Hazing in Texas: What City of Queen City Families Need to Know About Fraternity, Sorority, and Campus Abuse

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You Are Not Alone

We know the feeling. The phone call home that doesn’t sound right. The unexplained bruises or constant exhaustion. The sudden secrecy around fraternity or sorority activities. For parents in City of Queen City, Atlanta, Queen City, and across Cass County, sending a child to college is filled with pride and hope. Discovering they’ve been subjected to dangerous, humiliating hazing turns that hope into fear, anger, and confusion.

What happened at the University of Houston in Fall 2025 shows exactly how serious—and how close to home—this problem can be. Right now, our firm represents Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 fraternity leaders. The allegations are severe: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, forced consumption of food until vomiting, extreme physical workouts, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and a brutal Nov. 3 session of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats that left Bermudez with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. His urine was brown. He was hospitalized for four days. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter has been shut down.

This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s a pattern that repeats across Texas campuses, affecting families from Queen City to Houston, from Atlanta to every corner of our state. If you’re reading this because you suspect or know your child has been hazed, we understand your urgency. This comprehensive guide is for you.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies:

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW: Call 911 for medical emergencies, then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
• In the first 48 hours: Get medical attention immediately. Preserve evidence: screenshot group chats (GroupMe, texts), photograph injuries, save any physical items. Write down everything they tell you. Do NOT confront the organization, sign anything from the school, or let your child delete messages.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney: Evidence disappears fast. Universities move quickly to control the narrative. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like for Texas Students

Hazing isn’t just “boys will be boys” or harmless tradition. Under Texas law, hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group. For City of Queen City families, understanding the modern reality is the first step to protecting your child.

It’s Not Just Alcohol: While forced drinking remains a leading cause of death and injury, today’s hazing is multifaceted:

• Physical Abuse: “Smokings” with extreme calisthenics (like the 500 squats at UH), paddling, forced exposure to elements, sleep deprivation, and food/water restriction.
• Psychological Torment: Verbal abuse, isolation, threats of expulsion from the group, forced humiliation, and manipulation.
• Sexualized Degradation: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, and demeaning rituals.
• Digital Coercion: 24/7 monitoring via group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), forced social media posting, location tracking, and threats delivered through digital channels.

It Happens Everywhere: While fraternities and sororities are often in the headlines, hazing proliferates in:

• Athletic teams and spirit groups (cheer, dance, Texas Cowboys-style organizations)
• Corps of Cadets and ROTC units
• Marching bands and performance ensembles
• Academic clubs, honor societies, and cultural organizations

The common thread is a power imbalance where new members are coerced under the guise of “tradition,” “team building,” or “earning your place.” For parents in Cass County, this means the risk isn’t limited to Greek letters; it’s wherever a group dynamic prioritizes loyalty over safety.

The Texas Legal Framework: Criminal Penalties and Civil Liability

Texas takes hazing seriously. The Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F, provides the legal foundation that governs incidents affecting our City of Queen City students, whether they occur at UH, Texas A&M, or any other campus.

Texas Hazing Law (Plain English Summary):

• Definition: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers mental or physical health for the purpose of pledging, initiation, or affiliation with a campus group. It can occur on or off campus.
• Criminal Penalties: Ranges from a Class B misdemeanor to a State Jail Felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing they knew about.
• Critical Rule: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “went along with it,” the law recognizes the coercive power of peer pressure and group dynamics.
• Immunity: Texas law protects those who report hazing in good faith from liability, encouraging bystanders to call for help.

