Hazing in Nacogdoches, Texas: A Comprehensive Legal Guide for SFA Families & East Texas Students

If Your Child Was Hazed at SFA or Any Texas Campus, You Are Not Alone

For parents in Nacogdoches, the college journey often begins right here at Stephen F. Austin State University or extends to campuses across the state. You send your child to school with pride, trusting they’ll find community and purpose. But what happens when that search for belonging turns dangerous? The nightmare scenario is real: a late-night call, a panicked voice describing forced drinking, extreme workouts, or humiliating acts—all framed as “tradition” or “brotherhood.” Your child feels trapped, scared of retaliation, and you feel powerless hundreds of miles away in Deep East Texas.

Right now, in Houston, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who nearly died from rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after brutal hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. The lawsuit details forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, “waterboarding” with a hose, 100+ push-ups, 500 squats, and a degrading “pledge fanny pack” rule. His urine turned brown, and he was hospitalized for four days. This active, $10 million lawsuit against UH, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, and 13 individual members proves that catastrophic hazing is not a relic of the past—it’s happening today at Texas universities. This case, covered by Click2Houston and ABC13, is Texas’s current warning.

This guide is for Nacogdoches families—parents whose children attend Stephen F. Austin State University here in town, or who have ventured to Texas A&M, UT Austin, the University of Houston, or other Texas campuses. We provide a comprehensive look at what hazing really looks like in 2025, the Texas laws that protect your child, the national patterns repeating here, and the practical steps to take if the unthinkable happens. We serve families across East Texas, from Nacogdoches to Lufkin, from Center to Carthage, and throughout the Piney Woods region.

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:

1. Get medical attention immediately, even if your child insists they are “fine.”
2. Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
   • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately.
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
   • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects).
3. Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity/sorority directly.
   • 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. We can help preserve it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

The Modern Reality of Hazing: Beyond “Pranks” and “Tradition”

Hazing is not a harmless rite of passage. In 2025, it is a calculated pattern of abuse designed to assert power and create secrecy. For Nacogdoches parents, understanding its modern forms is the first step in recognition.

Hazing is defined legally in Texas as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or maintaining membership in any organization. The key is that “consent” is not a defense. Your child saying “yes” under extreme peer pressure does not make it legal or safe.

What It Looks Like Today:

• Alcohol & Substance Hazing: Forced “lineup” drinking, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, coerced consumption of drugs or unknown substances.
• Physical Hazing: Paddling, beatings, “smokings” (extreme calisthenics), sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, exposure to extreme elements.
• Psychological & Digital Hazing: 24/7 group chat demands, public humiliation on social media, cyberstalking via location-sharing apps, forced isolation from family and non-Greek friends.
• Sexualized & Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes or roles, acts with racist or sexist overtones.

This abuse happens in fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, spirit groups like the SFA Cheer Team or Band, the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, and other campus organizations. It often moves off-campus to rental houses, AirBnbs, or remote properties to avoid university oversight—a tactic seen in the Pi Kappa Phi case at UH, where hazing occurred at a Culmore Drive residence and Yellowstone Boulevard Park.

Texas Law & Legal Liability: Your Child’s Rights in Nacogdoches and Beyond

Texas has specific laws to combat hazing, but navigating them requires expertise. The legal framework provides both criminal penalties and civil recourse for families in Nacogdoches County and across the state.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 (Hazing):

• Definition: Broadly covers intentional/reckless acts that endanger physical/mental health for purposes of initiation/affiliation.
• Criminal Penalties: Ranges from a Class B Misdemeanor to a State Jail Felony if hazing causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§37.155) explicitly states that a victim’s “consent” does not excuse hazing.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Those who report hazing or call for medical help in good faith are protected from liability.

Civil vs. Criminal Cases:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA) to punish offenders with jail, fines, probation. Nacogdoches cases could involve University Police Department (UPD) and Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by victims/families to secure compensation and accountability. These cases can proceed even without criminal charges.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Case?

1. Individual Students who planned, participated in, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter as a legal entity (housing corporation, alumni board).
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon) for negligent supervision and failure to stop known patterns.
4. The University (e.g., SFA, Texas A&M, UT) for deliberate indifference to known risks or negligent oversight.
5. Third Parties like property owners of off-campus houses where hazing occurred.

