The Stanton Hazing Survival Guide: What Martin County Families Need to Know About Fraternity, Sorority & Campus Abuse

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

Imagine your child—a bright student from Martin County you sent off to college—calls home, but their voice sounds different. They’re exhausted, secretive, and making excuses for new bruises. They mention “mandatory” late-night workouts or “brotherhood” events that sound more like punishment than friendship. You hear fear where there should be excitement. This is the reality for too many Texas families when hazing shatters the college experience. Right now, just hours from Stanton in Houston, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country, proving that these are not harmless traditions but acts that cause catastrophic injury and demand full accountability.

For parents in Stanton, Big Spring, Odessa, and across Martin County, this guide is your comprehensive resource. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, break down Texas law, connect national tragedies to campuses where your children may study, and outline the legal path forward. This is written for you, the Texas parent, who needs answers, not alarm—and actionable information, not just sympathy.

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). We provide immediate help—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

In the first 48 hours:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” emergency care documents injuries and can save lives. Conditions like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
   • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), texts, and DMs immediately.
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles with good lighting.
   • Save physical items (torn clothing, paddles, alcohol bottles, receipts).
3. Write Everything Down: Record who, what, when, and where while memories are fresh. Note names of members, locations, and specific acts.
4. DO NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
   • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
   • Post details on public social media.
   • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” their phone.

Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney: Evidence disappears fast. Universities and national organizations move quickly to control narratives. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights from the start. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, immediate, and confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: It’s Not Just “Animal House” Anymore

For Stanton families, hazing might bring to mind old movie tropes. Today’s reality is more sinister, digitally enabled, and often disguised as “team building” or “tradition.” Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act expected of someone joining or maintaining membership in a group, that endangers their mental or physical health.

The Modern Hazing Toolkit: From Physical Brutality to Digital Control

1. Alcohol & Substance Hazing (The Most Common Killer):

• Forced Consumption: “Lineups” where pledges drink to excess, “family tree” drinking games, being handed a bottle of liquor to finish.
• Coerced Use: Pressure to consume drugs, unknown concoctions, or dangerous amounts of food (e.g., milk, onions, hot dogs).

2. Physical Hazing:

• Violent Exercise: “Smokings” or “hell workouts” involving hundreds of push-ups, squats, or bear crawls until collapse.
• Paddling & Beatings: Using wooden paddles, fists, or other objects to inflict pain.
• Environmental Torture: Sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme cold/heat, confinement.

3. Psychological & Humiliating Hazing:

• Servitude: Forced labor like cleaning houses, running all-night errands, or being on-call chauffeurs.
• Degradation: Wearing humiliating costumes or “pledge fanny packs” with condoms and sex toys, public shaming, verbal abuse.
• Sexualized Acts: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walks”), or sexual assault.

4. Digital Hazing (The New Frontier):

• 24/7 Control: Mandatory GroupMe/Slack responses at all hours, sleep interruption via messages.
• Social Media Humiliation: Forced to post embarrassing TikToks or Instagram stories.
• Cyberstalking: Required location sharing via Snapchat Maps or Find My Friends.

Where It Happens: While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing pervades Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, spirit groups (like cheer or drumline), marching bands, and other campus clubs. The common thread is an imbalance of power and a culture of secrecy.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: The Legal Framework for Stanton Families

Texas has clear statutes governing hazing, and understanding them is your first step toward accountability.

The Texas Education Code: Your Child’s Legal Shield

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F defines hazing and establishes penalties. Key provisions every Stanton parent should know:

• §37.151 – Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed at a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation, that endangers mental or physical health or safety.
• §37.152 – Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury and a STATE JAIL FELONY if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• §37.155 – Consent is NOT a Defense: It does not matter if your child “agreed” to participate. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in hazing.
• §37.154 – Reporter Immunity: Individuals who in good faith report hazing or seek medical help are generally immune from prosecution for related conduct (like underage drinking).

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Justice

• Criminal Case: Brought by the state (DA’s office). Goal is punishment (jail, fines, probation). Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuit: Brought by the victim/family. Goal is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. This is where we help families recover medical costs, therapy expenses, and damages for pain and suffering.

The Web of Liability: Who Can Be Held Responsible?

In a civil hazing lawsuit, multiple parties can be held accountable, creating a stronger case for Stanton families:

1. Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The fraternity or sorority chapter as an entity.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters that collect dues, set policies, and often have known about dangerous traditions for years (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha).
4. The University: Schools like Texas Tech University or Midwestern State University can be liable for negligent supervision if they knew or should have known about hazing and failed to act.
5. Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, landlords, or alcohol providers.