Civil Lawsuits: The Path to Accountability and Compensation
A criminal case is brought by the state to punish wrongdoing. A civil lawsuit, which our firm handles, is brought by the victim and family to recover damages and hold all responsible parties accountable. They can proceed simultaneously. In a civil hazing case, we can seek compensation for:

• Medical Expenses: Past and future hospital bills, therapy, surgery, and long-term care.
• Lost Wages & Earning Capacity: Time missed from work or school, and reduced future earnings due to permanent injury.
• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and emotional distress, including PTSD, anxiety, and humiliation.
• Wrongful Death Damages: If tragedy strikes, families can recover funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional anguish.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Case?
A thorough investigation identifies every entity with responsibility:

1. The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The campus organization itself, often as an unincorporated association or through its housing corporation.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters that set policies, collect dues, and have a history of similar incidents at other chapters (proof of “foreseeability”).
4. The University: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations if sexual harassment is involved.
5. Third Parties: Property owners, landlords of off-campus houses, or alcohol providers.

For City of Queen City families, this means justice doesn’t stop with the student who wielded the paddle. It extends to the organizations and institutions that enabled the culture of abuse.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The tragic case at UH follows a national script. Understanding these patterns proves that what happens to Texas students is not an accident, but a foreseeable result of institutional failures.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script:

• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge forced to drink a bottle of liquor during a “Big/Little” event; died of alcohol poisoning. Result: $10 million in settlements, criminal convictions, chapter closure.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Pledge died during a “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant drinking. Result: Felony convictions, the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana, civil settlements.
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Pledge died from acute alcohol poisoning at a “Big Brother” event. Result: Chapter closure, criminal charges, statewide reforms.

The Physical Torture Script:

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. Result: National fraternity criminally convicted, banned from Pennsylvania, members sent to jail.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Pledge suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. Result: Multi-million dollar settlements with 22 defendants, chapter closure.

The Athletic Hazing Script:

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to firings, confidential settlements, and multiple lawsuits, proving abuse extends far beyond Greek life.

What This Means for You: These national cases create legal precedents and demonstrate “pattern evidence.” When a fraternity at UH or Texas A&M uses the same dangerous practices as a chapter that killed a student in Ohio, it destroys the defense that the harm was “unforeseeable.” For City of Queen City families, this history strengthens your case.

Texas University Focus: Where Cass County Students Are at Risk

Families in City of Queen City and across Cass County send their children to universities across our great state. Here’s what you need to know about hazing at major Texas campuses.

University of Houston (UH) – A Stark Current Example

UH is at the center of the state’s most current, serious hazing litigation—the case we are handling for Leonel Bermudez. This isn’t historical; it’s active, and it reveals systemic issues.

• The Incident: As detailed in media reports from Click2Houston and ABC13, Bermudez’s pledging involved humiliation, forced overconsumption, waterboarding simulations, and extreme physical exertion leading to kidney failure.
• The Response: Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters suspended then closed the Beta Nu chapter. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” Our lawsuit seeks full accountability from the individuals, the chapter, the national fraternity, and the university itself.
• For Families: This case demonstrates that even in a major urban university, severe hazing persists. If your child is involved in Greek life at UH, vigilance is critical.

Texas A&M University – Tradition and Risk

For many in our region, Texas A&M is a top destination. Its strong traditions come with specific hazing risks in both Greek life and the Corps of Cadets.

• Corps of Cadets: A 2023 lawsuit alleged a cadet was subjected to degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position. The University stated it handled the matter internally.
• Fraternity Hazing: A Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) lawsuit around 2021 alleged pledges were doused with industrial cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts.
• Action for Parents: Ask specific questions about Corps “curriculum” or fraternity “new member education.” Document any mention of forced activities, sleep deprivation, or humiliation.

University of Texas at Austin – Public Records, Repeating Problems

UT Austin maintains a public hazing violations log, offering a window into recurring issues.

• Documented Violations: The public log shows sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics, and other spirit groups for alcohol-related hazing and forced workouts.
• Transparency as a Tool: This public record is valuable evidence. If your child is hazed by a group with prior violations, it proves the university and organization had prior knowledge of risky behavior.
• Recent SAE Incident: In January 2024, an Australian exchange student filed a lawsuit alleging a violent assault at an SAE party, resulting in broken bones and ligament damage, highlighting ongoing safety failures.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

These private, tradition-rich campuses are not immune.

