The Complete Guide to Hazing Litigation for City of Red Oak Families: Protecting Texas Students at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU & Baylor
If your son or daughter is being hazed at a Texas university—whether they attend the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, or any other campus—the fear and confusion you feel right now is overwhelming. You’re getting vague texts. You see unexplained injuries. The university’s response feels inadequate. And you’re up against powerful institutions with deep pockets and experienced lawyers.
We understand because we’re fighting this battle right now for families like yours.
In November 2025, we filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who nearly died after being hazed by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. The allegations—detailed in exclusive Click2Houston and ABC13 reports—include forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under expulsion threats, and a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items. Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, passed brown urine, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. The chapter has since been shut down.
This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s part of a pattern we track across Texas using our proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a database of 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros, built from IRS records, university rosters, and public filings.
For families in City of Red Oak, Ellis County, and throughout North Texas, this guide explains what hazing really looks like in 2025, your legal rights under Texas law, and how to hold organizations accountable. Whether your child attends a local campus like Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie (just minutes from Red Oak) or a major hub like Texas A&M, UT Austin, or Baylor, the same dangerous patterns repeat. We serve families across Texas from our Houston, Austin, and Beaumont offices, bringing insider insurance knowledge and complex litigation experience to fight for your child’s safety and your family’s justice.
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)
In the first 48 hours:
- Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine”
- Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
- Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately
- Photograph injuries from multiple angles
- Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects)
- Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where)
- Do NOT:
- Confront the fraternity/sorority
- Sign anything from the university or insurance company
- Post details on public social media
- Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence
Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours: Evidence disappears fast (deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses). Universities move quickly to control the narrative. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation.
Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like for City of Red Oak Families
For parents in City of Red Oak sending children to Texas universities, understanding modern hazing requires looking beyond old stereotypes. What was once “hell week” paddling has evolved into sophisticated, digitally-coordinated abuse designed to avoid detection while maintaining coercive control.
The Three-Tier Reality of Modern Hazing
Tier 1: Subtle Hazing (The Gateway)
These behaviors emphasize power imbalance and create psychological harm:
- Deception oaths: “You can’t tell your parents, the university, or anyone what happens here.”
- Servitude requirements: Acting as 24/7 designated drivers, cleaning members’ rooms, running personal errands
- Social isolation: Cutting off contact with non-members, requiring permission to socialize
- Digital control: Mandatory 24/7 group chat monitoring (GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord), instant response requirements, location tracking via Find My Friends or Snapchat Maps
Tier 2: Harassment Hazing (The Escalation)
Behaviors causing emotional or physical discomfort:
- Sleep deprivation: Late-night “meetings,” 3 AM wake-up calls, multi-day events with minimal sleep
- Food/water manipulation: Forced consumption of spoiled food, hot sauce, excessive bland foods (like the milk and hot dogs in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case)
- “Voluntary” physical abuse: “Smokings” or extreme calisthenics framed as “conditioning” but actually punitive
- Digital humiliation: Forced embarrassing TikTok videos, meme creation mocking specific pledges
Tier 3: Violent Hazing (The Catastrophe)
Activities with high potential for death or severe injury:
- Forced alcohol consumption: “Lineup” drinking games, Big/Little nights with handles of liquor, “Bible study” drinking games where wrong answers mean drinking
- Physical beatings: Paddling, punches, kicks, “branding” with burns or cuts
- Sexualized hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual assault
- Dangerous “tests”: Blindfolded tackle rituals (like Pi Delta Psi’s “glass ceiling”), forced fights, intoxicated swimming
- Chemical hazing: Industrial cleaners poured on skin causing chemical burns (as alleged in Texas A&M SAE cases)
Why “Consent” Doesn’t Matter in Texas
A common defense we hear from fraternities is, “They wanted to do it.” Texas law recognizes the reality of coercion. Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is NOT a defense to hazing. When there’s a power imbalance between pledges and members—when social acceptance, friendship, and status are on the line—true voluntary consent doesn’t exist. The law protects students even from their own coerced “agreement.”
Law & Liability Framework: What City of Red Oak Families Need to Know
Texas Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37)
Texas has one of the nation’s most comprehensive anti-hazing statutes, and it applies whether hazing happens on-campus in College Station or at an off-campus Airbnb in Austin.
§ 37.151 Definition: Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, by one person alone or with others, directed against a student, that:
- Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, AND
- Occurs for the purpose of pledging, initiation into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students.
