A Guide for Southmayd Families: Understanding Campus Hazing, Fraternity Lawsuits, and Your Legal Rights in Texas

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

For parents in Southmayd and across Grayson County, sending a child to college is a milestone filled with pride and hope. You imagine them thriving in class, making lifelong friends, and building a future. The thought that they could be systematically abused, humiliated, or forced into danger by the very organizations promising “brotherhood” or “sisterhood” is a parent’s worst nightmare. Yet, right now in Texas, this nightmare is a reality for families just like yours.

Consider a scenario that could unfold at any Texas campus: A student from a tight-knit community like Southmayd accepts a bid to a fraternity, wanting to belong. What starts as seemingly harmless traditions soon escalates. He is forced to carry a degrading “pledge fanny pack” at all times. He is woken for 3 AM workouts at a public park, sprayed in the face with a hose “like waterboarding,” and compelled to overeat until he vomits, only to be forced to sprint immediately after. The physical toll mounts until he collapses, his urine turning brown—a sign of severe muscle breakdown and acute kidney failure. He is hospitalized for days, facing the risk of permanent organ damage. The university calls the conduct “deeply disturbing.” The national fraternity headquarters suspends the chapter. The chapter votes to shut down. And a $10 million lawsuit is filed to seek accountability.

This is not a hypothetical. This is the active, ongoing case of Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston (UH), involving the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, as detailed in recent reports by Click2Houston and ABC13. Our firm, The Manginello Law Firm (Attorney911), represents Mr. Bermudez in this serious hazing and abuse lawsuit. We are fighting this case because what happened to him is preventable, unacceptable, and part of a dangerous pattern across Texas and the nation.

If you are a parent in Southmayd, Denison, Sherman, or anywhere in Grayson County, this comprehensive guide is for you. We will explain what hazing truly looks like today, the Texas laws designed to protect your child, the disturbing patterns at universities where Texas families send their students, and the legal pathways to accountability. Whether your child attends a local institution, a major Texas flagship, or a school out of state, the principles of safety, dignity, and justice remain the same.

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) for immediate legal guidance. We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason.

In the first 48 hours:

• Get medical attention immediately, even if your child resists.
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it disappears: Take screenshots of all group chats (GroupMe, texts), photograph injuries from multiple angles, and save any physical items involved.
• Write down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, actions—while memories are fresh.
• DO NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
  • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
  • Sign anything from a university or insurance company.
  • Post details on public social media.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24-48 hours. Evidence vanishes quickly, and institutions move fast to control the narrative. We can help you secure evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: It’s More Than “Just Partying”

Hazing is often minimized as “tradition,” “team bonding,” or “just how things are done.” For parents, this obscures a harsh reality: hazing is a calculated pattern of coercion and abuse that endangers physical and mental health for the sake of affiliation. Under Texas law, it is a crime. In civil court, it is a serious wrong that demands accountability.

Modern hazing is not one act but a spectrum of harmful behaviors, often escalating in severity:

1. Digital Control & Psychological Hazing:

• 24/7 Group Chat Servitude: Pledges are expected to respond instantly to messages at all hours, causing sleep deprivation and anxiety.
• Social Media Policing: Control over what pledges can post, or forced participation in humiliating online “challenges.”
• Isolation & Secrecy: Cutting off contact with non-members and being sworn to secrecy with threats of expulsion.

2. Harassment & Degradation:

• Forced Servitude: Acting as on-call drivers, cleaners, and errand-runners for older members.
• Public Humiliation: Wearing degrading costumes, performing embarrassing acts, or enduring “roasts.”
• Sleep & Food Deprivation: Mandatory late-night sessions that disrupt academics and health.