Federal Overlay: The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) requires universities to report incidents more transparently. Title IX applies if hazing involves sexual harassment. These federal laws add layers of potential liability and reporting requirements.

The Greek Ecosystem Surrounding Nacogdoches Families

Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—built from IRS public records, university data, and metro analyses—we maintain an unmatched directory of Greek organizations. This investigative depth means we don’t start from zero when a Nacogdoches family calls us.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Nacogdoches & East Texas Families

The following are real entities recorded in public filings. This transparency shows the complex network behind campus “letters.”

• Alpha Tau Omega Housing Corporation of Eta Iota Chapter | EIN: 300517788 | 316 E Lakewood St, Nacogdoches, TX 75965 | IRS B83 Filing
• Phi Kappa Psi Texas Epsilon Chapter | EIN: 452729519 | 1936 N St SFA Station Box 6159, Nacogdoches, TX 75965 | IRS B83 Filing
• Chi Omega Fraternity – Epsilon Zeta Chapter | EIN: 756041410 | 402 N Steen Dr, Nacogdoches, TX 75965 | IRS B83 Filing
• Epsilon Tau Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity | EIN: 756053083 | 321 Old Tyler Rd, Nacogdoches, TX 75961 | IRS B83 Filing
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc. | EIN: 273662583 | 1416 Sleepy Hollow Dr, Lufkin, TX 75904 | IRS B83 Filing (Angelina County)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority | EIN: 364091267 | 1101 Melrose Dr, Waco, TX 76710 | IRS B83 Filing (McLennan County)

Statewide, we track over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros. For Nacogdoches families, this means we can immediately identify the legal and insurance entities behind the chapters at your child’s school, whether it’s SFA or a campus hours away.

Where Nacogdoches Families Send Their Kids: Campus Connections

Students from Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, and surrounding East Texas communities attend a wide range of universities with active Greek life.

The Local Anchor: Stephen F. Austin State University

• Location: Nacogdoches, TX (Nacogdoches County)
• Greek Community: Home to multiple IFC fraternities, Panhellenic sororities, and NPHC (Divine Nine) chapters. Hazing incidents here would fall under the jurisdiction of SFA’s Office of Student Conduct and the Nacogdoches legal community.

Major Texas Hubs for Nacogdoches Students:

• Texas A&M University (College Station, Brazos County): A top destination with a massive Greek system and the Corps of Cadets, both with documented hazing histories.
• University of Texas at Austin (Austin, Travis County): Over 60 Greek chapters with a public hazing violations log.
• University of Houston (Houston, Harris County): Where our active Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit is unfolding, demonstrating severe, ongoing risks.
• Baylor University (Waco, McLennan County) & Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Dallas County): Private universities with significant Greek traditions and prior hazing suspensions.

This geographic spread means a hazing incident affecting a Nacogdoches family could involve authorities and courts in Harris, Travis, Brazos, or Nacogdoches counties. We are equipped to handle this multi-jurisdictional complexity.

National Patterns, Local Harm: Why National Fraternity Histories Matter

The same national organizations implicated in deaths and severe injuries across the country operate chapters at Texas schools. This creates “foreseeability”—a key legal concept meaning the national organization knew or should have known the risks.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz died at Bowling Green ($10M settlement). Pattern: Forced alcohol consumption during “Big/Little” events.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Multiple deaths nationwide; Texas A&M chapter sued for causing chemical burns requiring skin grafts. Pattern: Physical abuse and dangerous substance exposure.
• Phi Delta Theta: Max Gruver died at LSU, leading to Louisiana’s felony hazing law. Pattern: “Bible study” drinking games.
• Pi Kappa Phi: Andrew Coffey died at Florida State; currently the subject of our active UH lawsuit for near-fatal hazing. Pattern: Extreme physical endurance tests and humiliation.

When a chapter at SFA, Texas A&M, or UT repeats these known, dangerous patterns, it strengthens the case against the national headquarters for negligent supervision. We use these national case histories to show juries and insurers that the harm was predictable and preventable.

