strong Greek life present specific hazing risks families should understand.

Documented Incidents Milano Parents Should Know:

1. Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021):
   Two pledges alleged being covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The fraternity was suspended for two years, and pledges sued for $1 million.

2. Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023):
   A cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million, with Texas A&M stating it handled the matter under its rules.

A&M’s Greek Landscape Includes:

• Panhellenic Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, and 10 others
• IFC Fraternities: Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Sigma Phi, Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Theta Pi, and 15 others including Pi Kappa Phi (involved in UH case)
• Corps of Cadets: Military-style program with its own traditions and disciplinary systems

What Milano Parents Should Do if Hazing Occurs at A&M:

• Report immediately to A&M’s Student Conduct office and Corps headquarters if applicable
• Document everything before A&M begins its internal process
• Understand that College Station police and Brazos County courts have jurisdiction
• Contact us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911 – we understand A&M’s unique culture

University of Texas at Austin – A Premier Destination

For Milano Families: Many of Texas’s best students from Milano attend UT Austin, approximately 85 miles away. With over 60 fraternity/sorority chapters, UT has both robust Greek life and transparency about violations.

UT’s Public Hazing Violations Page (hazing.utexas.edu) Shows:

1. Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Chapter placed on probation and required to implement hazing-prevention education.

2. Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.

3. Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Australian exchange student alleged assault resulting in dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, and broken nose. Student sued for over $1 million.

UT’s Greek System Includes:

• Panhellenic Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, and 11 others
• IFC Fraternities: Alpha Sigma Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Kappa Sigma, and 13 others
• NPHC Organizations: All Divine Nine historically Black fraternities and sororities

Legal Considerations for UT Cases:

• UT Police Department and Austin Police have jurisdiction
• Travis County courts handle civil litigation
• UT’s public violation records provide powerful pattern evidence
• We have experience navigating UT’s administrative processes

University of Houston – Where Our Flagship Case Unfolded

For Milano Families: While farther from Milano (approximately 175 miles), UH attracts many Houston-area students and represents where our most current hazing litigation is actively progressing.

The Leonel Bermudez / Pi Kappa Phi Case Details:

• Hazing Methods: “Pledge fanny pack” humiliation, enforced dress codes, overnight driving duties, extreme physical abuse including hose spraying “similar to waterboarding,” forced consumption until vomiting
• Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, brown urine, 4-day hospitalization, ongoing kidney damage risk
• Defendants: UH, UH Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national, Beta Nu housing corporation, 13 individual members
• Status: Active $10 million lawsuit filed late 2025, chapter suspended and closed

UH’s Greek Landscape Includes:

• Panhellenic Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, and 3 others
• IFC Fraternities: Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Sigma Phi, Beta Theta Pi, and 13 others including Pi Kappa Phi
• NPHC: All Divine Nine organizations

What the UH Case Means for Milano Families:

• Demonstrates active, serious hazing litigation happening right now in Texas
• Shows the catastrophic injuries possible
• Illustrates how we hold multiple parties accountable
• Proves chapters get shut down when hazing is exposed

Baylor University – Private School Considerations

For Milano Families: Baylor in Waco (approximately 55 miles from Milano) represents a private, religious-affiliated option with its own Greek life dynamics.

Documented Issues:

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following hazing investigation
• Ongoing scrutiny following Baylor’s broader institutional challenges

Baylor’s Greek System:

• Panhellenic Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, and 6 others
• IFC Fraternities: Beta Theta Pi, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, and 2 others
• NPHC Organizations: Multiple historically Black groups

Private University Considerations:

• Different disciplinary processes than public universities
• Religious affiliation affects some policies
• Still subject to Texas hazing laws and federal requirements

Southern Methodist University – Private School Dynamics

For Milano Families: SMU in Dallas (approximately 135 miles from Milano) represents an affluent private university with strong Greek presence.

Documented Incident:

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink, deprived of sleep; chapter suspended until 2021

SMU’s Greek System:

• Panhellenic Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, and 5 others
• IFC Fraternities: Beta Theta Pi, Kappa Alpha Order, Phi Delta Theta, and 3 others

The Greek Organization Landscape: National Patterns in Local Chapters

Why National Histories Matter to Milano Families

When your child joins a fraternity or sorority at a Texas university, they’re joining an organization with a national history. These histories matter because:

• National headquarters have anti-hazing policies because they’ve seen deaths and injuries
• The same dangerous “traditions” get repeated across chapters
• National knowledge of prior incidents creates legal responsibility

Organizations with Documented Histories at Texas Schools

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike)

• National History: Stone Foltz death at BGSU ($10M settlement)
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Baylor
• Pattern: “Big/Little” drinking nights causing alcohol poisoning deaths

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / SAE)

• National History: Multiple hazing deaths nationwide; traumatic brain injury lawsuit at University of Alabama
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU
• Texas Incidents: Chemical burns case at Texas A&M; assault case at UT Austin

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)

• National History: Max