Navigating the Shadows: A Nacogdoches County Family Guide to Hazing, Texas Law, and University Accountability

The phone rings late, echoing in the quiet Nacogdoches County home. It’s your child, a student at a Texas university, their voice strained, barely audible. They whisper about “initiation night,” “the pledge process,” and how “everyone just has to get through it.” You hear laughter, chanting, and a desperate plea in their voice. They mention being pressured to drink far beyond safe limits, or enduring grueling physical tasks, or even degrading acts designed to humiliate. Someone, they say, got hurt, but no one wants to call 911 because they fear “getting the chapter shut down” or “getting in trouble.” Your child feels trapped, caught between loyalty to a group and their own safety.

This isn’t a distant news story; it’s a scenario that can unfold at any Texas university—including schools where countless families from Nacogdoches County send their children. Whether your student is attending Stephen F. Austin State University right here in Nacogdoches, heading to Texas A&M in College Station, the University of Texas in Austin, Baylor in Waco, SMU in Dallas, or the University of Houston, the threat of hazing remains a harsh reality.

This comprehensive guide to hazing and the law in Texas is written specifically for families in Nacogdoches County and across the state who need to understand:

• What hazing truly looks like in 2025, far beyond outdated clichés.
• How Texas and federal law address hazing, providing crucial protections.
• What we can learn from major national hazing cases and how their lessons apply to students and families in Texas.
• What has been happening at major institutions like the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin, Southern Methodist University, and Baylor University, among others.
• The legal options and pathways to accountability available to victims and families in Nacogdoches County and throughout Texas.

It is critical to remember that this article provides general information and is not a substitute for specific legal advice. Every situation is unique, and The Manginello Law Firm can evaluate individual cases based on their specific facts. We proudly serve families throughout Texas, including Nacogdoches County and its surrounding communities.

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.” Prioritize their health and safety above all else.
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, and direct messages (DMs) immediately.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles and at different stages of healing.
  • Save any physical items like damaged clothing, receipts for forced purchases, or objects used in the hazing.
• Write down everything while memory is fresh: who was involved, what happened, when it occurred, and where it took place.
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or organization directly.
  • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company without legal counsel.
  • Post details on public social media, as this can compromise your case.
  • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” any evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours:

• Evidence disappears fast due to deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, and coached witnesses.
• Universities and organizations move quickly to control the narrative following an incident.
• We can help preserve critical evidence and protect your child’s rights from the outset.
• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

For Nacogdoches County families, it’s vital to understand that hazing in 2025 has evolved far beyond the classic images of old movies. It’s often subtle, insidious, and devastatingly effective at exploiting group dynamics and young people’s desire to belong. Hazing is 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. It’s crucial to emphasize that a student saying “I agreed to it” does not automatically make it safe or legal, particularly when there is peer pressure, a power imbalance, and implicit or explicit threats of exclusion.

Main Categories of Modern Hazing

Hazing can manifest in several interconnected ways, often escalating over time.

• Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains one of the most dangerous and common forms. It includes:

  • Forced or coerced drinking games, chugging challenges, and “lineups” that require rapid, excessive consumption of alcohol.
  • Pressuring new members to consume unknown or illicit substances.
  • Big/little reveal nights where pledges are given handles of hard liquor and expected to finish them.

• Physical Hazing: While sometimes less frequent than alcohol hazing, it is often more overtly violent and includes:

  • Paddling, beatings, punches, or slaps.
  • Extreme calisthenics, “workouts,” or “smokings” far beyond normal athletic conditioning, often leading to rhabdomyolysis or other severe injuries.
  • Sleep deprivation, deliberate food or water deprivation, or forced exposure to extreme cold or heat, creating dangerous environments.

• Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: This deeply damaging form of hazing targets individuals’ dignity and can lead to severe psychological trauma, including:

  • Forced nudity or partial nudity in front of others.
  • Simulated sexual acts, sexually suggestive poses (like the “roasted pig”), or wearing degrading costumes.
  • Acts with racial, homophobic, or sexist overtones, including the use of slurs or forced role-play of stereotypes.

• Psychological Hazing: Often occurring alongside other forms, psychological hazing contributes to a coercive environment and includes:

  • Verbal abuse, yelling, insults, direct threats, or social isolation designed to break down a new member’s self-esteem.
  • Manipulation, gaslighting, or forced “confessions” of personal information.
  • Public shaming, whether in person during “roasts” or online via social media.

• Digital/Online Hazing: A relatively newer but rapidly growing form, leveraging technology to extend hazing around the clock:

  • Constant monitoring and demands in group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord), often forcing instantaneous responses at all hours.
  • Dares, “challenges,” and public humiliation via platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
  • Pressure to create or share compromising images or videos to prove loyalty or commitment.
  • Geo-location tracking through apps like Find My Friends, where pledges are forced to share their live locations.

Where Hazing Actually Happens

It’s crucial for Nacogdoches County parents to know that hazing is not confined to stereotypical “frat boys.” While fraternities and sororities (including IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, and multicultural Greek organizations) are often associated with hazing incidents, these harmful practices can be found across a surprisingly wide range of student groups, including:

• Corps of Cadets, ROTC, or military-style organizations at institutions like Texas A&M.
• Spirit squads and tradition groups, such as the Texas Cowboys or other campus spirit organizations.
• Athletic teams, from football and basketball to baseball, cheer, and even club sports.
• Marching bands and other performance groups.
• Some service, cultural, and academic organizations that may develop informal initiation rituals.

Hazing persists because of social status, tradition, and a deeply ingrained culture of secrecy, keeping these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal and explicitly prohibited by universities. The desire to belong and the fear of social exclusion often compel students to endure these rituals.

Law & Liability Framework (Texas + Federal)

Understanding the legal landscape surrounding hazing in Texas is essential for Nacogdoches County families seeking justice and accountability. It’s a complex area, but a clear grasp of the basics can empower victims and their advocates.

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code)

Texas has specific, robust anti-hazing provisions outlined in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. In plain terms, hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, committed by one person alone or with others, directed against a student, that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or
• Occurs for the purpose of pledging, initiation into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students.

This definition is broad and powerful:

• On or off campus: The location of the hazing does not matter under Texas law. Whether it occurs in a dorm, an off-campus house, an Airbnb, or a remote retreat, it can still be considered hazing.
• Mental or physical harm: Hazing isn’t just about physical injury. Emotional distress, extreme humiliation, severe intimidation, and psychological manipulation can also constitute hazing.
• Intent: The act does not need to be maliciously intended. If the individuals acted “recklessly” – meaning they knew or should have known there was a substantial risk of harm – it falls under the statute.
• “Consent” is not a defense: Crucially, Texas law explicitly states that even if the person being hazed “agreed” or “consented” to the activity, it does not absolve the perpetrators of liability. Courts recognize that true consent is often absent in coercive group settings.