Building a Powerful Case: Evidence, Strategy & Our Investigative Advantage

When you choose Attorney911, you get more than a lawyer; you get a strategic partner with a proven, data-driven approach honed against billion-dollar corporations.

1. Evidence Is Everything (And We Know How to Get It):

• Digital Forensics: Recovering deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and Snapchat messages that plan or describe hazing.
• Public Records Intelligence: Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine to subpoena the correct housing corporations, alumni associations, and national entities.
• University Discovery: Obtaining prior conduct records for the chapter through legal demands, showing a pattern the school ignored.
• Medical Documentation: Working with experts to definitively link injuries like rhabdomyolysis (as in the UH case) or PTSD to the hazing events.

2. Overcoming Institutional Defenses:
We know the playbook because Mr. Lupe Peña used to help write it as an insurance defense attorney. We anticipate and counter arguments like:

• “The pledge consented.” → Texas law makes consent irrelevant.
• “It was a rogue chapter; national didn’t know.” → We introduce evidence of the national organization’s prior incidents and lax enforcement.
• “It happened off-campus.” → We establish the university’s and national’s control and knowledge of off-campus activities.

3. Calculating True Damages:
For a severely injured student or a grieving family, compensation must cover:

• Economic Damages: Past/future medical care, lost tuition, diminished earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Pain, suffering, trauma, humiliation, loss of a college experience.
• Wrongful Death Damages: Funeral costs, loss of companionship, family’s emotional anguish.

Practical Steps for Nacogdoches Parents & Students

For Parents: If You Suspect Hazing

1. Listen Without Judgment. Create a safe space for your child to talk.
2. Document Conversations. Write down what they say, with dates and details.
3. Secure Medical Care. Health comes first. Tell doctors the injuries are hazing-related.
4. Contact an Attorney BEFORE Reporting. We can guide you on how to report to SFA, Texas A&M, or other schools while protecting evidence and rights.
5. Avoid Critical Mistakes: Do not confront the chapter, sign university settlement offers, or let your child delete digital evidence.

For Students: Your Safety & Rights

• Know the Signs: If you’re exhausted, scared, being hurt, or forced to do something illegal, it’s hazing.
• Plan a Safe Exit: You have the right to quit. Tell a trusted person first, then inform the chapter in writing.
• Preserve Evidence: Screenshot everything. Take photos of injuries. Our video on using your phone to document evidence can help.
• Report Strategically: Options include campus police, the Dean of Students, anonymous hotlines (1-888-NOT-HAZE), or local law enforcement.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case:
We detail these in our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case. Key errors include deleting messages, talking to insurance adjusters alone, trusting the university’s “internal process,” and waiting too long. In Texas, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit, but evidence vanishes in days. Understand the urgency with our video on Texas statutes of limitations.

Why Choose Attorney911? Texas Hazing Specialists Fighting for Nacogdoches Families

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need attorneys who understand both the emotional trauma and the complex legal battlefield. You need a team that has faced institutional giants before and knows how to win.

Our Proven Foundation for Hazing Litigation:

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation: We are currently leading the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—a $10 million case that is making headlines and holding a major university and national fraternity accountable right now. This isn’t past history; it’s proof of our present capability.
• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers try to deny, delay, and undervalue claims. We use their playbook against them.
• Complex Institutional Experience: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar defendants, deep-pocketed universities, or national fraternity legal teams.
• Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—with over 1,423 Greek organizations tracked—means we start your case with intelligence, not guesswork. We identify every liable entity from day one.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña habla Español. We are committed to serving the full diversity of Texas families with respect and understanding.

We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case. Learn more about how this works in our video on contingency fees.

Contact Attorney911 for a Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child at Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any other campus, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path to accountability and healing begins with a conversation.

We serve families throughout East Texas and across the state. Whether you’re in Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Longview, Tyler, or anywhere in Texas, we are here to help.

During your free consultation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal options clearly and honestly.
• Outline the potential paths forward.
• Answer your questions about process, timing, and cost.

Take the first step today. Reach out to the Texas hazing lawyers who are fighting this battle right now.

Call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)

Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781

Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com

Website: https://attorney911.com

Se habla Español. For consultation in Spanish, please ask for Mr. Lupe Peña.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly. Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC serves clients throughout Texas from offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.