§ 37.152 Criminal Penalties:
- Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing without serious injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine)
- Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
- State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death
§ 37.153 Organizational Liability: Organizations can be fined up to $10,000 per violation and lose university recognition.
§ 37.154 Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Students who report hazing or call 911 in good faith are protected from liability.
§ 37.156 University Reporting Requirements: Texas colleges must publish annual hazing violation reports—a resource we use to establish pattern evidence.
Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability
Criminal Cases (The State’s Fight):
- Brought by prosecutors (Harris County, Travis County, Brazos County, etc.)
- Aim: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
- Typical charges: Hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases
Civil Cases (Your Family’s Fight):
- Brought by victims or surviving families
- Aim: Compensation and institutional accountability
- Focus: Negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress
These cases can run simultaneously. A criminal conviction isn’t required for civil success, but evidence from criminal investigations often strengthens civil claims.
Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, Clery
Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs (phased in by 2026).
Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger separate investigations and potential liability.
Clery Act: Requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics; hazing often overlaps with assault and alcohol crimes in Clery reports.
Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?
Our investigation in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case targeted 22 defendants across multiple categories:
- Individual Students: Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover up
- Local Chapter: The fraternity/sorority as a legal entity (like Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation)
- National Headquarters: Organizations that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters
- University & Governing Board: UH, UH System Board of Regents, and administrators
- Property Owners: Landlords of chapter houses or event spaces (like the Culmore Drive residence in the UH case)
- Alumni Organizations: Housing corporations and alumni groups that fund and support chapters
National Hazing Case Patterns: What Texas Families Can Learn
The tragedies at other universities aren’t just news stories—they’re legal precedents that shape what’s possible in Texas courts. Here’s what these cases teach us:
Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern
Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
- Incident: Pledge forced to consume entire bottle of alcohol during “Big/Little” night; died from alcohol poisoning
- Outcome: $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU)
- Texas Connection: Pi Kappa Alpha has multiple Texas chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, Baylor
Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
- Incident: Pledge forced to participate in “Bible study” drinking game; died with BAC of 0.495%
- Outcome: $6.1 million verdict, Louisiana enacted Max Gruver Act (felony hazing statute)
- Texas Connection: Phi Delta Theta chapters at all five major Texas universities
Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
- Incident: Bid acceptance night with extreme drinking; fatal falls captured on chapter cameras; delayed medical help
- Outcome: Dozens of criminal charges, civil settlements, Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law
- Texas Connection: Beta Theta Pi chapters at UT Austin and Texas A&M
Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern
Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
- Incident: Pledge blindfolded, weighted with backpack, repeatedly tackled during “glass ceiling” ritual; died from traumatic brain injury
- Outcome: National fraternity criminally convicted, banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years
- Lesson: Off-campus retreats don’t eliminate liability
Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021)
- Incident: Pledge forced to drink dangerous amounts during “pledge dad reveal”; suffered permanent brain damage (cannot walk, talk, or see)
- Outcome: Settlements with 22 defendants, estimated multi-million-dollar total
- Texas Connection: Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) chapters at Texas A&M and UT
What These Cases Mean for City of Red Oak Families
These national precedents establish crucial legal principles:
- Foreseeability: When a Texas chapter repeats the same script that caused death elsewhere, nationals can’t claim “we didn’t know this could happen”
- Pattern Evidence: Prior incidents at other chapters prove the organization’s knowledge of dangerous traditions
- Institutional Liability: Nationals aren’t just responsible for writing policies—they must enforce them
- Punitive Damages: Particularly reckless or indifferent conduct can justify punishment beyond compensation
Texas Focus: Where City of Red Oak Students Attend College
Families in City of Red Oak and Ellis County send students to universities across Texas. Understanding the specific risks and reporting structures at each campus is crucial. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks organizations across all these campuses.
University of Houston: The Flagship Case in Our Backyard
For City of Red Oak Families: UH is a major destination for Houston-area students, including those from Ellis County. The 2025 Pi Kappa Phi case proves that severe hazing happens right here in Texas.