• SMU: Past incidents include the Kappa Alpha Order chapter being suspended for paddling and forced drinking. SMU uses anonymous reporting tools, but internal processes often prioritize institutional protection.
• Baylor: Beyond past scandals, Baylor’s baseball team faced a 2020 hazing investigation resulting in multiple player suspensions, showing abuse spans all campus groups.

The Common Thread: At every major Texas university, hazing persists because systems of secrecy and institutional protection often outweigh individual student safety. For City of Queen City parents, this means you cannot rely solely on the school to protect your child or deliver justice.

The Greek Ecosystem: National Histories Meets Local Reality

The fraternities and sororities on Texas campuses are chapters of national organizations. These nationals have decades of hazing history—a history that becomes critical evidence in holding them accountable.

Why National History Matters in Your Case:
If your child is hazed by Pi Kappa Alpha at Texas A&M, the national Pi Kappa Alpha’s history—including the Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green—shows they knew the lethal risks of “Big/Little” alcohol hazing. Their voluminous anti-hazing policies exist because of this history. When a local chapter ignores those policies, the national organization can be liable for negligent supervision.

A Snapshot of National Patterns Relevant to Texas Campuses:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): Foltz death ($10M settlement); multiple other alcohol-related deaths and injuries nationwide.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Numerous hazing deaths; traumatic brain injury lawsuit at Alabama; chemical burn lawsuit at Texas A&M; assault lawsuit at UT Austin.
• Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): Andrew Coffey death at Florida State; now, the severe UH case we are litigating.
• Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): Max Gruver death at LSU, leading to felony hazing law.
• Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ): History of paddling and physical hazing; chapter suspensions at SMU and elsewhere.

Our firm maintains a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from public records, that maps the dense network of Greek organizations across the state. For example, IRS and organizational data shows over 125 Texas-registered Greek entities, from house corporations in Frisco to alumni chapters in Houston. This isn’t abstract data; it’s the map we use to identify every potentially liable entity—the local housing corporation, the alumni advisory board, the national headquarters—behind the letters on your child’s t-shirt.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Our Approach

When you come to us, we don’t start from scratch. We start with a deep understanding of how hazing works, how institutions cover it up, and how to build an unbeatable case for families in City of Queen City and across Texas.

Our Investigative Advantage: The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine
While other firms see a fraternity name, we see a network. Using proprietary analysis of public records, we identify:

• Local Entities: The Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc. (EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX) or the Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation (EIN 37-1768785, Missouri City, TX).
• Metro Footprint: The 188+ Greek organizations in the Houston metro area, each a potential source of evidence or liability.
• National Linkages: Cross-referenced brand data connecting local chapters to their national histories of hazing.

This data-driven approach means we know who to sue and where to find evidence before we file a single document.

Critical Evidence We Preserve and Pursue:

1. Digital Evidence: Deleted GroupMe chats, Snapchat stories, Instagram DMs, and text messages. We work with digital forensics experts to recover what organizations try to destroy. Our video on using your phone to document evidence outlines crucial first steps.
2. Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” books, meeting minutes, and emails between chapter officers and national advisors.
3. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same group, obtained through discovery or public records requests. A group with a prior hazing sanction is far more liable.
4. Medical & Psychological Records: Documentation of physical injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) and diagnoses of PTSD, depression, or anxiety.
5. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and neighbors. We know how to approach witnesses who are scared or feel guilty.

Overcoming Institutional Defenses:
We anticipate and dismantle the standard defenses:

• “They Consented”: Texas law (§37.155) explicitly voids this defense. We demonstrate the coercive power imbalance.
• “Rogue Individuals”: We show pattern evidence from the national organization’s history and prove inadequate supervision.
• “Off-Campus Activity”: Liability is based on relationship and foreseeability, not just geography.
• “We Have a Policy”: We prove the policy was a meaningless piece of paper, not an enforced safety protocol.