Criminal Penalties

Hazing carries significant criminal penalties in Texas:

• Class B Misdemeanor: This is the default for hazing that does not cause serious bodily injury. Penalties can include up to 180 days in county jail and/or a fine up to $2,000.
• Class A Misdemeanor: If the hazing causes bodily injury requiring medical treatment.
• State Jail Felony: If the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. This can result in a sentence of 180 days to two years in a state jail facility and a fine up to $10,000.
• Failing to Report: Members or officers who knew about hazing and failed to report it can also face misdemeanor charges.
• Retaliation: Retaliating against someone who reports hazing is also a misdemeanor.

Organizational Liability

The law also extends to the organizations themselves. Student organizations (fraternities, sororities, clubs, teams) can be held criminally liable for hazing if:

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

Penalties for organizations can include fines up to $10,000 per violation and the university can revoke their recognition, effectively banning them from campus. This is a critical point: civil suits can target both the individuals involved and the organization as an entity.

Reporter Protections

Texas law offers protections for those who report hazing. A person who, in good faith, reports a hazing incident to university authorities or law enforcement is generally immune from civil or criminal liability that might result from the report. Moreover, in medical emergencies, Texas law and many university policies provide amnesty for students who call 911 for help, even if they were drinking underage or involved in the hazing themselves. While students may still fear social repercussions, the law works to encourage reporting.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases

It’s important to differentiate between criminal and civil legal actions related to hazing:

• Criminal Cases: These are brought by the state (a prosecutor, such as a District Attorney or County Attorney). The aim is to punish the individual or organization with penalties like jail time, fines, or probation. Hazing-related criminal charges often include direct hazing offenses, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, or, sadly, even manslaughter or negligent homicide in fatal cases.
• Civil Cases: These are initiated by the victims or their surviving families. The primary goal is to obtain monetary compensation for damages suffered and to hold responsible parties accountable. Civil claims often focus on negligence, gross negligence, wrongful death, negligent hiring or supervision, and premises liability (if the incident occurred on property owned by a responsible party). Emotional distress is also a significant component.

Crucially, these two types of cases can proceed side-by-side. A criminal conviction is not required to pursue a successful civil case, and the burden of proof is typically lower in civil court than in criminal court.

Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, Clery

Beyond state law, federal regulations play an increasingly significant role in university accountability:

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This landmark federal legislation requires colleges and universities receiving federal funding to be more transparent about hazing incidents. By approximately 2026, these institutions will need to:

  • Publicly report hazing incidents and disciplinary actions in an aggregated, accessible format.
  • Strengthen their hazing education and prevention programs.
  • Maintain public data on hazing violations, similar to existing Clery Act reporting.
    This act aims to increase public awareness and accountability, fostering a culture of safety.

• Title IX and Clery Act: When hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based discrimination or hostility, Title IX obligations—a federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education—can be triggered. Universities are then required to respond promptly and effectively. The Clery Act requires colleges to disclose campus crime statistics and security policies. Hazing incidents often involve crimes like assault, alcohol violations, or drug offenses, which fall under Clery reporting requirements.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit

Holding responsible parties accountable for hazing incidents can involve multiple individuals and entities:

• Individual Students: Those who actively planned, orchestrated, supplied alcohol, carried out the hazing acts, or participated in cover-ups can be held personally liable.
• Local Chapter / Organization: The specific fraternity, sorority, club, or team itself (if it’s a legal entity) can be sued. Officers or “pledge educators” who were in official capacities may also face direct liability.
• National Fraternity/Sorority: The national headquarters, which sets policies, collects dues, and supervises local chapters, can be a key defendant. Their liability often hinges on what they knew or should have known from prior hazing incidents at other chapters and their failure to adequately enforce anti-hazing policies.
• University or Governing Board: The institution itself (and its regents or trustees) may be sued under various theories of negligence, gross negligence, or federal civil rights violations (such as Title IX). Key factors include whether the university received prior warnings about the organization, its enforcement (or lack thereof) of anti-hazing policies, and its response to known patterns of misconduct. Public universities like UH, Texas A&M, and UT may assert sovereign immunity, but there are important exceptions.
• Third Parties: Other entities may also bear responsibility:
  • Landlords or property owners of off-campus houses or event venues where hazing occurred.
  • Bars or alcohol providers who unlawfully served underage individuals involved in hazing (under “dram shop” laws).
  • Security companies or event organizers.

It is important to remember that every case is fact-specific, and not every party will be held liable in every situation. An experienced hazing attorney can help identify all potentially liable parties and build a comprehensive case.

National Hazing Case Patterns (Anchor Stories)

The tragic deaths and severe injuries from hazing are not isolated incidents; they reveal disturbing patterns of negligence, institutional failures, and a persistent culture of secrecy. Examining major national cases provides crucial lessons for Nacogdoches County families about foreseeability and the high stakes involved in these incidents.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Forced alcohol consumption remains the single most common and deadliest form of hazing.

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State University, Beta Theta Pi (2017): Timothy Piazza, a 19-year-old pledge, died after a “bid acceptance” event involving extreme drinking. He fell repeatedly and sustained traumatic brain injuries, but fraternity members delayed calling for help for nearly 12 hours. The incident was captured on the chapter’s own security cameras, providing damning evidence. This case resulted in dozens of criminal charges against fraternity members, substantial civil litigation, and prompted the enactment of the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania, one of the nation’s toughest. This tragic case starkly illustrates how extreme intoxication, a willful delay in seeking medical aid, and a pervasive culture of silence can lead to devastating legal consequences.

• Andrew Coffey – Florida State University, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Andrew Coffey, also 20, died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother Night” event. Pledges were given handles of hard liquor and forced to consume them rapidly. His death led to criminal hazing charges against multiple fraternity members. Florida State University responded by temporarily suspending all Greek life and overhauling its risk management policies. This case highlights how seemingly traditional drinking nights are often a repeating recipe for disaster.

• Maxwell “Max” Gruver – Louisiana State University, Phi Delta Theta (2017): Max Gruver, 18, died after a “Bible study” drinking game where pledges were forced to drink whenever they answered questions incorrectly. His blood alcohol content was 0.495%. Max’s death was a catalyst for Louisiana to strengthen its hazing laws, enacting the Max Gruver Act, which made felony hazing possible for the first time in the state. This case underscores how legislative change often arises from public outrage and unequivocal proof of systemic hazing.

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Stone Foltz, also 20, died from alcohol poisoning after a “Big/Little” pledge night where he was allegedly forced to drink an entire bottle of liquor. This incident led to multiple criminal convictions for fraternity members. Crucially, Bowling Green State University agreed to a nearly $3 million settlement with the Foltz family, with additional significant settlements from the national fraternity and other individuals. This case demonstrates that universities, particularly public institutions, can face significant financial and reputational consequences alongside fraternities when hazing occurs.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Hazing isn’t just about alcohol; ritualized physical abuse also ends in tragedy.