5.1.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot
- Large urban research university with significant Greek life
- Over 40 fraternities and sororities across four councils (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, MGC)
- Mix of commuter and residential students
- Recent growth in Greek housing near campus
5.1.2 Hazing Policy & Reporting
- UH prohibits hazing on and off campus
- Reporting channels: Dean of Students Office, UHPD, online reporting forms
- Publishes some disciplinary information but less transparent than UT Austin
5.1.3 Documented Incidents & Responses
Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi (2025 – Active Case):
- Hazing Methods: “Pledge fanny pack” humiliation, forced consumption of milk/hot dogs/peppercorns until vomiting, hose spraying “similar to waterboarding,” 100+ push-ups/500 squats under expulsion threats, cold-weather exposure, overnight driving duties
- Medical Harm: Rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, brown urine, 4-day hospitalization, critically high creatine kinase levels
- Defendants: UH, UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, Beta Nu housing corporation, 13 individual fraternity leaders
- Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended chapter Nov 6, 2025; chapter voted to surrender charter Nov 14, 2025; UH called conduct “deeply disturbing”
2016 Pi Kappa Alpha Incident:
- Pledges deprived of food, water, sleep during multi-day event
- One student suffered lacerated spleen after being slammed onto table
- Chapter faced misdemeanor charges and suspension
5.1.4 How a UH Hazing Case Proceeds
- Jurisdiction: Harris County courts (state), Southern District of Texas (federal)
- Investigating Agencies: UHPD, Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff
- Common Defendants: Individuals, local chapter, national headquarters, UH, property owners
5.1.5 What UH Students & Parents Should Do
- Immediate Reporting: Document then report to UH Dean of Students (713-743-5470) and UHPD (713-743-3333)
- Evidence Preservation: Screenshot all GroupMe/WhatsApp conversations involving the chapter
- Medical Documentation: Visit UH Student Health Center or Texas Medical Center ER; explicitly state “I was hazed”
- Legal Consultation: Contact Attorney911 before speaking with university administrators about resolution
- Pattern Research: Check UH’s disciplinary records for prior incidents involving the same organization
Texas A&M University: Corps Culture & Greek Life
For City of Red Oak Families: A&M is a top destination for Central Texas students. Its unique Corps of Cadets culture and massive Greek system present specific hazing risks.
5.2.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot
- Nation’s largest Corps of Cadets (2,500+ members)
- Over 60 fraternities and sororities
- Strong tradition culture that sometimes masks abuse
- College Station’sisolated location can enable off-campus hazing
5.2.2 Hazing Policy & Reporting
- Separate policies for Greek life and Corps
- Reporting: Student Conduct Office, Corps Commandant’s Office, TAMU PD
- Anonymous reporting through EthicsPoint system
5.2.3 Documented Incidents & Responses
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021):
- Pledges allegedly covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, spit
- Severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries
- Chapter suspended for two years; civil lawsuit filed
Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Case (2023):
- Cadet alleged being bound between beds in “roasted pig” pose with apple in mouth
- Simulated sexual acts, degradation, humiliation
- Sought over $1 million in damages; A&M stated handled internally
2023 Kappa Sigma Rhabdomyolysis Allegations:
- Ongoing litigation involving severe muscle breakdown from extreme physical hazing
- Specialized medical investigation required
5.2.4 How a Texas A&M Case Proceeds
- Jurisdiction: Brazos County courts
- Investigating Agencies: TAMU PD, College Station PD, Brazos County Sheriff
- Unique Elements: Potential military jurisdiction for Corps members, extensive alumni network pressure
5.2.5 What Texas A&M Families Should Do
- Understand the Dual System: Different reporting paths for Greek vs. Corps hazing
- Medical Priority: Seek care at Baylor Scott & White or St. Joseph ER; rhabdomyolysis requires immediate treatment
- Document Traditions: Many hazing acts are framed as “traditions”—document exact descriptions
- Witness Identification: Corps units and fraternity houses have multiple witnesses; document names early
- Alumni Pressure: Be prepared for alumni to pressure against reporting; consult attorney first
University of Texas at Austin: Transparency & Repeated Violations
For City of Red Oak Families: UT’s public hazing violations database provides unique transparency but also reveals concerning patterns.