Why Our Firm’s Background is Decisive:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers undervalue claims, fight coverage, and drag out cases. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background.
• Complex Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing billion-dollar defendants. Universities and national fraternities use the same playbook of delay and denial. Learn about Ralph’s background.
• Dual Civil/Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand criminal hazing investigations and can advise clients on interacting with law enforcement.

Practical Guide for City of Queen City Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Immediate Steps

Red Flags Your Child May Be Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, limping), extreme fatigue, or sudden weight change.
• Behavioral shifts: withdrawal, anxiety, depression, defensiveness about the group.
• Secrecy: “I can’t talk about it,” deleting messages, being overly protective of their phone.
• Constant demands: Being “on call” for errands, mandatory late-night meetings, academic decline.
• Financial requests: Unexplained costs for alcohol, costumes, or “fines.”

What to Do in the First 48 Hours:

1. Prioritize Health: Seek medical care for any injury or psychological trauma. Tell the doctor it’s hazing-related.
2. Preserve Evidence: Gently ask to see and screenshot group chats, texts, or photos. Take pictures of injuries. Do not delete anything.
3. Document: Write down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, specific acts.
4. Call a Lawyer: Contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 before reporting to the university. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child’s rights and preserve evidence.
5. Avoid Common Mistakes: Do NOT confront the fraternity/sorority. Do NOT sign any university resolution agreements. Do NOT post details on social media.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No tradition is worth your life or health.
• “Consent” is Not a Defense: Under Texas law, you cannot consent to being hazed.
• How to Exit Safely: If you feel unsafe, leave. Tell a trusted friend, RA, or family member. You can resign your membership via email; you do not owe anyone an in-person explanation.
• How to Report: You can report to the Dean of Students, campus police, or anonymously through hotlines. Texas law provides immunity for good-faith reporters.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Case

We outline these in detail in our video on client mistakes. The top errors include:

• Deleting digital evidence.
• Giving a recorded statement to a university or insurance adjuster without an attorney.
• Waiting too long, allowing evidence to disappear and witnesses to scatter.

Why Choose Attorney911 for Your Hazing Case in Texas

When your family is in crisis, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates who understand the landscape, the opponents, and the path to justice. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including those here in City of Queen City, Atlanta, and throughout Cass County.

We are not just personal injury lawyers. We are hazing litigation specialists. We combine:

• A Data-Driven Investigative Edge with our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine.
• Insider Knowledge of how institutional defendants and their insurance companies operate.
• A Track Record of taking on the largest defendants in complex, high-stakes cases.
• Comprehensive Resources: A network of medical experts, psychologists, economists, and digital forensics specialists.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña provides fluent Spanish legal counsel for Hispanic families.
• A Contingency Fee Basis: You pay nothing unless we win your case. Learn how contingency fees work.

We are currently fighting for Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. We see every day the devastation hazing causes and the lengths institutions will go to avoid accountability. We are committed to changing that.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you suspect or know your child has been hazed at any Texas university—whether it’s UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, Baylor, or any other campus—you have the right to answers, accountability, and justice.

Time is critical. Evidence disappears quickly. Universities begin their internal processes. The clock on your legal rights is ticking. Texas statutes of limitations require action.

We invite you to contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. In this meeting, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain the legal options available to your family.
• Outline our investigative approach and strategy.
• Answer all your questions about the process, timeline, and costs.

You are not alone. Families in City of Queen City and across Texas have stood up to powerful institutions and won accountability. Let us help you do the same.

Contact Attorney911 – The Legal Emergency Lawyers™

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Se Habla Español: Contact Mr. Lupe Peña directly.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston Investigation: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
• ABC13 Coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Using Your Phone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes That Ruin Cases: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Firm Website & Profiles:

• Main Website & Contact: https://attorney911.com
• Ralph Manginello Profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/
• Lupe Peña Profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/

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. For advice on your specific situation, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a confidential consultation.