Hazing at Texas Universities: A Comprehensive Legal Guide for Families in Neylandville, Hunt County

As a parent in Neylandville, Hunt County, you send your child to college with hope for their future. You picture them making friends, excelling in class, and joining organizations that build character. Then your phone rings. Your child’s voice is strained. They mention “mandatory” late-night events, unexplained injuries, or fear of speaking up. The nightmare of hazing has entered your family’s life.

Right now, just a few hours from Neylandville in Houston, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history. We represent Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston (UH), the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 individual members. The allegations are harrowing: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, forced overconsumption of food leading to vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and extreme physical workouts that caused Bermudez to develop rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—he was hospitalized for four days after passing brown urine.

This is not an isolated incident. It is a symptom of a systemic problem across Texas campuses. This guide is written specifically for parents and families in Neylandville, Hunt County, and across Texas. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, break down your legal rights under Texas law, reveal the patterns connecting national fraternity histories to local chapters, and provide the practical steps you need to take if your child has been harmed.

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 are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

In the first 48 hours:

• Get medical attention immediately, even if your child insists they are “fine.”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it disappears:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, and DMs immediately.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects used).
• Write down everything while memory is fresh: who, what, when, where.
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
  • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
  • Post details on public social media.
  • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney. Evidence disappears fast. Universities move quickly to control narratives. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is no longer just about “hell week” or paddling in a basement. For families in Neylandville with students at Texas A&M Commerce, University of North Texas, or schools farther afield, understanding the evolution of these practices is critical to recognizing the danger.

A Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, maintaining membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. Crucially, a student’s “consent” is not a legal defense in Texas when peer pressure and power imbalance are at play.

Main Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the deadliest form. It includes forced “lineup” drinking, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, and games like “Bible study” where incorrect answers mandate drinking.
2. Physical Hazing: This ranges from “smokings” (extreme calisthenics like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats inflicted on Bermudez) to paddling, sleep deprivation, and exposure to extreme elements.
3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk”), degrading costumes, and acts with racist or sexist overtones.
4. Psychological Hazing: Verbal abuse, isolation, threats of expulsion from the group, and forced confessions.
5. Digital/Online Hazing: The newest frontier. This includes 24/7 demands via GroupMe, forced participation in humiliating TikTok “challenges,” geo-tracking via apps, and public shaming in group chats.

Where Hazing Happens

While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing permeates many groups:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural)
• Corps of Cadets, ROTC, and military-style groups
• Athletic teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Spirit squads and tradition-based clubs (like Texas Cowboys)
• Marching bands and performance groups

Social status, tradition, and a code of secrecy keep these practices alive, even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Law

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37)

For Neylandville families, Texas law provides clear—though often underutilized—protections. Texas defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group.

Key Provisions:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury requiring medical treatment, and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 per violation.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that the victim’s “consent” is irrelevant.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Individuals who report hazing or call for help in an emergency are protected from civil or criminal liability.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA) to punish with jail, fines, or probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by victims and families to secure compensation and accountability. These focus on negligence, wrongful death, emotional distress, and institutional failures.

These cases can proceed simultaneously. A criminal conviction is not required to win a civil lawsuit.

Federal Legal Overlay

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents transparently and strengthen prevention programs.
• Title IX & Clery Act: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, Title IX obligations are triggered. The Clery Act mandates reporting of certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

A comprehensive hazing lawsuit can target multiple parties:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, it can be sued directly.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority: Headquarters can be liable for negligent supervision and failure to curb known dangerous traditions.
4. The University: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations.
5. Third Parties: Property owners, landlords of off-campus houses, and alcohol providers.

National Hazing Case Patterns: A Blueprint for Texas Cases

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not random. They reveal repeating scripts that help us understand—and prove—liability in Texas cases. For Neylandville families, these stories show that what happened at LSU or Penn State can and does happen here.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script: “Big/Little” Nights

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): A pledge forced to drink a bottle of alcohol died from alcohol poisoning. Outcome: Multiple criminal convictions and a $10 million settlement ($7M from nationals, ~$3M from the university).
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A pledge died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Outcome: Criminal convictions and the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony in Louisiana.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State University, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): A pledge died during a “Big Brother” night. Outcome: Chapter closure, criminal charges, and FSU suspending all Greek life.

Takeaway for Texas Parents: The “Big/Little” or “bid acceptance” drinking event is a foreseeable, repeated danger. National fraternities have been on notice for years.

Violent Ritual Hazing

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): A pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded “glass ceiling” tackling ritual at a retreat. Outcome: The national fraternity was convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter—a landmark for organizational criminal liability.

Takeaway: Hazing moved off-campus to avoid detection is still hazing, and nationals cannot escape liability by calling a chapter “rogue.”

Athletic Program Hazing

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread, sexualized hazing allegations led to numerous lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements. It shattered the myth that hazing is confined to Greek life.

Common Threads: Forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and organized cover-ups. These national precedents shape the legal landscape for Texas families seeking justice at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, or Baylor.