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Michael Deng, an 18-year-old pledge, died during a fraternity retreat in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. He was subjected to a brutal blindfolded ritual called “glass ceiling,” where he was repeatedly tackled while wearing a heavy backpack. He suffered fatal head injuries, and once again, help was severely delayed. In a landmark case, multiple fraternity members were convicted, and the national Pi Delta Psi fraternity itself was found guilty of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter, leading to its effective ban from Pennsylvania for 10 years. This incident tragically illustrates that off-campus “retreats” can be as dangerous, if not more so, than on-campus parties, and that national organizations face serious sanctions for their conduct.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse Pattern

Hazing is not exclusive to Greek life; it infiltrates other seemingly legitimate student activities, including major athletic programs.

• Northwestern University Football (2023–2025): This scandal ignited when former football players alleged widespread sexualized and racist hazing within the program over multiple years. These allegations included forced “dry-humping” by masked teammates and other degrading acts. The scandal resulted in multiple lawsuits against Northwestern University and its coaching staff. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired and later reached a confidential wrongful-termination settlement with the university. This case is a critical reminder that hazing is not limited to Greek life and that even prominent, high-profile athletic programs can harbor systemic abuse, raising serious questions about institutional oversight.

What These Cases Mean for Nacogdoches County Families in Texas

The common threads running through these tragedies are chilling: forced consumption of alcohol, physical violence, humiliation, deliberate delays in seeking medical care, and concerted efforts to cover up the incidents. Time and again, significant reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements follow only after tragedy strikes and courageous families pursue litigation. For Nacogdoches County families who discover hazing affecting their children at colleges and universities across Texas—whether Stephen F. Austin State University or larger institutions—these national lessons form the bedrock of understanding the legal landscape. You are not alone, and the legal framework for accountability has been shaped by these painful precedents.

Texas Focus: UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, Baylor

For Nacogdoches County residents, awareness of hazing incidents and institutional responses at major Texas universities is paramount. While your student might attend Stephen F. Austin State University right here in Nacogdoches, many families also send their children to the larger public and private universities across the state. The Manginello Law Firm serves families throughout Texas, including those from Nacogdoches County whose children attend these five prominent institutions. Knowing the specific contexts of these campuses can help illustrate patterns that might affect your own student.

5.1 University of Houston (UH)

5.1.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot

The University of Houston is a large, vibrant urban campus known for its diversity and growing national prominence. It serves a mix of commuter and residential students. UH has an active Greek life, encompassing Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic Council (PHA), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) fraternities and sororities. Nacogdoches County families whose students attend UH often value its extensive academic programs and the opportunities of a major metropolitan area.

5.1.2 Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels

UH maintains a clear anti-hazing policy, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach. Hazing is prohibited whether it occurs on-campus or off-campus and any violation can result in institutional sanctions and criminal prosecution. The policy explicitly forbids forced consumption of alcohol, food, or drugs, sleep deprivation, physical mistreatment, psychological abuse, and activities that cause mental distress as part of initiation or affiliation. UH provides various reporting channels, including the Dean of Students Office, the Office of Student Conduct, and the University of Houston Police Department (UHPD). The university also often publishes a statement on hazing prevention and some disciplinary information on its website.

5.1.3 Example Incident & Response

One notable incident involved the Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) fraternity chapter at UH in 2016. Pledges allegedly faced severe hazing, including being deprived of sufficient food, water, and sleep during a multi-day event. Tragically, one student suffered a lacerated spleen after reportedly being slammed onto a table or a similar hard surface. The chapter faced misdemeanor hazing charges and a lengthy university suspension. Other instances have involved various fraternities being cited for behavior “likely to produce mental or physical discomfort,” alongside alcohol misuse and policy violations, leading to suspensions or probations. These incidents highlight UH’s willingness to suspend chapters, though the public availability of detailed disciplinary lists can sometimes be less comprehensive compared to institutions like UT.

5.1.4 How a UH Hazing Case Might Proceed

For Nacogdoches County families, a hazing case originating at UH would typically involve the University of Houston Police Department (UHPD) or the Houston Police Department (HPD), depending on whether the incident occurred on campus or off. Civil lawsuits would likely be filed in courts with jurisdiction over Houston and Harris County, Texas. Potential defendants could include the individual students involved, the local chapter, the national fraternity or sorority, and potentially the University of Houston itself, along with property owners if the hazing occurred in an off-campus setting.

5.1.5 What UH Students & Parents Should Do

• Familiarize yourselves with UH’s official hazing procedures for reporting through the Dean of Students, UHPD, or online forms.
• Be diligent in documenting any prior complaints or known past incidents involving a specific organization your student is considering joining.
• Understand that speaking with a lawyer experienced in Houston-based hazing cases can be critical. Our firm, with its Houston roots, knows how to navigate local jurisdictions and uncover prior disciplinary actions and internal university files that might not be readily available to the public.

5.2 Texas A&M University

5.2.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot

Texas A&M University in College Station is renowned for its deep-seated traditions, strong alumni network, and the prominent status of its Corps of Cadets. It has a significant Greek life presence across IFC, Panhellenic, MGC, and NPHC organizations, but the Corps of Cadets often operates as its own distinct ecosystem with its own unique traditions and risks. Generations of Nacogdoches County families have sent students to Texas A&M, often drawn by these traditions.

5.2.2 Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels

Texas A&M University has stringent anti-hazing policies, explicitly forbidding any activity that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for initiation or affiliation. This applies to all student organizations, including Greek life, the Corps of Cadets, athletic teams, and clubs. A&M provides avenues for reporting through the Office of Student Conduct, the Corps of Cadets leadership, and the Texas A&M University Police Department (UPD). The university is also bound to post its hazing policy and any public disciplinary actions.

5.2.3 Example Incidents & Response

Hazing incidents at Texas A&M have drawn significant attention, particularly involving both Greek life and the Corps of Cadets:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Lawsuit (around 2021): Two pledges alleged they were subjected to a brutal hazing ritual where they were forced to endure strenuous physical activity and then had substances, including industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit, poured on them. This resulted in severe chemical burns requiring emergency skin graft surgeries. The national fraternity chapter was suspended by the university for two years, and the pledges subsequently filed a $1 million lawsuit against the fraternity, highlighting the extreme physical dangers of hazing.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A former cadet filed a lawsuit alleging degrading hazing rituals within the Corps. These included 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, asserting gross negligence and a failure of oversight. Texas A&M officially stated that they handled the matter under their existing rules and disciplinary processes.

