Hazing at Texas Colleges: What Parents in Slaton & Across Texas Need to Know

If you’re a parent in Slaton, Texas—or anywhere in Lubbock County—your child’s safety at college is your top priority. You imagine them thriving at Texas Tech University, the University of Texas, or another Texas campus. But a terrifying reality exists behind the scenes of fraternities, sororities, and campus clubs: a culture of hazing that can turn the college dream into a medical and legal nightmare. When loyalty and “tradition” become tools for coercion, abuse, and even life-threatening injury, families need to act fast.

Right now, Attorney911 is fighting one of the most serious hazing lawsuits in Texas history, representing Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, and 13 fraternity leaders. 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 workouts that caused Bermudez to develop rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization. This is not an isolated incident in Houston; it is a stark warning of what can and does happen on campuses across our state, including those attended by students from Slaton.

This comprehensive guide is for you—parents and families in Slaton and throughout Texas. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, break down Texas and federal law, examine the national patterns of abuse that repeat here in Texas, and provide a clear, actionable path forward if your family is facing this crisis. If you suspect your child is being hazed or has been injured, call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911. We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™, and we are already leading the fight for accountability in Texas.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate legal guidance.

In the first 48 hours:

• Get Medical Attention: Insist on a full medical evaluation, even for “minor” injuries. Conditions like rhabdomyolysis may not show symptoms immediately.
• Preserve Evidence: Screenshot ALL group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts), photograph injuries from multiple angles, and save any physical items (clothing, paddles, receipts). Do not delete anything.
• Document Everything: Write down what happened, including names, dates, times, and locations, while memories are fresh.
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or university directly.
  • Let your child delete digital evidence to “clean up.”
  • Post details on public social media.
  • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company without an attorney.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears quickly. Universities and national organizations move fast to control the narrative. We can help you preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights.

What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025

Hazing is no longer just about silly pranks or harmless traditions. It is a calculated system of abuse designed to assert power and create loyalty through fear, humiliation, and pain. For Slaton families, understanding the modern forms of hazing is critical to recognizing the warning signs.

Texas law (Education Code Chapter 37) defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with any organization. Consent is not a defense.

Hazing today typically falls into three escalating tiers:

1. Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize power imbalance. This includes forced servitude (being an on-call driver, cleaning members’ rooms), social isolation, being assigned derogatory nicknames, and 24/7 monitoring via group chats where pledges must respond instantly.

2. Harassment Hazing: Acts that cause emotional or physical discomfort. This includes:

   • Sleep Deprivation: Mandatory late-night or early-morning meetings.
   • Verbal Abuse: Yelling, insults, and threats.
   • Forced Consumption: Eating excessive amounts of bland food (milk, hot dogs) or unpleasant substances until vomiting.
   • Degrading Acts: Wearing humiliothing, public embarrassment.

3. Violent Hazing: Activities with a high potential for serious injury or death. This is what we see in the most severe cases, like the Bermudez lawsuit:

   • Forced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights, drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean drinking.
   • Physical Brutality: Paddling, beatings, extreme calisthenics (“smokings”) to the point of collapse.
   • Sexualized Assault: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts.
   • Dangerous “Tests”: Blindfolded tackles, exposure to extreme cold, or being restrained.

For Slaton parents, the digital component is especially critical. Hazing now lives in GroupMe chats, Instagram DMs, and Snapchat groups. Evidence is often captured on phone videos, only to be deleted when the chapter fears exposure. This digital trail is now the most important piece of evidence in holding organizations accountable.

Texas Law & Liability: Your Legal Framework

Understanding the law is the first step toward accountability. Texas has specific statutes, and federal laws also come into play, creating multiple avenues for justice.

Texas Hazing Law (Chapter 37, Education Code)

• Definition: Any reckless or intentional act that endangers physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation/affiliation. This applies on or off campus.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing or retaliating against someone who does.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity or sorority itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Key Protection: Texas law provides immunity for good-faith reporting. A student who calls 911 in a medical emergency, even if underage drinking was involved, should not face university discipline for the hazing violation.

Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Charges

It’s vital to understand the difference:

• Criminal Case: Brought by the state (DA) to punish with jail time or fines. The victim is a witness.
• Civil Lawsuit: Brought by the victim and family to recover compensation for damages: medical bills, pain and suffering, lost future earnings, and more. A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil case. Many hazing cases, like Bermudez v. UH, are civil lawsuits seeking millions in damages for catastrophic harm.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

A skilled hazing attorney will look to build a case against every responsible party, which often includes:

1. The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As an entity that allowed a culture of abuse to flourish.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority: Headquarters that collect dues, set policies, and often have prior knowledge of similar incidents in other chapters. Their failure to prevent known, dangerous patterns is a core negligence claim.
4. The University: Schools like UH, Texas A&M, or Texas Tech may be liable for negligent supervision if they knew or should have known about a dangerous pattern and failed to act.
5. Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, landlords, or even alcohol providers.

The National Playbook: How History Repeats in Texas

The tragic case at the University of Houston is not an anomaly. It follows a decades-old national playbook that organizations like Pi Kappa Phi have seen before. This pattern evidence is crucial in court, as it shows these tragedies are foreseeable and preventable.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): At Bowling Green State (2021), pledge Stone Foltz died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. His family secured a $10 million settlement. This pattern of “Big/Little” alcohol hazing is predictable.
• Beta Theta Pi: At Penn State (2017), Timothy Piazza died after a bid-acceptance night of forced drinking, with brothers delaying a 911 call. The case led to new felony hazing laws in Pennsylvania.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): This national fraternity has faced lawsuits across the country, including at Texas A&M, where pledges alleged being doused in industrial cleaner causing chemical burns requiring skin grafts.
• Phi Delta Theta: At LSU (2017), Max Gruver died during a “Bible study” drinking game, leading to Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act,” a felony hazing statute.

What This Means for Slaton Families: When a fraternity at Texas Tech or another Texas school engages in forced drinking or violent workouts, their national headquarters cannot claim ignorance. These national patterns form the backbone of a “negligent supervision” claim, proving the national organization failed to implement and enforce policies that would have protected your child.

The Texas Landscape: Where Slaton Students Go to College

Families in Slaton and Lubbock County have deep ties to Texas’s university systems. Your child may attend the local powerhouse, Texas Tech University in Lubbock, or venture to other major campuses. Each has its own Greek ecosystem and history of hazing incidents.

The Local Anchor: Texas Tech University & Lubbock Campuses

For many Slaton students, college means Texas Tech University. The Greek life community here is large and active. According to our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database of public records on Greek organizations—there are 59 Greek-related entities in the Lubbock metro area.

Public Records: Greek Organizations in the Lubbock Area
Our investigation into public IRS and organizational filings shows the formal structure behind Greek life. These entities often hold insurance and assets. For example:

• EIN 475033161: TKE OP HOUSING, 3522 158th St, Lubbock, TX 79423 (IRS B83 filing)
• EIN 751565336: FARM HOUSE FRATERNITY INC, 3 Greek Cir, Lubbock, TX 79416 (Texas Tech University Chapter – IRS B83 filing)
• EIN 820644459: HONOR SOCIETY OF PHI KAPPA PHI, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430 (Texas Tech Univ Health Sciences – IRS B83 filing)

Texas Tech has faced hazing allegations within its Greek system and other organizations. The University maintains policies against hazing and reporting channels through the Office of Student Conduct. As seen at other schools, the gap between policy on paper and enforcement in practice is where danger thrives.

Major Statewide Universities for Slaton Families

Beyond Texas Tech, Slaton students attend universities across Texas, each with significant Greek life and documented hazing issues.

1. University of Houston (UH) – The Flagship Case
This is where our active litigation is centered. Leonel Bermudez’s case against UH and Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter alleges a horrific pattern of abuse at the chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park. The university called the conduct “deeply disturbing,” and the chapter was shut down. This case is a current, real-time example of the institutional failure and severe injury that can occur. Click2Houston report on UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing case.

2. Texas A&M University – Corps & Greek Life
The combination of a massive Greek system and the tradition-heavy Corps of Cadets creates unique risks. In one lawsuit, a cadet alleged being bound in a “roasted pig” position as part of hazing. Sigma Alpha Epsilon at A&M faced a lawsuit over pledges suffering severe chemical burns.

3. University of Texas at Austin – Public Transparency
UT Austin maintains a public online log of hazing violations, offering a window into recurring issues. Entries show sanctions against fraternities like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced consumption and strenuous exercise, and against spirit groups for abusive behavior. This public record can be powerful evidence in a civil case.

4. Baylor University & Southern Methodist University (SMU)
These private universities have active Greek systems and their own histories of hazing investigations, from fraternity misconduct to team hazing within Baylor’s athletic programs.