3. Violent and Dangerous Hazing (The “Traditions” That Kill and Maim):

• Forced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights, “Bible study” drinking games, lineups, and funneling that lead to alcohol poisoning—the leading cause of hazing deaths.
• Extreme Physical Abuse: Paddling, beatings, “smokings” involving hundreds of push-ups or squats (as in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case), and dangerous “rituals” like blindfolded tackles.
• Sexualized Assault: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, and coercive environments.
• Exposure to Harm: Being left in extreme cold/heat, covered in harmful chemicals, or subjected to dangerous drives.

These activities often occur off-campus at houses, rentals, or remote properties to avoid university oversight. They are framed as “optional,” but the social cost of refusal—ostracism, shame, denial of membership—makes them mandatory in practice.

Texas Law & Liability: The Legal Framework Protecting Your Child

Texas has specific laws to combat hazing, but they are only as strong as the will to enforce them. Understanding this framework is the first step to holding organizations accountable.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Anti-Hazing Statute

The law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed at a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation that endangers physical health or safety OR causes severe mental distress. Key provisions include:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. If it causes serious bodily injury (like rhabdomyolysis or a traumatic brain injury) or death, it becomes a state jail felony. Individuals who fail to report hazing or who retaliate against reporters also face criminal charges.
• “Consent is NOT a Defense”: Texas law is clear. A student’s “agreement” to participate under peer pressure and coercion is legally meaningless. This directly counters the common defense of “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.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Students who report hazing or call 911 in a medical emergency are protected from university sanctions and certain criminal liabilities related to underage drinking. This “Good Samaritan” principle is meant to save lives.

Civil Lawsuits: The Path to Accountability and Compensation

A criminal case, pursued by the state, aims to punish. A civil lawsuit, pursued by the victim and their family, aims to achieve three things: compensate the victim for their harm, hold every responsible party accountable, and force institutional change to prevent future abuse.

In a civil hazing case, liability can extend to a “universe” of defendants:

• The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, executed, or covered up the abuse.
• The Local Chapter: As an organized entity.
• The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to adequately supervise, train, or intervene despite knowing patterns of misconduct (a key argument in the Bermudez case against Pi Kappa Phi nationals).
• The University: For negligent supervision, ignoring prior warnings, or creating an environment that enabled the abuse.
• Housing Corporations & Property Owners: For allowing dangerous activities on their premises.
• Chapter Officers & Advisors: Who had a duty to prevent harm.

Federal Overlays: Title IX, Clery, and the Stop Hazing Act

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based discrimination, federal Title IX obligations require the university to investigate and address it.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to disclose campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.
• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): A new federal law requiring increased transparency in hazing reporting and stronger prevention programs at federally funded schools.

National Case Patterns: Tragic Proof That History Repeats Itself

The hazing that occurs at Texas schools is not an isolated phenomenon. It follows well-documented, deadly scripts played out across the country. These national cases are critical because they establish patterns that prove national organizations and universities knew or should have known the risks.

• The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern: Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017) died after a bid-acceptance night of forced drinking, with brothers delaying a 911 call for hours. Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017) died during a “Bible study” drinking game, leading to Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act.” Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021) died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol, resulting in a $10 million settlement. These cases show the fatal predictability of forced-drinking “traditions.”

• The Physical Ritual Pattern: Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013) died from traumatic brain injury after a violent, blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted.

• The Athletic Hazing Pattern: The Northwestern University football scandal (2023-2025) involved allegations of widespread sexualized and racist hazing, resulting in lawsuits, coach firations, and confidential settlements, proving abuse extends far beyond Greek life.

These cases resulted in multi-million dollar settlements, felony convictions, and new laws. They prove that when families and skilled attorneys fight back, they can secure justice and drive systemic change.

The Texas Reality: Hazing at Universities Serving Southmayd Families

Students from Southmayd and Grayson County attend a wide range of Texas institutions, from nearby colleges to major flagship universities. Each campus has its own Greek life ecosystem and history of hazing incidents.