Texas University Focus: Where Neylandville Families Send Their Kids

Families in Hunt County have deep educational ties across Texas. Students from Neylandville attend nearby schools like Texas A&M University-Commerce right here in our county, as well as major hubs like the University of North Texas in Denton and the state’s flagship institutions. Understanding the specific landscape of these campuses is crucial.

The Local Anchor: Texas A&M University-Commerce (Hunt County)

For many Neylandville families, Texas A&M Commerce is a cornerstone of higher education in our community.

Campus & Culture Snapshot: As part of the Texas A&M system, this campus has a growing Greek life presence and active student organizations. Its proximity means Neylandville families are directly impacted by campus safety and culture.

Hazing Policy & Reporting: The university prohibits hazing under Texas A&M System policy and Texas law. Reports can be made to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities or University Police.

What Neylandville Students & Parents Should Do:

• Document any incident with date, time, location, and names.
• Report immediately to both Texas A&M Commerce authorities and the local Neylandville community—pressure for accountability often starts at home.
• Understand that jurisdiction may involve both University Police and Hunt County law enforcement.

University of Houston: The Front Line of Current Litigation

Campus & Culture: A large, diverse urban campus with a significant Greek life system, including the now-shuttered Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at the center of our Bermudez case.

Documented Incident – Leonel Bermudez & Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu): As detailed in the Click2Houston and ABC13 reports, Bermudez’s hazing in Fall 2025 included the degrading “pledge fanny pack,” forced consumption of milk and hot dogs, hose spraying “like waterboarding,” and extreme workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park that caused rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. The chapter was suspended by nationals on Nov. 6, 2025, and voted to surrender its charter on Nov. 14, 2025.

How a UH Case Proceeds: Cases often involve Houston Police Department and Harris County courts. The Bermudez lawsuit targets a full “defendant universe”: UH, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi nationals, the chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual members.

Texas A&M University (College Station)

Campus & Culture: Home to a massive Greek system and the storied Corps of Cadets, where tradition runs deep.

Documented Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged substances including industrial-strength cleaner were poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. A $1 million lawsuit was filed.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million.

Takeaway for Families: Hazing at A&M exists in both Greek and Corps contexts. The university’s response often focuses on internal discipline, making external legal pressure critical for true accountability.

University of Texas at Austin

Campus & Culture: A flagship campus with tremendous Greek life influence and a relatively transparent public hazing violation log.

Documented Incidents (from UT’s Public Log):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume excessive milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: Probation and mandatory hazing prevention education.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): An exchange student alleged assault resulting in a broken nose, dislocated leg, and fractured tibia at a party, leading to a lawsuit.

Why UT’s Transparency Matters: The public violation log (hazing.utexas.edu) is a powerful tool for families. It proves the university had prior knowledge of dangerous patterns in specific organizations, which can be used to establish liability.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

Private School Context: As private institutions, their disciplinary processes are less transparent than public universities, but they are equally subject to Texas hazing law.

SMU’s Kappa Alpha Order was suspended in 2017 for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation. Baylor’s baseball team suspended 14 players in 2020 following a hazing investigation. These incidents show hazing persists even at schools with religious affiliations or affluent reputations.

The Greek Ecosystem in Texas: Public Records and National Histories

When we take on a hazing case for a family in Neylandville, our investigation begins with data. We maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from public records, to map the powerful organizations behind the letters.

The Texas Greek Landscape: By the Numbers

Our analysis of IRS filings, university records, and commercial databases reveals a massive network:

• 1,423+ Greek-related organizations operate across 25 Texas metro areas.
• The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro leads with over 510 such entities.
• The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro has 188.
• IRS B83 public filings alone list 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations (house corporations, alumni chapters, honor societies) with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) and legal addresses.

Public Records Directory: Entities Serving Texas Campuses

To show the scale and complexity families are up against, here is a sample of the public records we track. These are not accusations, but factual listings from government and commercial sources:

Sample IRS B83 Filings (Texas Greek Organizations):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 46-3267515, Frisco, TX 75035
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 74-6084445, Nederland, TX 77627 (Epsilon Kappa Chapter)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 74-6084905, Houston, TX 77204
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Iota Alpha Chapter, EIN 51-225632, Arlington, TX 76019

Cause IQ Metro Organizational Listings:

• Dallas-Fort Worth Metro: Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, Fort Worth, TX
• Houston Metro: Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Houston, TX
• Austin Metro: Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity – Texas Rho Corp., Austin, TX
• Beaumont-Port Arthur Metro: Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Lambda Lambda Chapter, Beaumont, TX (Lamar University)

Why National Histories Matter for Your Texas Case

The fraternity chapter at your child’s school is not an island. It is part of a national brand with a known history. This is critical for proving foreseeability and negligence.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): National pattern of fatal “Big/Little” alcohol hazing (Stone Foltz – $10M settlement).
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Multiple chapters nationwide involved in traumatic injury cases, including at Texas A&M and UT Austin.
• Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): National pattern includes the fatal Andrew Coffey case at FSU and the severe, non-fatal Bermudez case at UH.
• Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): National pattern includes the fatal Max Gruver case at LSU.