These incidents demonstrate that hazing at Texas A&M is not limited to fraternities and sororities and that the Corps of Cadets, with its emphasis on tradition, can also be a site of dangerous practices.

5.2.4 How a Texas A&M Hazing Case Might Proceed

For Nacogdoches County families with Aggies, a hazing case at Texas A&M could fall under the jurisdiction of the Texas A&M UPD or local Brazos County law enforcement. Civil claims would likely proceed in Brazos County district courts. Due to the high number of Nacogdoches County alumni in Bryan-College Station, local jurisdiction and understanding of the community are particularly relevant. Such cases might target individual students, the local chapter, the national organization, and potentially Texas A&M University itself, especially if there’s evidence of a pattern of unaddressed hazing.

5.2.5 What Texas A&M Students & Parents Should Do

• Be especially vigilant regarding any “traditions” or “rituals” in both Greek life and the Corps of Cadets that seem to push boundaries or involve secrecy.
• Document everything, especially digital communications related to events or practices that sound suspicious.
• Understand that a pattern of prior incidents at A&M, particularly within the Corps, can be critical in building a civil case, illustrating foreseeability and institutional knowledge.

5.3 University of Texas at Austin (UT)

5.3.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the largest and most prestigious public universities in Texas, drawing students from every corner of the state, including Nacogdoches County. It boasts a vibrant and extensive Greek life, alongside numerous other student organizations, spirit groups, and athletic teams. UT’s campus culture is often characterized by its proud academic and athletic traditions.

5.3.2 Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels

UT Austin has a strict anti-hazing policy that applies to all registered and unregistered student organizations and extends to on and off-campus activities. The university defines hazing broadly, prohibiting acts that endanger mental or physical health for the purpose of initiation or affiliation. UT has been proactive in providing transparent public information regarding hazing violations. The Dean of Students Office, Student Conduct and Academic Integrity, and the UT Austin Police Department (UTPD) are the primary reporting channels. Notably, UT maintains a well-publicized “Hazing Violations” page on its website, detailing organizations, dates, conduct, and sanctions.

5.3.3 Example Incidents & Response

UT Austin’s public hazing database offers critical insights into ongoing hazing issues, demonstrating repeated patterns:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) (2023): This fraternity faced sanctions after new members were directed to consume excessive amounts of milk and perform strenuous calisthenics, actions found to constitute hazing. The chapter was placed on probation and mandated to implement new hazing-prevention education.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Organization): Over the years, this group has faced multiple sanctions for physical hazing, including forced workouts, alcohol-related misconduct, and other punishment-based practices designed to degrade new members.
• Other organizations, including other fraternities and cultural groups, have faced similar disciplinary actions for various forms of hazing involving alcohol, physical abuse, sleep deprivation, and public humiliation.

UT’s commitment to publishing these violations, while a step toward transparency, also highlights the persistent challenge of hazing even at institutions with strong policies.

5.3.4 How a UT Hazing Case Might Proceed

For Nacogdoches County families considering legal action after an incident at UT, cases could involve the University of Texas Police Department (UTPD) or the Austin Police Department (APD). Civil lawsuits would likely be filed in Travis County district courts. Previous violations listed on UT’s public hazing database can be incredibly powerful in a civil suit, serving as evidence of a pattern of misconduct and the university’s prior knowledge of risks associated with particular organizations.

5.3.5 What UT Students & Parents Should Do

• Regularly check UT Austin’s official Hazing Violations page (hazing.utexas.edu) to identify any history of misconduct for organizations your student might join. This prior record can be crucial evidence.
• Be aware that even with public transparency, hazing still occurs. Document any concerning activities immediately.
• Understand that UT cases benefit significantly from leveraging the university’s own records to establish patterns and institutional awareness.

5.4 Southern Methodist University (SMU)

5.4.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot

Southern Methodist University, located in Dallas, is a private university known for its selective admissions, affluent student body, and deeply entrenched Greek life system. Many Nacogdoches County students attend SMU, drawn to its strong academic programs and vibrant social scene. The university’s culture often emphasizes tradition, which can sometimes provide cover for hazing practices.

5.4.2 Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels

SMU strictly prohibits hazing, articulating a comprehensive policy that covers all student organizations, whether officially recognized or not, and applies to both on and off-campus activities. The policy condemns any act that causes or is intended to cause mental or physical discomfort, intimidation, humiliation, or endangerment. SMU encourages reporting through the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, the SMU Police Department, and anonymous reporting systems like its “Real Response” tool, which allows students to discreetly report concerns.

5.4.3 Example Incident & Response

SMU has also grappled with serious hazing allegations:

• Kappa Alpha Order (KA) Incident (2017): The SMU chapter of Kappa Alpha Order was suspended after reports emerged of new members being paddled, forced to consume excessive alcohol, and experiencing severe sleep deprivation. The chapter faced a lengthy suspension, with significant restrictions on its ability to recruit new members for several years (until around 2021).
• There have been other instances involving various fraternities and sororities leading to disciplinary measures, including probation and suspension, often related to alcohol misuse and conduct that violates the dignity of new members.

These incidents highlight the persistent challenges SMU faces in curbing hazing within its Greek-centric environment.

5.4.4 How an SMU Hazing Case Might Proceed

For Nacogdoches County families, a hazing incident at SMU would likely involve the SMU Police Department and/or the Dallas Police Department. As a private institution, civil lawsuits would proceed in Dallas County district courts. Unlike some public universities, private university status generally means SMU has fewer sovereign immunity protections, which can simplify the legal path to holding the institution accountable if negligence is proven.

5.4.5 What SMU Students & Parents Should Do

• Utilize SMU’s anonymous reporting systems if immediate discreet action is needed, but understand that formal legal action requires more direct engagement.
• Be aware that while private universities may not publicize violations as extensively as public ones, a skilled attorney can compel discovery of internal reports and past disciplinary actions.
• Understanding the specific dynamics of private university litigation is key, as the scope of potential liability for the institution can differ.

5.5 Baylor University

5.5.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot

Baylor University in Waco is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas and the largest Baptist university globally. Known for its strong Christian identity, robust academics, and competitive athletic programs, it also fosters various Greek life organizations across IFC, Panhellenic, MGC, and NPHC councils. Many Nacogdoches County families send their children to Baylor, valuing its faith-based education.

5.5.2 Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels

Baylor University strictly prohibits hazing, consistent with its values and commitment to student safety. Its policy defines hazing broadly, outlawing any act that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for group affiliation. Baylor has a “zero-tolerance” stance on hazing, promising disciplinary action for individuals and organizations found in violation. Reporting channels include the Department of Student Activities, the Dean for Student Life, and the Baylor University Police Department (BUPD).

