The Ultimate Guide for Wellman, Texas Families: Understanding Hazing Risks, Texas Law, and Your Path to Justice

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

Imagine receiving a late-night phone call from your child at college hundreds of miles from here in Wellman. Their voice is slurred, confused. They mention being at a “big brother reveal” at a fraternity house. You hear shouting in the background, chants of “chug, chug, chug.” The call drops. Hours pass with no response to your texts. Your mind races through worst-case scenarios—scenarios that, until this moment, felt like distant news stories happening to other families in other places.

For parents right here in Wellman, Texas, this nightmare became reality for some when their children headed off to college. The quiet streets of Terry County and the tight-knit community of Wellman don’t shield our families from the hazing dangers that exist at universities across our state. Whether your child attends Texas Tech University just up the road in Lubbock, Texas A&M University in College Station, the University of Texas at Austin, or any of Texas’s 96 other campuses, the risk is real, and the consequences can be catastrophic.

Right now, in Harris County, our firm is actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas—the case of Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston. This $10 million lawsuit against UH and the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter represents exactly what we’re fighting against: extreme physical abuse, forced consumption, and institutional failures that left a young man with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. This case proves that hazing isn’t just “boys being boys”—it’s dangerous, often criminal conduct that universities and national fraternities must be held accountable for.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for Wellman families and parents throughout Terry County and West Texas. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about hazing in 2025: what it really looks like, Texas law, national patterns, what’s happening at Texas universities, and what legal options your family may have if the unthinkable happens.

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:

• 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 Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing has evolved far beyond the paddle-and-party stereotypes. For Wellman families sending children to college, understanding modern hazing tactics is critical to recognizing danger signs.

The Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. The critical element that Wellman parents must understand is this: “I agreed to it” does not automatically make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure and power imbalance. Texas law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing.

Main Categories of Hazing in Today’s College Environment

Alcohol and Substance Hazing:

• Forced or coerced drinking during “lineups,” “family tree” games, or Big/Little nights
• Chugging challenges where pledges must finish entire bottles
• Being pressured to consume unknown or mixed substances
• The Leonel Bermudez UH case involved forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting

Physical Hazing:

• Paddling and beatings, often framed as “tradition”
• Extreme calisthenics, “workouts,” or “smokings” far beyond normal conditioning
• Sleep deprivation, food/water deprivation during “hell weeks”
• Exposure to extreme cold/heat or dangerous environments
• In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, Bermudez was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, leading to rhabdomyolysis

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing:

• Forced nudity or partial nudity
• Simulated sexual acts, “roasted pig” positions, degrading costumes
• Acts with racial or sexist overtones, slurs, or role-play
• Another UH Pi Kappa Phi pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour

Psychological Hazing:

• Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members
• Manipulation or forced confessions
• Public shaming in meetings or group settings

Digital/Online Hazing (The New Frontier):

• Group chat dares, “challenges,” and public humiliation via Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok
• Pressure to create or share compromising images/videos
• 24/7 availability demands through GroupMe or WhatsApp
• Geo-tracking requirements via Find My Friends

Where Hazing Actually Happens

Hazing is not limited to fraternity basements. For Wellman students heading to college, these risks exist across campus organizations:

• Fraternities and sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural groups)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / military-style groups (particularly relevant at Texas A&M)
• Spirit squads and tradition clubs (like Texas Cowboys at UT)
• Athletic teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer, etc.)
• Marching bands and performance groups
• Some service, cultural, and academic organizations

The common threads are social status, tradition, and secrecy—factors that keep these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Texas Hazing Law: What Wellman Families Need to Know

Texas has specific laws governing hazing, and understanding them is crucial for Wellman families seeking accountability.

Texas Education Code – Chapter 37, Subchapter F (Hazing)

§ 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.

Key points for Wellman families:

• Can happen on or off campus (location doesn’t matter)
• Can be mental or physical harm
• Intent: Doesn’t have to be malicious; “reckless” is enough (knew the risk and did it anyway)
• “Consent is not a defense”: Even if your child agreed, it’s still hazing if it meets the definition

§ 37.152 Criminal Penalties

• Class B Misdemeanor (default): Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, fine up to $2,000)
• Class A Misdemeanor: If hazing causes injury that requires medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death

Also criminal:

• Failing to report hazing (if you’re a member or officer and you knew about it): misdemeanor
• Retaliating against someone who reports hazing: misdemeanor

§ 37.153 Organizational Liability

Organizations (fraternities, sororities, clubs, teams) can be criminally prosecuted for hazing if:

• The org authorized or encouraged the hazing, OR
• An officer or member acting in official capacity knew about hazing and failed to report it

Penalties for orgs:

• Fine up to $10,000 per violation
• University can revoke recognition and ban the org from campus

§ 37.155 Consent Not a Defense

This is the most important section for Wellman parents to understand. The statute explicitly states: It is not a defense to prosecution for hazing that the person being hazed consented to the hazing activity.