When a Texas chapter repeats a script that caused death or injury elsewhere, it demonstrates the national organization failed to implement effective safeguards. This pattern evidence is powerful in court and settlement negotiations.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

For Neylandville families facing this crisis, understanding how a case is built can demystify the legal process and underscore the urgency of acting quickly.

Critical Evidence in the Smartphone Era

The digital footprint of hazing is often the most compelling evidence.

• Group Chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage): These show planning, coercion (“be here or you’re out”), boasts about activities, and attempts to cover up.
• Social Media (Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok): Photos/videos of hazing acts, location tags, and humiliating posts.
• Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, emails from national risk managers.
• University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same group, obtained via discovery or public records requests.
• Medical Records: Documentation linking injuries (e.g., rhabdomyolysis, fractures, PTSD) directly to the hazing events.

Categories of Recoverable Damages

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and hold defendants accountable through financial compensation.

1. Economic Damages: Medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, therapy), future medical care, lost wages, and diminished future earning capacity.
2. Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, PTSD, loss of enjoyment of life.
3. Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and parental grief.
4. Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious conduct or cover-ups, these may be available to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

Overcoming Institutional Defense Tactics

We know how universities and national fraternities fight because Mr. Lupe Peña spent years on the defense side. Common defenses we dismantle include:

• “The Pledge Consented”: Texas law states consent is not a defense. We demonstrate coercion through group chat evidence and expert testimony on power dynamics.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We subpoena national records to show prior incidents and prove the national organization knew or should have known about the dangerous culture.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: Liability is based on duty and control, not merely property lines. Nationals and universities that sponsor organizations retain responsibility.
• “We Have a Policy Against Hazing”: We show the gap between paper policy and enforcement, highlighting prior unpunished violations.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Neylandville Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, constant exhaustion, or sudden weight change.
• Drastic mood shifts—anxiety, depression, withdrawal.
• Secrecy about organization activities, fear of missing “mandatory” events.
• Financial drains for unexplained “fines” or purchases.

What to Do:

1. Talk Openly: Ask non-judgmental questions. “I’m concerned about your safety. Is anything making you uncomfortable in your [fraternity/sorority/team]?”
2. Prioritize Health: Seek medical and psychological care immediately.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot messages and photograph injuries.
4. Document Conversations: Write down what your child tells you, with dates.
5. Consult an Attorney Before Engaging the University: We can help you navigate the process without compromising your position.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No tradition justifies endangering your health.
• You Can Leave: You have the legal right to quit any organization at any time.
• Report Safely: You can report to campus authorities, local police, or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE).
• Amnesty Protections: Texas law and most university policies protect those who call for help in an emergency from minor conduct violations.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm Your Case

1. Deleting Evidence: Preserve all messages, even embarrassing ones.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms: These often waive your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys scour social media for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, and statutes of limitation run.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue a public university in Texas?”
Yes. While public universities have some sovereign immunity, exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and lawsuits against individual employees. Many cases settle, as seen with Bowling Green State University’s $3 million settlement in the Foltz case.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally, two years from the date of injury or death in Texas. However, time is of the essence for evidence preservation. Call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911 to protect your rights.

“Will our case be public?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially. We always prioritize our clients’ privacy and can seek protective orders and sealed settlements.

“What if the chapter is already suspended?”
Suspension does not erase liability. It may, in fact, demonstrate the university or nationals knew the chapter was dangerous. We can pursue claims against the national organization, housing corporation, and individuals.

Why Attorney911 for Hazing Cases

When your family in Neylandville faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand the intricate power dynamics of Greek life, the tactics of institutional defendants, and the depth of investigation required to win.

Our Unique Qualifications for Texas Hazing Litigation

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge (Mr. Lupe Peña):
Mr. Peña is a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.

2. Proven Experience Against Massive Institutions (Ralph Manginello):
Our firm was one of the few in Texas involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar defendants, unlimited legal budgets, or complex discovery battles. We have federal court experience and a record of success in high-stakes wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases.

3. Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise:
Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand both sides of hazing cases. We can effectively advise clients when criminal charges are also pending and navigate the interplay between civil and criminal proceedings.

4. Investigative Depth and a Data-Driven Approach:
We don’t start from scratch. We use our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—mapping over 1,400 Greek entities—to immediately identify all potentially liable parties. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages, medical experts to document injuries, and economists to build life-care plans for catastrophic cases.

5. Empathetic, Victim-Centered Advocacy:
We know this is one of the most traumatic experiences a family can endure. Our mission is to secure the compensation you need for recovery while forcing the institutional changes necessary to prevent this from happening to another family in Hunt County or anywhere else.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child at Texas A&M Commerce, the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any Texas campus, you are not alone. The path to accountability begins with a single, confidential conversation.

We serve families throughout Texas, including right here in Neylandville and Hunt County.

In your free consultation, we will:

• Listen to your story with compassion and without judgment.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal options clearly and honestly.
• Discuss our contingency fee structure—you pay nothing unless we win your case.
• Provide a realistic assessment of the process and potential outcomes.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 today:

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 (Ralph Manginello), lupe@atty911.com (Mr. Lupe Peña)

Hablamos Español. Spanish-language legal services are available.

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)
Website: https://attorney911.com