The Complete Texas Hazing Guide for Families in Runge and Surrounding Communities

If you are a parent in Runge, Kenedy, Karnes City, or anywhere across Karnes County, you know the pride of sending your child to pursue higher education at one of Texas’s renowned universities. You also know the unspoken worry that shadows that pride—the concern for their safety in a new, independent environment. That worry can turn to nightmare when a phone call reveals your child has been hurt, not in an accident, but in a ritual meant to bring them into a brotherhood or sisterhood.

Right now, in our own state, we are fighting a case that exemplifies this modern parental nightmare. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a student at the University of Houston, in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and 13 individual members of its now-shuttered Beta Nu chapter. According to the lawsuit, reported by Click2Houston and ABC13, Mr. Bermudez was subjected to months of abuse. This included carrying a humiliating “pledge fanny pack,” forced overnight driving duties, and extreme physical hazing at locations including the fraternity house and Yellowstone Boulevard Park. The abuse culminated in a November workout where he was forced to do over 100 push-ups and 500 squats. He later collapsed, passed brown urine, and was hospitalized for four days with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—a life-threatening condition caused by severe muscle breakdown.

This is not an isolated story from a distant state. This happened at a major Texas university, to a Texas family not unlike yours. It is proof that dangerous hazing persists, often hidden behind tradition and letters. This guide is for you—the parents, grandparents, and families in Runge and across South Texas who need to understand the reality of hazing, the laws that protect your children, and the pathways to accountability when those protections fail.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If you suspect your child is in immediate danger or has been seriously injured in connection with fraternity, sorority, Corps, or team activities:

1. Call 911 for any medical emergency.
2. Call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate legal guidance.
3. Preserve Evidence NOW: Before anything is deleted, help your child screenshot group chats (GroupMe, texts), photograph injuries, and save any physical items. Do not confront the organization.
4. Seek Medical Attention: A medical record is critical. Even if injuries seem minor, internal damage like rhabdomyolysis can be fatal.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or “hard partying.” It is a calculated abuse of power designed to create loyalty through trauma. For families in Runge, where community and respect are core values, understanding its modern forms is the first step to protection.

Hazing is any intentional or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of joining or maintaining status in a group. In Texas, a student’s “consent” is not a legal defense.

The Tactics Have Evolved:

• Digital Control & Humiliation: Pledges are often required to be on-call 24/7 via group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), respond instantly to demands, and share their live location. Humiliation is broadcast via social media challenges or degrading posts.
• Disguised as “Wellness” or “Team Building”: Extreme calisthenics are framed as “fitness tests.” Sleep deprivation is part of “bonding retreats.” Forced eating or drinking contests are called “family dinners.”
• Off-Campus & Underground: To avoid university oversight, the most severe hazing often occurs at remote Airbnbs, off-campus houses, or anonymous rentals, like the Culmore Drive residence used in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case.
• Psychological Coercion: The pressure isn’t just physical. It’s the threat of social isolation, the fear of letting down your “brothers” or “sisters,” and the manipulated desire to belong.

The physical acts remain brutally consistent: forced alcohol consumption leading to poisoning, paddling, beating, extreme exposure to elements, and violent physical tests. The result, as in Leonel Bermudez’s case, can be catastrophic, permanent injury or death.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Karnes County Family’s Guide

Texas has clear laws against hazing, designed to protect students at our public and private universities. Understanding this framework is crucial for Runge families navigating a crisis.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 (Hazing):

• Definition: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers a student’s physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death—exactly what allegedly occurred in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§37.155) explicitly states that the victim’s “consent” to the hazing activity is not a defense. This defeats the common argument that “they wanted to be part of it.”
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose its university recognition.

Civil Liability: Where Justice Seeks Accountability
A criminal case is brought by the state to punish. A civil lawsuit, which we file on behalf of victims, seeks to recover damages and force institutional change. Potentially liable parties include:

1. The Individuals: Members who planned, executed, or concealed the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As an entity that allowed a culture of abuse to flourish.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters that collect dues, provide insurance, and often have prior knowledge of similar incidents at other chapters.
4. The University: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision if they knew or should have known about a pattern of dangerous behavior and failed to act. The lawsuit against UH alleges this very failure.
5. Property Owners & Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses or venues that enable dangerous conduct.

Where Runge Families Send Their Students: The Texas University Landscape

Families in Karnes County proudly send their students to universities across Texas. The promise of a bright future should not come with hidden dangers. Here is the hazing landscape at the schools your children are most likely to attend.

Major Statewide Hubs for Runge Students:

• Texas A&M University (College Station): A top destination with a massive Greek system and the storied Corps of Cadets. Both have faced serious hazing allegations, including a Sigma Alpha Epsilon lawsuit over chemical burns and Corps hazing lawsuits involving degrading physical abuse.
• University of Texas at Austin: UT maintains a public hazing violations log, a transparency tool that reveals recurring issues with organizations like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced consumption and strenuous calisthenics.
• University of Houston: As the home of our flagship Bermudez case, UH is under a spotlight. The alleged systemic abuse in Pi Kappa Phi reveals how hazing can persist even at a major commuter school.
• Texas State University (San Marcos), Texas Tech University (Lubbock), Baylor University (Waco): Each has faced significant hazing incidents, from athletic team suspensions to fraternity misconduct leading to chapter closures.