Building a Powerful Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages

If hazing has injured your child, taking swift, strategic action is critical. The goal is to build an undeniable record that forces accountability from all responsible parties.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

1. Digital Evidence: This is paramount. Preserve GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord chats in their entirety. Screenshot everything, showing timestamps and sender names. Even deleted messages can often be recovered through digital forensics. Our video on using your phone to document evidence explains best practices.
2. Medical Documentation: Go to the hospital or a doctor immediately. Explain the hazing context so it is documented in the medical record. For injuries like rhabdomyolysis (as in the UH case), blood tests are crucial evidence.
3. Photographs & Videos: Take clear photos of injuries over several days to show progression. If there are videos of the hazing event, secure them.
4. Witness Information: Document the names and contact information of other pledges, members, or roommates.
5. Institutional Records: Through legal discovery, we can obtain the university’s prior disciplinary files on the organization and the national fraternity’s risk management records, showing patterns and prior knowledge.

The Damages You Can Recover

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim and family whole and to punish reckless behavior. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (emergency care, hospitalization, ongoing therapy, future surgeries), lost wages, and costs of disrupted education.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the unspeakable event of a death, families can recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme recklessness (like ignoring known, deadly patterns), courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendants and deter future conduct.

Practical Guide for Slaton Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation.
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities.
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Requests for money for unexplained “fines” or purchases.

What to Do:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’m concerned about your safety. Is anything happening that makes you uncomfortable?”
2. Prioritize Health: Seek medical evaluation for any injury.
3. Preserve, Don’t Confront: Collect evidence, but do not confront the organization—this triggers cover-ups.
4. Consult a Lawyer Early: Before reporting to the university, speak with an attorney. Universities often have a primary interest in limiting their own liability. Our video on client mistakes that can ruin a case details critical errors to avoid.

For Students: Your Rights & Safety

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No “tradition” justifies abuse.
• Consent is Not a Defense in Texas: You cannot legally agree to be hazed.
• If in Danger, Call 911: Texas law provides protections for good-faith reports in medical emergencies.
• You Can Walk Away: Your membership is not worth your life or health. Send a clear text or email resigning, and inform a trusted adult or campus official.
• Preserve Evidence: Screenshot everything. Take photos. Tell your parents.

Critical Mistakes to Avoid

• Deleting Digital Evidence: This is the fastest way to destroy a case. Save everything.
• Confronting the Chapter: This gives them a head start to destroy evidence and align stories.
• Signing University Paperwork: Do not sign any settlement, release, or disciplinary resolution without an attorney’s review.
• Waiting Too Long: Statutes of limitation apply. Learn about Texas filing deadlines in our video. Evidence and witness memories fade.

Why Choose Attorney911? We Are Already Fighting for Texas Families

When your family is facing a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury firm. You need attorneys with specific expertise in battling powerful universities and national fraternal organizations. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including those in Slaton and Lubbock County.

Our Active Texas Litigation: We are lead counsel in the Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are in the fight right now, facing the same institutional defendants and insurance companies that your family may be up against. We understand their tactics because we are currently in the arena.

Proven Institutional Litigators: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on a billion-dollar corporation. We are not intimidated by large universities or deep-pocketed national fraternities.

Insider Insurance Knowledge: Associate Attorney Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, fight coverage, and use delay tactics. We use this insider knowledge to maximize recovery for our clients.

Data-Driven Investigation: We built the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine used in this article. We don’t start from scratch; we use public records and investigative resources to map the entire organizational landscape behind a chapter, identifying all potentially liable parties from day one.

Full-Service Advocacy: We handle the complete case—from evidence preservation and dealing with university administration, to navigating potential criminal proceedings, to building a compelling civil lawsuit for maximum accountability. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay no fee unless we win.

If Hazing Has Touched Your Family in Slaton, Call Us Today

The journey from trauma to accountability is difficult, but you do not have to walk it alone. If your child has been hazed at Texas Tech, the University of Houston, Texas A&M, or any Texas campus, we are here to help you understand your rights and options.

Contact Attorney911 for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, review any evidence you have, and explain the legal path forward with compassion and clarity.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) Today.
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Website: https://attorney911.com
Se habla Español: Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com.

Let us help you turn this crisis into a catalyst for justice and change, protecting not only your child but also future students from Slaton and across Texas.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and law. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice regarding a hazing incident, please contact an attorney directly.

© The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911). All rights reserved.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Lawsuit:

• 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:

• Using Your Phone for Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Statute of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes to Avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Main Website:

• Attorney911: https://attorney911.com