5.5.3 Example Incident & Response

Baylor has faced its own share of hazing-related challenges, often against a backdrop of broader institutional scrutiny regarding student safety (such as its well-publicized football and Title IX scandals):

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): Following an investigation into hazing allegations within the baseball program, 14 players were suspended. The suspensions were staggered over the early season to mitigate impact, but the incident highlighted that hazing extends beyond Greek life into even high-profile athletic teams at Baylor. The specifics of the hazing were not fully publicized, but it led to significant internal disciplinary action.

This incident, alongside past issues surrounding institutional oversight, reveals the university’s ongoing struggle to enforce its “zero tolerance” policy effectively.

5.5.4 How a Baylor Hazing Case Might Proceed

For Nacogdoches County families concerned about hazing at Baylor, law enforcement involvement would likely come from the Baylor University Police Department (BUPD) and/or the Waco Police Department. Civil lawsuits would generally be filed in McLennan County district courts. Baylor, as a private institution, typically faces direct liability in negligence cases, and its prior history of student safety controversies often adds a layer of complexity to claims related to institutional oversight and accountability.

5.5.5 What Baylor Students & Parents Should Do

• Given Baylor’s emphasis on moral conduct, any reported hazing that explicitly violates these principles can be particularly impactful in disciplinary processes.
• Be aware of university-led investigations following public incidents, but remember that internal university investigations are not a substitute for independent legal counsel.
• Understand that Baylor’s policies and internal disciplinary actions may not always align with your legal right to pursue civil damages.

Fraternities & Sororities: Campus-Specific + National Histories

For Nacogdoches County families, it’s vital to recognize that the hazing incidents occurring at Texas universities are rarely isolated to a single chapter. Many of these fraternities and sororities are part of larger, national organizations with extensive, and often troubling, histories of hazing. This connection is critical because a national organization’s past conduct can directly impact legal claims against its local chapters and the national entity itself.

6.1 Why National Histories Matter

The reality is that campus Greek life, from Stephen F. Austin State University to the University of Texas, functions under the umbrella of national fraternities and sororities. These national headquarters:

• Often possess voluminous anti-hazing manuals and sophisticated risk management policies, precisely because they have a documented history of severe injuries and deaths at their chapters across the country.
• Are acutely aware of the recurring patterns of hazing: forced drinking nights, brutal paddling traditions, humiliating rituals, and dangerous scavenger hunts.

When a local Texas chapter, whether at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, or Baylor, repeats the same scripts that have led to another chapter being shut down or incurring multi-million-dollar lawsuits in other states, it can establish foreseeability. This pattern evidence is crucial in supporting arguments of negligence and even punitive damages against national entities in civil litigation. It demonstrates that the national organization knew or should have known about the pervasive risks associated with a particular form of hazing but failed to prevent it.

6.2 Organization Mapping: Patterns Across Chapters

While we cannot list every chapter, a narrative understanding of common organizations and their national hazing histories is important. Many prominent fraternities and sororities present at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, and Baylor have national reputations tied to hazing.

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike)

• Identity: A large, traditionally Southern-leaning fraternity with numerous chapters across the U.S., active on many Texas campuses including UH, Texas A&M, UT, and Baylor.
• National Hazing History: Pike has a particularly troubling national record with several fatal hazing incidents related to forced alcohol consumption during “Big/Little” events.
  • Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State University, 2021): As discussed, this pledge died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink nearly a bottle of liquor. The incident led to criminal convictions and a $10 million settlement for the family.
  • David Bogenberger (Northern Illinois University, 2012): Another pledge death from alcohol poisoning during a fraternity event, resulting in a $14 million settlement in 2018 distributed among 44 fraternity/sorority members present.
• Pattern: National Pi Kappa Alpha has been repeatedly warned about its chapters’ “Big/Little” alcohol hazing rituals, yet these dangerous practices persist, indicating a systemic failure to enforce anti-hazing policies.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / SAE)

• Identity: A large, historic fraternity with a significant presence on Texas campuses such as UH, Texas A&M, UT, and SMU.
• National Hazing History: SAE has faced intense scrutiny and multiple legal actions due to a pattern of hazing-related deaths and severe injuries nationwide involving alcohol and physical abuse. In 2014, in response to these incidents, SAE controversially announced it would eliminate its traditional pledge process, though hazing continues to be reported.
  • Texas A&M University (2021): Two pledges alleged they were subjected to a hazing ritual where industrial-strength cleaner, eggs, and spit were poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. A $1 million lawsuit was filed.
  • University of Texas at Austin (2024): An international exchange student alleged assault by fraternity members at a party, resulting in severe orthopedic injuries and a $1 million lawsuit. The chapter was already suspended for prior safety violations.
  • Carson Starkey (California Polytechnic State University, 2008): Died from alcohol poisoning during a hazing ritual. The confidential, substantial settlement allowed his family to establish Aware Awake Alive, a national anti-hazing non-profit.
• Pattern: Despite national policy changes, SAE continues to face allegations of dangerous hazing, indicating a persistent problem across its chapters.

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)

• Identity: A major fraternity with chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, and Baylor.
• National Hazing History: Phi Delta Theta is linked to the high-profile death of Max Gruver.
  • Max Gruver (Louisiana State University, 2017): Died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Bible study” drinking game. His death directly led to the Max Gruver Act, Louisiana’s felony hazing statute. Civil settlement amounts are confidential, but verdicts against individuals have been substantial ($6.1 million).
• Pattern: This tragedy highlighted the severe risks of “drinking games” often disguised as innocent activities.

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ)

• Identity: A national fraternity with chapters at UH and Texas A&M.
• National Hazing History: Pi Kappa Phi was involved in the death of Andrew Coffey.
  • Andrew Coffey (Florida State University, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother Night” event where pledges were given handles of hard liquor. Multiple members were prosecuted.
• Pattern: This case exemplifies the fatal consequences of forced, rapid alcohol consumption during pledge activities.

Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ)

• Identity: A traditional fraternity with chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT, and Baylor.
• National Hazing History: Beta Theta Pi is tragically linked to the death of Timothy Piazza.
  • Timothy Piazza (Penn State University, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after an extreme alcohol hazing event. The case generated national headlines, extensive criminal charges, and inspired Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Pattern: The events at Penn State showcased the extreme dangers of delayed medical care and a systemic cover-up within a chapter.

Kappa Alpha Order (KA)

• Identity: A fraternity with a strong historical identity, active at Texas A&M and SMU.
• National Hazing History: KA chapters have faced numerous hazing suspensions, including in Texas.
  • Southern Methodist University (2017): The SMU chapter was suspended after reports of new members being paddled, forced to drink, and deprived of sleep. This led to significant restrictions for several years.
• Pattern: This highlights recurring issues with physical and alcohol hazing within the organization.