Regional Campuses Close to Home:

• University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
• Texas A&M University-San Antonio
• Texas A&M University-Kingsville
• Coastal Bend College
• Victoria College

Hazing is not limited to flagship schools. It occurs wherever groups use power and tradition to exploit new members.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: A Public Records Directory for Runge Parents

If your child is hazed, you are not starting from zero. We maintain a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from public IRS and organizational data, to track the entities behind the letters. This directory is a snapshot of the complex network that operates behind the scenes at Texas universities.

Public Records: Greek Organizations Serving Texas Students (IRS B83 Data)
The following are real, Texas-registered organizations (fraternity housing corporations, alumni chapters, honor societies) as recorded in public IRS filings. This illustrates the depth of our investigative reach.

• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 filing)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing)
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 133048786, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 filing)
• Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Texas Eta, EIN 824398421, Richmond, TX 77406 (IRS B83 filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843 (Texas A&M University Chapter, IRS B83 filing)
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc, EIN 475370943, Houston, TX 77204 (Theta Delta Chapter, IRS B83 filing)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 746084905, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 filing)
• Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, EIN 900927378, San Antonio, TX 78249 (Texas Xi Chapter, IRS B83 filing)
• Frank Heflin Foundation (Phi Delta Theta alumni), EIN 203507402, Canyon, TX 79015 (IRS B83 filing)

Metro-Level Greek Presence (Cause IQ Data):
The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area, which influences much of South Texas, is home to 188 Greek-related organizations. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro has 510. These include undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, housing corporations, and educational foundations for groups like Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Delta Sigma Theta, and Omega Psi Phi.

Why This Data Matters for Your Case:
When hazing occurs, we don’t just sue the students in the room. We identify every entity with potential liability and insurance coverage—from the local chapter house corporation to the national headquarters alumni fund. This comprehensive approach is how we build maximum leverage for families in Runge and across Texas.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and the Attorney911 Advantage

Fighting a hazing case means fighting powerful institutions with deep pockets and experienced defense lawyers. Our approach is built on a foundation of insider knowledge, meticulous investigation, and proven litigation strategy.

1. Evidence Preservation is Everything (The First 48 Hours)
Evidence disappears at alarming speed. Our immediate guidance focuses on preservation:

• Digital Forensics: Screenshot ALL group chats (GroupMe, iMessage, WhatsApp). Do not delete anything, even if embarrassing. We work with experts to recover deleted messages.
• Medical Documentation: Go to the ER or a doctor immediately. Tell them exactly what happened. Medical records linking injuries to hazing are irreplaceable.
• Photograph Everything: Injuries, locations, bruises, and any objects used. Our video on using your phone to document evidence outlines best practices.
• Witness List: Document names and contact info for other pledges, members, or roommates.

2. Our Competitive Advantages for Texas Families

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense lawyer for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers undervalue claims, fight coverage, and use delay tactics. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar corporations or national fraternities. We have the federal court experience and resources to take them on.
• Data-Driven Investigation: We use our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine to map organizational liability. We subpoena national fraternity records to prove prior knowledge and pattern of conduct.
• Full Damages Recovery: We don’t just settle for medical bills. We work with economists and life-care planners to secure compensation for future medical needs, lost earning capacity, profound pain and suffering, and emotional trauma. In wrongful death cases, we help families navigate unimaginable loss.

Practical Steps for Runge Parents and Students

If You Suspect Hazing:

• Talk to Your Child: Ask open-ended questions. “Are you able to get enough sleep?” “Do you feel pressured to do things that make you uncomfortable?” Listen without judgment.
• Look for Signs: Unexplained injuries, drastic weight change, withdrawal from family, constant anxiety about phone notifications, deteriorating grades, and secrecy about organization activities.
• Know the Reporting Paths: You can report anonymously to the university’s Dean of Students, the campus police, or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE. However, for legal accountability, consult an attorney first to protect your rights.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case:

1. Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” group chats or texts destroys your case.
2. Confronting the Organization: This triggers their defense lawyers and evidence destruction.
3. Signing University Paperwork: Universities may offer quick “resolutions” that waive your right to sue.
4. Waiting Too Long: Texas has a statute of limitations. Evidence and witness memories fade. Watch our video on Texas statutes of limitations.
5. Talking to Insurance Adjusters Alone: Their goal is to settle for the least amount possible. Always have counsel.

Why Families in Runge and Across Texas Choose Attorney911

When hazing shatters a family’s trust, you need advocates who combine relentless investigation with genuine compassion. We are Texas-based hazing litigation specialists who serve families statewide from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.

We are currently leading the charge in the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case because we believe in fighting for full accountability. We see the same dangerous patterns in fraternities and sororities at Texas A&M, UT, and schools across the country. Our mission is to use the law to secure justice for your family and force the systemic changes needed to prevent the next injury, the next hospitalization, the next death.

We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case. Learn how contingency fees work.

Contact Attorney911 for a Confidential, Free Consultation

If your child has been hazed, injured, or worse, at any Texas university or college, you are not alone. The path forward begins with a conversation.

We will listen to your story, review the evidence you have, and explain your legal options clearly and honestly. We serve the entire State of Texas, and we understand the concerns facing families in Runge, Karnes County, and South Texas.

Call us 24/7 for immediate help: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)

You can also reach us at:

• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Email: ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com
• Website: https://attorney911.com

Se habla Español. Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

Let us help you demand answers, secure accountability, and protect your child’s future.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston Report: 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:

• Documenting Evidence with Your Phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Main Firm Website:

• Attorney911: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is unique, and you should consult with a qualified attorney about your specific situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.