5.3.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot
- Nation’s largest Greek community among public universities
- Public hazing violations database at hazing.utexas.edu
- Strong institutional knowledge of hazing risks
- Major fraternity houses in West Campus area
5.3.2 Hazing Policy & Reporting
- Most transparent system in Texas
- Public database updated regularly
- Reporting: Dean of Students, UTPD, anonymous online form
5.3.3 Documented Incidents & Responses
Public Database Examples (2023-2024):
Pi Kappa Alpha (2023):
- Violation: New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics
- Sanction: Probation, mandatory hazing prevention education
- Pattern: Similar to UH Pi Kappa Phi milk consumption allegations
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024):
- Incident: Australian exchange student allegedly assaulted at party; dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, broken nose
- Civil Lawsuit: Student sued for over $1 million
- Chapter Status: Already under suspension for prior violations
- Pattern: SAE’s national history of violence repeating at UT
Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group):
- Multiple sanctions for forced workouts, alcohol hazing, punishment-based practices
- Demonstrates hazing extends beyond Greek life
5.3.4 How a UT Case Proceeds
- Jurisdiction: Travis County courts
- Investigating Agencies: UTPD, Austin PD
- Advantage: Public violation database provides immediate pattern evidence
5.3.5 What UT Students & Parents Should Do
- Check the Database: Immediately review hazing.utexas.edu for prior violations by the organization
- West Campus Evidence: Many incidents occur in private West Campus houses; document addresses and landlords
- University Leverage: UT’s transparency commitment can be leveraged in negotiations
- Multiple Reporting: File with UTPD AND Austin PD for off-campus incidents
- Digital Evidence Preservation: Austin’s tech-savvy student population means crucial evidence exists in digital form
Southern Methodist University: Private University Challenges
For City of Red Oak Families: SMU’s private status and affluent student body create unique dynamics in hazing cases.
5.4.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot
- Private university with high tuition costs
- Strong Greek presence despite smaller student body
- Significant alumni influence and fundraising
- University Park location in affluent Dallas area
5.4.2 Hazing Policy & Reporting
- Private university policies (less subject to public records requests)
- Reporting: Dean of Students, SMU PD, anonymous Real Response system
- Less transparency than public universities
5.4.3 Documented Incidents & Responses
Kappa Alpha Order (2017):
- New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink, deprived of sleep
- Chapter suspended until 2021
- Limited public details due to private university status
Sigma Alpha Epsilon: National pattern of incidents suggests ongoing monitoring needed
Kappa Sigma: Multiple Texas chapters with violation histories
5.4.4 How an SMU Case Proceeds
- Jurisdiction: Dallas County courts
- Investigating Agencies: SMU PD, University Park PD
- Challenges: Less public information, significant alumni pressure, private settlement preferences
5.4.5 What SMU Families Should Do
- Assume Less Transparency: Prepare for limited public information about prior incidents
- Alumni Network Awareness: Recognize that influential alumni may pressure against legal action
- Private Settlement Bias: SMU may push for confidential resolutions; consult attorney before agreeing
- University Park Jurisdiction: Understand that University Park PD handles off-campus incidents in immediate area
- Financial Leverage: SMU’s endowment and reputation concerns can be negotiation points
Baylor University: Religious Identity & Historical Challenges
For City of Red Oak Families: Baylor’s religious identity and prior scandals create complex dynamics in hazing cases.
5.5.1 Campus & Culture Snapshot
- Religious affiliation (Baptist) influencing conduct policies
- History of Title IX and sexual assault scandal oversight issues
- Growing Greek system despite religious identity
- Waco location with isolated off-campus housing
5.5.2 Hazing Policy & Reporting
- Conduct policies referencing religious values
- Reporting: Student Conduct Office, Baylor PD
- Anonymous reporting available but limited transparency
5.5.3 Documented Incidents & Responses
Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020):
- 14 players suspended following hazing investigation
- Staggered suspensions during season
- Limited public details released
Greek Life Incidents: Limited public reporting but known issues in:
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Kappa Sigma
- Phi Delta Theta
5.5.4 How a Baylor Case Proceeds
- Jurisdiction: McLennan County courts
- Investigating Agencies: Baylor PD, Waco PD
- Complexities: Religious identity may influence internal proceedings, Title IX history affects institutional response
5.5.5 What Baylor Families Should Do
- Understand Religious Context: Baylor’s conduct process may reference religious values
- Title IX History Leverage: University’s prior oversight failures can be cited in negligence claims
- Waco Isolation: Off-campus hazing may occur in remote locations; document addresses thoroughly
- Medical Documentation: Use Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest ER; explicitly state hazing cause
- Pattern Evidence Research: Despite limited public data, discoverable internal records exist
Fraternities & Sororities: Campus-Specific + National Histories
National organizations don’t operate in isolation. When a chapter at UT Austin repeats the same hazing that killed a student at Bowling Green, that’s not coincidence—it’s evidence.
Why National Histories Matter in Texas Courts
Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations through IRS B83 filings. When we represent a family, we immediately research:
- National Hazing History: What incidents have occurred at other chapters?
- Prior Warnings: What did nationals know and when?
- Policy vs. Practice: Were anti-hazing policies actually enforced?
- Texas Entity Mapping: What legal entities exist in Texas (house corporations, alumni chapters)?