Sigma Chi (ΣΧ)

• Identity: A large national fraternity with chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, and Baylor.
• National Hazing History: Sigma Chi has faced a multi-million-dollar verdict for hazing.
  • College of Charleston (2024): A pledge in College of Charleston alleged physical beatings, forced consumption of drugs and alcohol, and psychological torment. The family reportedly received more than $10 million in damages, one of the largest known hazing settlements, underscoring severe consequences for lasting harm.
• Pattern: This verdict demonstrates that juries are prepared to award substantial damages for severe hazing, serving as a warning to all chapters.

6.3 Tie Back to Legal Strategy

For Nacogdoches County families, establishing these national patterns is a cornerstone of a robust legal strategy. These historical incidents help to build a case by showing that:

• Foreseeability: The national organizations had clear, repeated warnings that their chapters were engaged in dangerous forms of hazing that could lead to injury or death.
• Pattern Evidence: Similar behaviors occurring across multiple chapters of the same organization demonstrate a systemic problem beyond “rogue individuals.”
• Institutional Knowledge: It’s harder for national HQs to claim ignorance when the same dangerous acts lead to lawsuits and deaths generation after generation.

This evidence can profoundly impact:

• Settlement Leverage: Defense attorneys and insurance carriers often become more willing to negotiate substantial settlements when faced with compelling evidence of a national pattern.
• Insurance Coverage Disputes: It can weaken arguments that hazing was an “unforeseeable” event and thus excluded from coverage.
• Potential for Punitive Damages: Depending on the facts and jurisdiction, a pattern of ignored warnings can bolster arguments for punitive damages, designed to punish egregious conduct and deter future harm.

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, Strategy

When a Nacogdoches County family faces the devastating reality of hazing, the path to justice requires a meticulous, strategic approach. Building a compelling case involves far more than just recounting what happened; it’s about systematically collecting and presenting evidence to demonstrate liability and quantify the full spectrum of damages.

7.1 Evidence

Modern hazing cases are often won or lost based on the quality and comprehensiveness of the evidence. Attorney911 approaches hazing investigations with the same rigor we apply to complex industrial accidents, ensuring no stone is left unturned.

• Digital Communications: This is often the single most critical category of evidence in today’s hazing cases.

  • GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, Slack, Fraternity-Specific Apps: These platforms are goldmines. They reveal planning, intent, knowledge, ongoing patterns, who was involved, and what was said before, during, and after incidents.
  • Social Media: Instagram DMs and stories, Snapchat messages (even if auto-deleting), TikTok videos, and comments often contain incriminating content or reveal the context of the hazing.
  • Recovery of Deleted Messages: Even if messages are deleted, digital forensics experts can often recover them. However, immediate screenshots by the victim or parents offer the most direct and undeniable proof.

• Photos & Videos:

  • Member-Captured Content: Photos and videos filmed by members during hazing events, shared in group chats, or posted on social media, are powerful.
  • Injury Documentation: Photos of injuries, taken from multiple angles and over several days (to show progression), are crucial evidence of physical harm.
  • Security Footage: Surveillance cameras or Ring/doorbell footage at houses, venues, or on campus can corroborate events, showing who was present and what transpired.

• Internal Organization Documents:

  • Pledge Manuals and Rituals: Any official or unofficial pledge manuals, initiation scripts, or lists of traditional “challenges” can highlight the premeditated nature of hazing.
  • Communications: Emails, texts, or internal memos from officers regarding new member activities can reveal intent or knowledge of hazing.
  • National Policies: The national fraternity’s anti-hazing policies and risk management training materials, compared with the chapter’s actual conduct, can expose a failure to enforce.

• University Records: These are vital for establishing institutional knowledge and a pattern of unaddressed hazing.

  • Prior Conduct Files: Previous disciplinary actions against the same chapter—probation, suspensions, warnings—demonstrate a history of violations.
  • Incident Reports: Reports filed with campus police or student conduct offices about the organization or its members.
  • Clery Reports: Annual campus security reports can show patterns of alcohol violations, assaults, or other crimes that frequently accompany hazing.

• Medical and Psychological Records: These document the full extent of the harm.

  • Emergency Room and Hospitalization Records: Detailed accounts of injuries, treatments, and initial assessments.
  • Toxicology Reports: Essential for alcohol or drug-related hazing.
  • Ongoing Treatment Records: Notes from surgeries, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health counseling (for PTSD, depression, anxiety).
  • Psychological Evaluations: Formal diagnoses and assessments of the trauma and emotional distress caused by hazing.

• Witness Testimony:

  • Direct Witnesses: Other pledges, current members (who may feel guilt or be willing to come forward), roommates, RAs, coaches, or bystanders often have critical information.
  • Former Members: Those who left the organization or were expelled can provide invaluable insight into the chapter’s hazing culture.

7.2 Damages

In the wake of hazing, victims and their families in Nacogdoches County are often left grappling with profound physical, emotional, and financial burdens. Texas law provides avenues to recover various categories of damages to compensate for these losses.

• Medical Bills & Future Care:

  • Immediate Care: Costs for ambulance services, emergency room visits, and initial hospitalization (including ICU stays).
  • Ongoing Treatment: Expenses for surgeries, continuous medical care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and necessary medications.
  • Long-Term Care: For catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain injuries or organ damage, this includes extensive, potentially lifelong care, often requiring a “life care plan” developed by specialists to project future medical and personal care costs.

• Lost Earnings / Educational Impact:

  • Missed Semesters: Financial losses due to tuition, fees, and housing for semesters missed due to medical leave or withdrawal.
  • Delayed Entry into Workforce: If injuries or trauma delay graduation, this accounts for the lost earning potential.
  • Reduced Earning Capacity: If a permanent disability (physical or psychological) impacts the victim’s ability to work, an economist will calculate their lifetime reduction in earning capacity.

• Non-Economic Damages: These compensate for the subjective, intangible harms that are no less real.

  • Physical Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the immediate and ongoing physical pain from injuries, including chronic pain.
  • Emotional Distress, Trauma, Humiliation: This includes damages for PTSD, anxiety, depression, a sense of betrayal, loss of dignity, and the profound emotional impact of hazing.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation for the inability to participate in activities once cherished, disruption of social life, and the loss of the normal college experience.

• Wrongful Death Damages (for Families): If hazing tragically results in death, certain surviving family members (spouse, children, parents) can seek damages, often including:

  • Funeral and Burial Costs.
  • Loss of Companionship and Support: Compensation for the deep emotional void left by the loss of a loved one’s presence, advice, love, and affection.
  • Financial Contributions: Loss of potential earnings and financial support the deceased would have provided to their family.
  • Emotional Harm: The grief and mental anguish experienced by family members due to the traumatic loss.

It is important to understand that these describe types of damages, and Attorney911 cannot and does not promise or predict specific dollar amounts. The value of a case depends entirely on its unique facts and documented losses.