The North Texas & DFW Greek Ecosystem

Southmayd is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. According to our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database built from IRS records, university filings, and public data—this metro is home to one of the densest concentrations of Greek organizations in the state, with over 510 fraternities, sororities, alumni chapters, and housing corporations identified in public records.

This includes everything from undergraduate chapter houses to graduate alumni associations and national foundation arms. For example, public filings show entities like the Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 74-1380362) in Fort Worth and the Beta Upsilon Chi Christian fraternity (EIN 74-2911848), also in Fort Worth. These entities often hold insurance policies and assets that can be crucial in a civil lawsuit.

Where Southmayd Families Send Their Students

1. Local & Regional Campuses:

• Austin College (Sherman, Grayson County): A private liberal arts college with Greek life on campus. Families in Southmayd may have children who commute or live on campus here.
• Grayson College (Denison, Grayson County): A community college that may feed into university Greek systems.
• University of North Texas (Denton, Denton County) & Texas Woman’s University (Denton): Major universities within a manageable drive, with large, active Greek communities.

2. Major Statewide Universities (Common Destinations):

• University of Houston (UH): As the flagship case in this article demonstrates, UH has a significant Greek system where severe hazing has occurred. The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter house was located near campus.
• Texas A&M University (College Station): Home to a massive Greek system and the Corps of Cadets, both with documented hazing issues. A Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) chapter was sued after pledges suffered severe chemical burns from industrial cleaner. The Corps has faced lawsuits over disturbing hazing rituals.
• University of Texas at Austin (UT): Maintains a public “Hazing Violations” log, listing sanctions against fraternities like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced consumption and strenuous exercise.
• Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University (Waco): Both private universities with prominent, tradition-heavy Greek systems that have faced hazing scandals and suspensions.

Public Records Snapshot: The Organizations Behind the Letters

To illustrate the complex web of liability, here is a small sample from our directory of Texas-registered Greek entities. This shows the kind of organizational infrastructure we investigate in every hazing case:

• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Arlington-Grand Prairie Alumni Chapter (EIN 23-2452759). PO Box 542901, Grand Prairie, TX 75054. (IRS B83 Filing).
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 46-2267515). 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035. (This is the housing corp for the UH chapter involved in the Bermudez lawsuit. IRS B83 Filing).
• Sigma Phi Epsilon – Texas Eta (EIN 82-4398421). 1305 FM 359 Rd, Richmond, TX 77406. (IRS B83 Filing).
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 74-1380362). PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147. (IRS B83/Cause IQ Overlap).
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – University of North Texas Chapter (EIN 26-3170920). 411 Texas St Rm 219, Denton, TX 76204. (IRS B83 Filing).

These entities, and hundreds like them, are part of the financial and operational backbone of Greek life in Texas. In a lawsuit, we identify every potentially liable organization, from the local chapter to the national headquarters to the alumni housing corporation that owns the property where abuse occurred.

How Attorney911 Builds a Hazing Case: Data, Strategy, and Experience

When a family from Southmayd comes to us after a hazing incident, we don’t start from scratch. We deploy a methodical, data-driven strategy honed from years of fighting powerful institutions.

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation & Investigation:
We guide families to secure evidence that disappears within days: deleted GroupMe chats, Snapchat videos, Instagram stories, text messages, and photos of injuries. We employ digital forensics when necessary. We also immediately subpoena university records for prior complaints against the same organization—evidence that proves a pattern of known misconduct.

2. Identifying the Full Universe of Liability:
Using engines like our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we map every related entity: the undergraduate chapter, the national headquarters, the housing corporation, the alumni advisory board, and the university’s governing board. Each may carry insurance or assets that can provide compensation and ensure accountability.

3. Overcoming Standard Defense Tactics:
Fraternities and universities have deep-pocketed insurers and skilled defense lawyers. They deploy common defenses we are expert at dismantling:

• “The Pledge Consented”: We cite Texas law where consent is no defense and show the coercive power dynamics.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We use national hazing history databases to prove the national organization was aware of identical dangerous “traditions” at other chapters.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: We argue duty of care extends to recognized organizations regardless of location.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”: With Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney, we know how to navigate coverage disputes and argue for negligent supervision claims that insurers must cover.