Plain English for Terry County families: Even if your child said “yes” or “I want to do this,” it’s still a crime if it meets the hazing definition.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by the state (district attorney)
• Aim: punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical hazing-related charges: hazing offenses, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases

Civil Cases:

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Aim: monetary compensation and accountability
• Focus on: negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress

Both types can run side-by-side, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. Many families in cases like the UH Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit pursue both tracks simultaneously.

Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, Clery

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):

• Requires colleges that receive federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently
• Strengthens hazing education and prevention
• Maintains public hazing data (phased in by around 2026)

Title IX / Clery:

• When hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations can be triggered
• Clery requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

For Wellman families considering legal action, these parties may be liable:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover up

2. Local Chapter / Organization: The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if it’s a legal entity)

3. National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: Organizations that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters

4. University or Governing Board: Schools may be sued under negligence or civil-rights theories

5. Third Parties: Landlords/owners of houses, bars or alcohol providers, security companies

In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, defendants included 13 individual fraternity leaders/members, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What History Tells Us About Today’s Risks

Major national cases have shaped the legal landscape, and their lessons are directly relevant to Wellman families whose children attend Texas universities.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017):
Bid-acceptance event with heavy drinking. Severe falls captured on chapter cameras; hours delayed before medical help. Dozens of criminal charges against fraternity members; civil litigation; new Pennsylvania anti-hazing law named after him. Takeaway for Wellman families: Extreme intoxication combined with delayed medical response creates devastating liability.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017):
Big/little event; pledge given a handle of liquor; drank to dangerous levels; died. Criminal hazing charges against members; FSU temporarily suspended Greek life. Takeaway: Formulaic “tradition” drinking nights are repeating scripts for disaster.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017):
“Bible study” drinking game; forced to drink when answering questions incorrectly. Death led to felony hazing law in Louisiana (Max Gruver Act). Takeaway: Legislative change often follows public outrage and clear proof of hazing.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021):
Pledge night; forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey; died from alcohol poisoning. Multiple criminal convictions; BGSU agreed to nearly $3 million settlement with the family. Takeaway: Universities face significant financial and reputational consequences along with fraternities.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013):
Pledge at a fraternity retreat subjected to violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual. Suffered fatal head injuries; help was delayed. Multiple members convicted; fraternity banned from Pennsylvania. Takeaway for West Texas families: Off-campus “retreats” can be as dangerous or worse than parties.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University football (2023–2025):
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program. Multiple lawsuits against the university, staff; head coach fired and later settled. Takeaway: Hazing is not limited to Greek life; athletic programs can harbor systemic abuse.

What These Cases Mean for Wellman Families

Common threads in national cases mirror what we see in Texas:

• Forced drinking and substance abuse
• Humiliation and psychological manipulation
• Violence and physical endangerment
• Delayed or denied medical care
• Systematic cover-ups and code of silence

These national precedents strengthen cases for Wellman families pursuing justice in Texas courts. The patterns are well-established, and juries increasingly understand the dynamics of coercion and institutional failure.

Texas University Focus: Where Wellman Students Attend and What Parents Need to Know

Wellman families typically send children to a mix of regional institutions and major Texas universities. Understanding the hazing landscape at these schools is crucial.

Regional Institutions Near Wellman

Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX – 65 miles from Wellman):
As the closest major research university to Terry County, Texas Tech hosts a significant Greek life presence. The campus has approximately 59 Greek-related organizations in the Lubbock metro area. Recent years have seen hazing allegations involving physical endurance tests and alcohol-related incidents. Texas Tech’s public hazing violations list shows periodic sanctions against fraternities for alcohol misuse and physical hazing.

South Plains College (Levelland, TX – 30 miles from Wellman):
While primarily a community college, South Plains College has student organizations that have faced hazing allegations, particularly in athletic and performance groups.

Major Texas Universities Wellman Families Attend

University of Houston – Current Active Litigation Example

Campus Snapshot:
Large urban campus with active Greek life across multiple councils (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural). The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter was located at/near UH until its November 2025 closure.