7.3 Role of Different Defendants and Insurance Coverage

Holding multiple parties accountable is key in hazing cases. National fraternities, sororities, and universities often carry significant insurance policies that may come into play. However, insurers are notorious for trying to minimize payouts.

• Insurance Company Tactics: Insurers frequently try to argue that hazing, especially involving assault or intentional acts, is excluded from coverage under their policies. They may also claim that certain defendants (e.g., individual students) are not covered.
• Attorney911’s Strategy: Our experienced hazing lawyers:
  • Identify All Potential Coverage: We meticulously investigate to uncover all applicable insurance policies—including liability policies for national organizations, local chapters, universities, individual members (homeowner’s policies if relevant), and any umbrella policies.
  • Navigate Exclusions: Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney is invaluable here. She understands the specific language used by insurance companies to deny claims and knows how to counter those arguments, often by demonstrating that the failure to supervise or to enforce policies is a negligent act that is covered, even if the hazing itself was intentional.
  • Maximize Recovery: We know how to force insurers to defend claims and negotiate fair settlements, or take cases to trial if a fair offer isn’t made. This strategic understanding is crucial when facing powerful, well-resourced defense teams.

Practical Guides & FAQs

For Nacogdoches County parents, students, and witnesses, having clear, actionable guidance early on can make all the difference in seeking justice and ensuring safety.

8.1 For Parents

Parents from Nacogdoches County, your vigilance can be your child’s first line of defense.

• Warning Signs of Hazing: Be mindful of these red flags:

  • Physical: Unexplained bruises, scratches, burns, or repeated “accidents” with weak explanations. Extreme fatigue or sudden, severe sleep deprivation. Weight loss or gain due to food/water restriction.
  • Behavioral/Emotional: Sudden secrecy about group activities (“I can’t talk about it”). Drastic personality changes, anxiety, depression, increased irritability, or withdrawal from family and old friends. A sudden obsession with pleasing older members or a fear of “letting the chapter down.”
  • Academic: Unexplained drops in grades, missing classes, or prioritizing “mandatory” group events over academics.
  • Digital: Constant phone use for group chats demanded by the organization, anxiety when the phone pings, or obsessive deletion of messages/browsing history.

• How to Talk to Your Child: Approach the conversation with empathy, not accusation.

  • Ask open-ended questions like, “How are things really going with the [organization]?” or “Is there anything you are doing that makes you uncomfortable?”
  • Emphasize that their safety and well-being are paramount, far more important than group status or loyalty. Assure them you will support them without judgment.

• If Your Child is Hurt:

  • Get them immediate medical care. Prioritize their health above all fears of “getting in trouble.”
  • Document everything: Take clear photos of any injuries, save screenshots of texts or group chats they show you, and write down exactly what they tell you (date, time, who, what, where).
  • Save names, dates, locations, and any physical items (like damaged clothing).

• Dealing with the University:

  • Document every communication with campus administrators, including emails, phone calls, and notes from meetings.
  • Specifically inquire about prior incidents involving the same organization and what the university did or did not do in response. This can establish a pattern of official inaction.

• When to Talk to a Lawyer: It’s wise to contact an attorney if your child experiences significant physical or psychological harm, or if you feel the university or organization is minimizing what happened. The Manginello Law Firm offers confidential consultations to discuss your options.

8.2 For Students / Pledges

Students in Nacogdoches County and across Texas, you have rights, and your safety is far more important than any “tradition.”

• Is This Hazing or Just Tradition?: Ask yourself: Am I being hidden? Would the university or my parents approve of this? Am I forced to drink, endure pain, or feel humiliated? If the answer is yes to any of these, it is likely hazing, regardless of what it’s called.
• Why “Consent” Isn’t the End of the Story: You may feel immense pressure to “go along to get along” or to prove your loyalty. This is not true consent. Texas law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. The law recognizes the power dynamics and fear of exclusion inherent in these situations.
• Exiting and Reporting Safely: You have the legal right to leave any organization or situation at any time. If you feel unsafe, remove yourself and immediately contact a trusted adult, family member, or call 911. You can report hazing confidentially or anonymously through campus channels or national hotlines like 1-888-NOT-HAZE.
• Good-Faith Reporting and Amnesty: Many schools and Texas law provide protections, and even amnesty, for students who call for medical help in an emergency, even if underage drinking or other minor violations are involved. Your health comes first.

8.3 For Former Members / Witnesses

If you were once part of a hazing incident, either as a participant or a witness, you may be experiencing a range of complex emotions, including guilt or fear of repercussions.

• Your testimony and any evidence you possess could be pivotal in bringing about justice for victims and preventing future harm.
• While seeking your own legal advice is always wise, know that cooperating with investigations can be an important step toward accountability and healing.
• Experienced lawyers like those at The Manginello Law Firm can help you navigate your role as a witness, providing guidance and protecting your rights.

8.4 Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Hazing Case

Hazing cases are incredibly complex, and actions taken (or not taken) in the immediate aftermath can significantly impact your legal strategy. For Nacogdoches County families, avoiding these common errors is paramount:

1. Letting your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence:

   • Mistake: Believing that deleting incriminating texts or social media posts might protect your child from further trouble.
   • Reality: This can be seen as obstruction of justice, making it nearly impossible to prove the hazing occurred. Digital forensics can often recover deleted data, making the attempt to destroy it look culpable.
   • Correct Action: Preserve everything immediately, even if it’s embarrassing. Screenshot full conversations with timestamps and contact an attorney who can advise on proper evidence preservation.

2. Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly:

   • Mistake: As a parent, your instinct might be to “give them a piece of your mind” directly.
   • Reality: This alerts the perpetrators and organization to your intentions, allowing them to immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses, and prepare defenses.
   • Correct Action: Document everything you know, then call a lawyer BEFORE any direct confrontation. Let your legal team manage communication.

3. Signing university “release” or “resolution” forms:

   • Mistake: Universities may pressure families to sign waivers or “internal resolution” agreements, promising a quiet resolution.
   • Reality: You may inadvertently waive your right to pursue a civil lawsuit, and these internal resolutions often offer compensation far below the true value of your case, focusing on the university’s best interests, not yours.
   • Correct Action: Do NOT sign anything from the university or the organization without an attorney reviewing it first.

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

   • Mistake: Wanting to publicly expose what happened, or seeking support from your social network.
   • Reality: Defense attorneys and insurance companies routinely monitor social media. Any inconsistencies between your online posts and legal statements can be used to discredit your child or undermine your case. It can also waive legal privileges.
   • Correct Action: Document privately and confidentially. Let your lawyer control if, when, and how any public messaging is handled.