4. Quantifying the Full Harm:
Damages in a hazing case are not just about medical bills. We work with experts to account for:

• Economic Damages: Past/future medical care, lost educational opportunities, diminished future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression), humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the ultimate tragedy, we seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and the family’s profound grief.

Practical Guidance for Southmayd Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Steps to Take

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, burns, or constant exhaustion.
• Drastic personality changes (withdrawal, anxiety, secrecy).
• Becoming overly defensive about the organization.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Requests for large sums of money without clear reasons.

If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “Has anything made you uncomfortable during pledging?” “Are you able to say ‘no’ to things they ask you to do?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there is any immediate danger or medical concern, call 911.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot everything before messages are deleted. Photograph injuries.
4. Contact an Attorney Before Reporting: Once you involve the university or police, evidence can be hidden. An attorney can advise on the strategic order of operations. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

For Students: Is This Hazing? How to Exit Safely.

Ask Yourself:

• Am I being pressured or threatened with exclusion if I don’t participate?
• Would I do this if I truly had a free choice?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Am I told to keep it a secret?

If It’s Hazing:

• Your safety comes first. In an emergency, call 911. Texas law protects those who call for help.
• You have the right to leave. Send a simple email or text: “I am resigning my membership, effective immediately.” You do not owe an explanation.
• Document and report. Save evidence. You can report anonymously to campus authorities or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). For legal accountability, contact a lawyer.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case

We urge families to watch our video on Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case. Key errors include:

• Deleting digital evidence.
• Confronting the organization directly, which triggers evidence destruction.
• Signing university “resolution” forms without an attorney’s review.
• Posting details on social media, giving defense attorneys ammunition.
• Waiting too long, allowing statutes of limitation to expire. Learn about Texas deadlines in our video on Statutes of Limitations.

Why Attorney911 is Equipped to Fight for Southmayd Families

When your family is facing the trauma of hazing, you need advocates who are not intimidated by powerful institutions and who understand the intricate systems behind them.

• We Are Fighting This Fight Right Now: We are lead counsel in the Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—a current, high-stakes case alleging extreme physical abuse, humiliation, and catastrophic injury. We are actively taking on a major Texas university and a national fraternity. Read the Hoodline summary of this $10M lawsuit.

• Insider Knowledge of Insurance Defense Tactics: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years as an insurance defense lawyer for national firms. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and minimize your claim. We use that insider knowledge against them.

• Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced corporations with unlimited legal resources and won. A national fraternity or university does not scare us.

• A Data-Driven Investigative Edge: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, with thousands of tracked entities, means we don’t start investigations blind. We know how to find the organizations and insurance policies that others miss.

• Full-Service Litigation Capability: From evidence preservation (watch our guide on using your phone to document evidence) to federal court filings, wrongful death claims, and negotiating with insurers, we handle the entire process. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case. See how it works in our video on Contingency Fees.

• Compassionate, Client-Focused Representation: We serve the whole person and the whole family. We offer services in Spanish (Se habla Español) through Mr. Peña. We understand the fear, anger, and need for privacy that families experience.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child and your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved will have teams of lawyers. You deserve skilled advocates on your side.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) today.

• Call our Legal Emergency Lawyers™: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Visit our website: https://attorney911.com
• Email Managing Partner Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
• Email Attorney Lupe Peña (Spanish services available): lupe@atty911.com

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, explain your legal options in clear terms, and help you decide the best path forward for your family. There is no pressure, only information and support.

You have the right to answers. You have the right to accountability. You have the right to ensure no other family in Southmayd or beyond endures this pain.

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

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/
• Hoodline Summary: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

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 Can Ruin a Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Main Firm Website:

• Attorney911: https://attorney911.com