The Leonel Bermudez Case – Active Litigation by Attorney911:
In November 2025, our firm filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The case involves:

• Extreme Physical Hazing: Sprints, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, “save-your-brother” drills at Yellowstone Boulevard Park
• Humiliation Tactics: “Pledge fanny pack” rule with degrading contents (condoms, sex toy, nicotine devices)
• Forced Consumption: Milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting
• Waterboarding Simulation: Sprayed in face with hose “similar to waterboarding”
• Medical Catastrophe: Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, hospitalized for four days with brown urine and critically high creatine kinase levels

Institutional Response:

• November 6, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspends Beta Nu chapter
• November 14, 2025: Chapter members vote to surrender charter; chapter shut down
• UH labeled conduct “deeply disturbing,” promised disciplinary measures up to expulsion

Why This Matters for Wellman Families:
This active litigation demonstrates exactly what experienced hazing attorneys handle—complex cases against universities and national fraternities with deep pockets. The same patterns seen at UH occur across Texas campuses.

Texas A&M University – Corps of Cadets and Greek Life

Recent Cases:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Two pledges alleged forced strenuous activity; substances including industrial-strength cleaner poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. Pledges sued for $1 million; fraternity suspended for two years.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): Cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in “roasted pig” pose. Sought over $1 million.

Culture Considerations:
The Corps of Cadets’ tradition-heavy environment creates unique hazing risks. Texas A&M’s approach blends military discipline with university oversight, but gaps remain.

University of Texas at Austin – Transparency and Pattern

UT’s Public Hazing Violations Page:
UT maintains one of Texas’s most transparent hazing reporting systems. Recent entries include:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; chapter placed on probation
• Texas Wranglers (spirit organization): Sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Australian exchange student alleged assault resulting in dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, broken nose

Why UT’s Transparency Matters:
Public violation records provide crucial pattern evidence for civil cases. When organizations have prior violations, it becomes harder for them to claim “we didn’t know this could happen.”

Southern Methodist University – Private University Dynamics

Kappa Alpha Order Incident (2017):
New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink alcohol, deprived of sleep; chapter suspended; restrictions on recruiting until 2021.

Private University Challenges:
SMU’s private status affects transparency, but civil discovery can compel disclosure of internal reports. The affluent campus culture sometimes creates different pressures but similar risks.

Baylor University – Religious Identity and Accountability

Baseball Hazing (2020):
14 players suspended following hazing investigation; suspensions staggered over early season.

Broader Context:
Baylor’s history with football and Title IX scandals creates a complex environment for hazing accountability. Religious branding sometimes conflicts with institutional responsibility.

How Hazing Cases Proceed at Texas Universities

Jurisdiction Considerations for Wellman Families:

• Campus Police vs. Local PD: Incidents on campus typically involve university police; off-campus incidents involve city police
• Court Venues: Civil cases typically filed in county where injury occurred or where defendants reside
• For UH Cases: Harris County courts
• For Texas Tech Cases: Lubbock County courts
• For UT Cases: Travis County courts

The University “Internal Process” Trap:
Universities often encourage families to “let us handle this internally.” While internal discipline matters, it doesn’t provide:

• Monetary compensation for medical bills
• Accountability through civil judgments
• Discovery of hidden documents and patterns
• Critical reminder: University internal processes exist to protect the university, not necessarily your child

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: Public Records Directory for Wellman Families

As part of our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we maintain comprehensive data on Greek organizations across the state. This knowledge directly strengthens cases for Wellman families.

Understanding the Scale: Texas Greek Organizations by the Numbers

Statewide Totals:

• 1,423 fraternities and sororities across 25 Texas metros
• 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations in IRS B83 filings
• 96 Texas university campuses

Metro Concentrations Relevant to Wellman Students:

• Lubbock Metro: 59 Greek-related organizations (including Texas Tech)
• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro: 510 organizations
• Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metro: 188 organizations
• Austin-Round Rock Metro: 154 organizations
• College Station-Bryan Metro: 42 organizations

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Wellman Families

Why This Directory Matters:
If you’re a parent in Wellman, Texas, you deserve to know who really stands behind the Greek organizations connected to your child. These are public records of organizations that may hold insurance and responsibility.

West Texas & Regional Organizations:

1. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN: 364091267 – Waco, TX 76710 – IRS B83 filing
2. Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc – EIN: 273662583 – Lufkin, TX 75904 – IRS B83 filing
3. Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – EIN: 263170920 – Denton, TX 76204 – Texas Woman’s University chapter
4. Sigma Phi Lambda Inc – EIN: 201237505 – Corinth, TX 76210 – Beta Chapter – IRS B83 filing
5. Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – EIN: 475370943 – Houston, TX 77204 – Theta Delta chapter – IRS B83 filing
6. Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN: 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 – Epsilon Kappa Chapter – IRS B83 filing
7. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – EIN: 237279532 – Prairie View, TX 77446 – IRS B83 filing
8. Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN: 741380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147 – IRS B83 filing
9. Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter – EIN: 746084905 – Houston, TX