5. Letting your child go back for “one last meeting” with the organization:

   • Mistake: The organization might pressure your child to attend a meeting “to hear their side” or “before making a final decision.”
   • Reality: These meetings are often designed to pressure, intimidate, or extract statements that can later be used against your child in a legal proceeding.
   • Correct Action: Once you are considering legal action, all communication from or to the organization should be directed through your attorney.

6. Waiting “to see how the university handles it”:

   • Mistake: Trusting that the university’s internal process will deliver full justice and accountability.
   • Reality: Evidence vanishes quickly, witnesses graduate or move on, and the statute of limitations can expire. University processes are primarily designed to manage internal affairs and protect the institution’s reputation, not necessarily to secure maximum compensation or comprehensive justice for your child.
   • Correct Action: Preserve evidence NOW and consult a lawyer immediately. While the university process might run in parallel, it is not a substitute for robust legal representation.

7. Talking to insurance adjusters without a lawyer:

   • Mistake: Believing an insurance adjuster’s friendly demeanor, thinking they are there to help.
   • Reality: Adjusters work for the insurance company, whose goal is to pay as little as possible. Your recorded statements can be twisted and used against you, and any early offers will be lowball settlements.
   • Correct Action: Politely decline to speak to any insurance adjuster and state, “My attorney will contact you.”

8.5 Short FAQ

• “Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
  Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities here in Texas, like Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, as well as UH, Texas A&M, and UT-Austin, benefit from some aspects of sovereign immunity, which can make suing them directly more challenging. However, exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individual employees in their personal capacity. Private universities like SMU and Baylor generally have fewer immunity protections. Every case depends on specific facts—contact Attorney911 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 escalates to a state jail felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. This means jail time and significant fines are possible. Individual officers within an organization 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 charges, whether criminal or civil. Courts and juries recognize that “consent” given under duress, peer pressure, power imbalance, or fear of social exclusion is not true voluntary consent.

• “How long do we have to file a hazing lawsuit?”
  Generally, you have 2 years from the date of injury or death to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in Texas. However, the “discovery rule” may extend this if the harm or its cause wasn’t immediately known. In cases involving cover-ups or fraud, the statute may be “tolled” (paused), but waiting is risky. Time is critical—evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and organizations may destroy records. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately. Learn about Texas statute of limitations in our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c.

• “What if the hazing happened off-campus or at a private house?”
  The location of the hazing does not eliminate liability. Universities and national fraternities or organizations can still be held liable based on their sponsorship, control over the chapter, knowledge of activities, and the foreseeability of hazing occurring off-campus. Many major hazing cases that resulted in multi-million-dollar judgments, such as the Pi Delta Psi retreat case or the Sigma Pi incident, involved off-campus locations.

• “Will this be confidential, or will my child’s name be in the news?”
  While some high-profile cases do garner media attention, most hazing cases resolve through confidential settlements before going to trial. Our firm prioritizes your family’s privacy and works to ensure that, where possible, court records can be sealed and settlement terms remain confidential. We balance the need for privacy with pursuing accountability.

About The Manginello Law Firm + Call to Action

When your Nacogdoches County family faces a hazing case, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway. At The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, operating as Attorney911, we are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ because we provide immediate, aggressive, and knowledgeable representation when it matters most.

From our Houston offices, we serve families throughout Texas, including Nacogdoches County and its surrounding communities, whose children attend Stephen F. Austin State University or any other campus in the state. We understand that hazing at Texas universities impacts families in Nacogdoches County and across the entire region.

Our firm brings unique qualifications to hazing cases:

• Insurance Insider Advantage: Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. She knows their playbook inside and out—how fraternity and university insurance companies value (and more often, undervalue) hazing claims, their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies. We know their playbook because we used to run it. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney (https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/) is crucial for navigating fraternity and university insurance coverage disputes.

• Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions: Managing partner Ralph Manginello has extensive experience taking on powerful defendants. He was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the complex BP Texas City explosion litigation and has a strong background in federal court (United States District Court, Southern District of Texas). We aren’t intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their well-resourced defense teams. We’ve taken on billion-dollar corporations and won. We know how to fight powerful defendants. Ralph Manginello’s complete credentials and case history are detailed at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/.

• Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death and Catastrophic Injury Experience: We have a proven track record in complex wrongful death cases, collaborating with economists to accurately value the devastating loss of life. We are experienced in cases involving catastrophic injuries requiring lifetime care, such as traumatic brain injuries or permanent disabilities. We don’t settle cheap. We build cases that force accountability. Learn more about Attorney911’s wrongful death practice at https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/.

• Criminal and Civil Hazing Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) gives our firm a unique advantage in understanding how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation. This dual perspective allows us to advise witnesses and former members with potential dual exposure, navigating the complexities where criminal and civil issues overlap. Attorney911’s criminal defense experience (https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/criminal-defense-lawyers/) means we understand both the criminal and civil tracks.

• Investigative Depth: We leverage a network of experts, including medical professionals, digital forensics specialists, economists, and psychologists. We are experts at obtaining hidden evidence—from deleted group chats and social media data to subpoenaing national fraternity records and uncovering university files through discovery and public records requests. We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does. Attorney911’s video on using your phone to document evidence (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs) explains best practices for preserving screenshots and photos.

We understand how fraternities, sororities, Corps programs, and athletic departments actually operate behind closed doors. We know what makes hazing cases different: powerful institutional defendants, complex insurance coverage fights, and the delicate balance between victim privacy and public accountability. Our approach is rooted in empathy and victim advocacy. We know this is one of the hardest things a family can face. Our job is to get you answers, hold the right people accountable, and help prevent this from happening to another family. We believe in thorough investigation and real accountability, not quick settlements.

Call to Action: Your Next Step for Justice and Accountability

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus—whether Stephen F. Austin State University right here in Nacogdoches, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Baylor, SMU, UH, or another institution—we want to hear from you. Families in Nacogdoches County and throughout the surrounding region have the right to answers, support, and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm today for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We’ll listen to what happened, explain your legal options, and help you decide on the best path forward for your family.

What to expect in your free consultation:

• We will listen to your story with empathy and without judgment.
• We’ll review any evidence you have collected – photos, texts, medical records – to assess the strength of your case.
• We will clearly explain your legal options, whether it involves a criminal report, a civil lawsuit, both, or other approaches.
• We’ll discuss realistic timelines and what you can expect during the legal process.
• We’ll answer all your questions about our fee structure. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t get paid unless we win your case. Watch our video explaining contingency fees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc.
• There is no pressure to hire us on the spot; we encourage you to take the time you need to make the best decision for your family.
• Everything you discuss with us is confidential.

Call Attorney911 today:

• Toll-Free: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com

Hablamos Español: Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish. Servicios legales en español disponibles.

Whether you’re in Nacogdoches County or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. Call us today. We are here to help.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC.

Hazing laws, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com