A Texas Case in Point: The Leonel Bermudez UH Pi Kappa Phi Lawsuit

Right now, we are actively litigating a case that exemplifies the extreme dangers of modern hazing and the complex web of liability. This is not a historical example; it is our current fight.

The Victim: Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston transfer student and fall 2025 pledge of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity (Beta Nu chapter).

The Hazing: Allegations detailed in a $10 million lawsuit include:

• Humiliation: A mandatory “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms, a sex toy, and nicotine devices.
• Servitude: Enforced dress codes, overnight driving duties, hours-long “study” blocks.
• Physical Torture: Sprints, bear crawls, and “save-your-brother” drills at Yellowstone Boulevard Park; being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”; forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.
• The Breaking Point: A November 3 “workout” of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion.

The Catastrophic Injury: Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis—severe skeletal muscle breakdown—leading to acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, was hospitalized for four days, and faces a lifelong risk of permanent kidney damage.

The Defendants: Our lawsuit names a full universe of accountable parties: 13 individual fraternity leaders, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents.

The Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi nationals suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025. Members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, shutting it down. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and pledged cooperation with law enforcement.

This case, covered by Click2Houston and ABC13, is a stark lesson: hazing maims and kills, and only aggressive, experienced litigation can unravel the layers of institutional responsibility. The same national organizations and legal tactics are at play whether the school is UH or Texas Tech.

Where Stanton Families Send Their Kids: Hazing Realities at Texas Universities

Parents in Martin County often have students at regional campuses and major statewide universities. Understanding the landscape at these schools is critical.

Texas Tech University (Lubbock) & Regional Campuses

For many West Texas families, Texas Tech is a premier destination. Its Greek life and sprawling campus come with known risks.

• Campus Snapshot: A major public university with a large Greek system and strong school spirit.
• Documented Issues: Hazing allegations have surfaced within fraternities, including allegations of forced drinking and physically dangerous initiations. The university maintains disciplinary records, but public transparency can be limited.
• For Stanton Families: Texas Tech is within driving distance. A hazing incident here means navigating the Lubbock County legal system and a large, bureaucratic university. Evidence must be secured quickly before chapter members close ranks.

Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls)

As a regional public university, MSU draws students from across North Texas, including Martin County.

• Campus Snapshot: A smaller campus with active Greek life and athletic programs.
• Hazing Context: Like all Texas universities, MSU is subject to the state’s hazing laws. Incidents may involve athletic teams, bands, or fraternities. The scale may be different from Big 12 schools, but the harm is no less real.
• Practical Steps: Reporting would involve MSU’s Dean of Students and potentially the Wichita Falls Police Department. Local legal counsel with experience in institutional cases is vital.

Other Key Texas Universities

Stanton students also attend schools across the state. National patterns repeat everywhere.

• University of Texas at Austin: Maintains a public hazing violations log, showing repeated sanctions for groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced calisthenics and alcohol hazing.
• Texas A&M University: Has faced high-profile lawsuits, including a Sigma Alpha Epsilon case where pledges suffered chemical burns from industrial cleaner and a Corps of Cadets lawsuit alleging degrading sexualized hazing.
• University of North Texas (Denton): A growing Greek system with the same national organizations present at other Texas schools.

The Data Behind the Letters: The Texas Greek Ecosystem

We don’t just understand hazing anecdotally; we investigate it using data. Through public records, we maintain intelligence on the vast network of Greek organizations in Texas. This is crucial for identifying all potentially liable parties in a lawsuit.

Public Records: Greek Organizations Connected to Texas Campuses
The following are examples of registered, tax-exempt Greek organizations in Texas. This directory illustrates the complex network behind campus chapters:

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc (EIN: 133048786) | 3007 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN: 462267515) | 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter (EIN: 746084905) | 4300 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77204
• Frank Heflin Foundation (Phi Delta Theta alumni) (EIN: 203507402) | 9000 W Country Club Rd, Canyon, TX 79015
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN: 741380362) | PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (EIN: 900293166) | 114 Henderson Hall 4233 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843 (Texas A&M Chapter)

Statewide, our data tracks over 1,400 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros. For a family in Stanton, this means we can identify not just the local chapter, but the housing corporation that owns the property, the alumni foundation that supports it, and the national headquarters that insures it. This comprehensive approach is how we build maximum leverage for your family.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires a meticulous, strategic approach from day one. Here’s how we build a case for families from Stanton and across Texas.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

1. Digital Evidence (Most Critical):
   • Group Chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp): Screenshots showing planning, coercion, threats, and admissions. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages.
   • Social Media: Posts, stories, DMs that document events or injuries.
   • Texts & Emails: Communications between members and officers.
2. Photographic & Video Evidence:
   • Injuries: Time-stamped photos showing bruises, burns, or deterioration.
   • Locations & Events: Pictures of the house, party venue, or objects used (paddles, alcohol bottles).
3. Medical Documentation:
   • ER/Hospital Records: Must explicitly connect injuries to hazing (e.g., “patient states forced to drink by fraternity”).
   • Psychological Evaluations: Diagnosis of PTSD, depression, or anxiety stemming from the trauma.
4. Institutional Records:
   • University Discipline Files: Obtained via discovery, showing the chapter’s prior misconduct.
   • National Fraternity Records: Documents proving the national organization knew of risks from similar incidents at other chapters.