Organization Mapping: National Patterns at Texas Campuses
Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike) – All 5 Texas Campuses
- National History: Stone Foltz death (BGSU, $10M settlement), David Bogenberger death (NIU, $14M settlement)
- Texas Incidents: UH (2016 lacerated spleen), UT (2023 milk/calisthenics violation)
- Legal Significance: National pattern of Big/Little alcohol hazing establishes foreseeability
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ) – All 5 Texas Campuses
- National History: Multiple hazing deaths nationwide, traumatic brain injury lawsuit (Alabama), eliminated pledge program in 2014 due to pattern
- Texas Incidents: Texas A&M (chemical burns lawsuit), UT (2024 assault lawsuit), multiple Texas chapter suspensions
- Legal Significance: Nationals knew extreme risks but Texas chapters continued dangerous practices
Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ) – UH, Texas A&M
- National History: Andrew Coffey death (FSU, chapter closed)
- Texas Incident: UH (2025 Bermudez case, active $10M lawsuit, chapter closed)
- Legal Significance: Same organization, same state, similar alcohol/physical hazing pattern
Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ) – All 5 Texas Campuses
- National History: Max Gruver death (LSU, $6.1M verdict, Max Gruver Act)
- Texas Presence: Chapters at all major universities
- Legal Significance: Louisiana’s felony hazing law resulted from this case; Texas has similar provisions
Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ) – SMU, Texas A&M, UT
- National History: Multiple hazing suspensions nationwide
- Texas Incident: SMU (2017 paddling/drinking/sleep deprivation suspension)
- Legal Significance: Pattern of physical hazing continues despite national awareness
Texas-Specific Entity Tracking: The Public Records Reality
Our investigation for the UH Pi Kappa Phi case began with public records. Here’s what we track for every major fraternity/sorority in Texas:
Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc
- EIN: 462267515
- Address: 10601 Big Horn Trail, Frisco, TX 75035-6629
- Data Source: IRS B83 Public Filing
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter
- EIN: 746064445
- Address: 1855 Highway 69 N, Nederland, TX 77627-8843
- Data Source: IRS B83 Public Filing (Beaumont area alumni/house corp)
Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc
- EIN: 741380362
- Address: PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147-0061
- Data Source: IRS B83 Public Filing (matches Cause IQ DFW metro listing)
These entities—and 122+ others in Texas—often hold insurance policies, own property, and control funds that can be sources of recovery in hazing cases.
The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro Connection
For City of Red Oak families, understanding the DFW Greek ecosystem is crucial. Our data shows:
- 510 Greek organizations in the DFW-Arlington metro area
- 188 organizations in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro
- 154 organizations in Austin-Round Rock metro
- 86 organizations in San Antonio metro
Specific organizations serving City of Red Oak and Ellis County families include:
Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Waxahachie – Ellis County)
- Local campus with student organizations
- Proximity to DFW Greek network
DFW-Based Greek Entities Relevant to Red Oak:
- Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity – Fort Worth, TX 76244 (IRS EIN: 742911848)
- Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation – Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS EIN: 741380362)
- Kappa Alpha Order – Gamma Sigma Chapter – Canyon, TX (West Texas A&M)
- Multiple alumni chapters and housing corporations throughout North Texas
When hazing occurs, these entities—not just the undergraduate chapter—may share liability.
Building a Case: Evidence, Damages & Strategy for Texas Families
Winning a hazing case requires more than just proving something bad happened. It requires building an unassailable narrative of institutional failure and preventable harm.
Evidence Collection: The Digital Crime Scene
Group Chats & Digital Communications (Most Critical Evidence):
- Platforms: GroupMe (most common), WhatsApp, iMessage groups, Discord servers, fraternity-specific apps
- Preservation Method: Screenshot ENTIRE conversations with timestamps visible. Don’t just capture the incriminating message—show context before and after.
- Forensic Recovery: Even deleted messages can often be recovered through digital forensics experts we work with regularly.
Social Media Evidence:
- Instagram Stories showing hazing events (disappear after 24 hours—screenshot immediately)
- Snapchat memories and saved snaps
- TikTok videos of “challenges” or humiliating acts
- Facebook events and Messenger planning conversations
Physical Evidence:
- Injuries: Photograph immediately, then daily to show progression. Include coin/ruler for scale.
- Locations: Photos of houses, rooms, Airbnbs where hazing occurred
- Objects: Paddles, alcohol bottles, “pledge fanny packs,” costumes, props
Medical Documentation:
- ER records must explicitly state “hazing” as cause