We explain proper evidence preservation in our video: Can You Use Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case?

The Damages Your Family Can Recover

A civil lawsuit seeks to make your family whole and hold offenders accountable.

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost tuition if education is disrupted, lost future earning capacity due to permanent injury.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, humiliation, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: If tragedy occurs, families can seek funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional anguish.

Overcoming Institutional Defenses

National fraternities and universities have sophisticated defense playbooks. We know them intimately. Common defenses we defeat include:

• “The Pledge Consented”: Texas law voids this defense (§37.155). Coercion negates consent.
• “Rogue Individuals, Not the Organization”: We subpoena national records to show patterns of identical hazing across chapters, proving foreseeability.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: Liability is based on control and relationship, not just geography. Nationals that collect dues and universities that recognize chapters still have duties.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover This”: Our insider knowledge of insurance law (from Mr. Peña’s defense background) helps navigate coverage fights and argue for payouts under negligence theories.

Practical Guides for Stanton Parents & Students

A Parent’s Action Checklist

1. Listen & Believe: If your child hints at trouble, create a safe space for them to talk without judgment.
2. Prioritize Health: Seek medical evaluation immediately, even for seemingly minor injuries.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot everything. Do not let them delete anything out of shame or fear.
4. Document: Write a timeline with names, dates, locations, and specific acts.
5. Seek Legal Counsel BEFORE Reporting: An attorney can guide you on how to report to the university or police without harming your potential case. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
6. Avoid Common Pitfalls: Do not confront the fraternity, sign university settlement offers, or post on social media.

For more on avoiding critical errors, watch: Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case.

Critical FAQ for Stanton Families

Q: How long do we have to sue?
A: In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury from hazing is generally two years from the date of injury. However, complexities can affect this. Do not wait. Learn more in our video on statutes of limitation.

Q: Can we sue the university?
A: Yes. Public universities like Texas Tech have some immunity, but it can be overcome in cases of gross negligence or negligent supervision. Private entities like national fraternities have no such protection.

Q: Will this be public? Will my child’s name be in the news?
A: We prioritize your family’s privacy. Most cases settle confidentially before trial. We can often file using initials or secure protective orders from the court.

Q: How much does a hazing lawyer cost?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront fees. Our payment is a percentage of the recovery we secure for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay attorney fees. See how contingency fees work.

Why Stanton Families Choose Attorney911 for Hazing Litigation

When your family is facing a hazing crisis, you need more than a generic personal injury firm. You need specialists who understand the unique ecosystem of Greek life, university bureaucracy, and national insurance defense tactics.

Our Proven Advantage for Texas Hazing Cases

1. Active, High-Stakes Litigation: We are right now leading the $10 million Leonel Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are in the fight, not just talking about it.
2. Insider Insurance Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and underpay claims. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
3. Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants: Founding attorney Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas lawyers involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by wealthy, powerful institutions with deep-pocketed law firms.
4. Data-Driven Investigation: We employ the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—using public records to map the organizational network behind every chapter. We identify all liable parties, from the local pledge educator to the national housing corporation.
5. Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal process, allowing us to advise families and witnesses navigating parallel investigations.
6. Spanish-Language Services: Se habla Español. Mr. Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal counsel, ensuring all Texas families have access to justice.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you suspect your child has been hazed at any Texas university, time is your most important asset. Evidence vanishes, witnesses get coached, and institutions circle their wagons.

We offer Stanton and all Texas families a no-obligation, confidential case evaluation. In this consultation, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal options clearly.
• Outline our investigative strategy.
• Answer all your questions about process, timelines, and costs.

You are not alone in this fight. Let us use our experience, data, and determination to help your family find answers, secure justice, and prevent this from happening to another student.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) Today:

• 24/7 Free Consultation Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
• Email Lupe Peña (Se habla Español): lupe@atty911.com

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 Eyewitness News 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
• Statutes of Limitation in Texas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Common Client Mistakes to Avoid: 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

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 fact-specific. Please consult with an experienced attorney regarding your specific situation. © The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911).