Waterboarding, forced eating, physical punishment: Lawsuit alleges abuse faced by injured pledge at UH’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity – ABC13 Houston

Report on Hazing Allegations at the University of Houston and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Legal Action Filed Over Hazing Incident

A lawsuit has been filed against the University of Houston (UH) and the collegiate chapter of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity by a student pledge. The plaintiff alleges severe physical abuse during hazing rituals in the Fall 2025 semester, which resulted in hospitalization for acute kidney failure. This legal action follows the suspension and subsequent dissolution of the UH chapter by Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters on November 6. The lawsuit seeks compensation for injuries and damages, naming the university, the fraternity chapter, and several current and former members as defendants.

Detailed Allegations of Abusive Practices

The lawsuit outlines a series of abusive and dangerous activities that pledges were allegedly forced to endure. These actions represent a significant departure from safe and respectful conduct, creating an environment of physical and psychological harm.

• Psychological and Coercive Control: Pledges were subjected to an enforced dress code, mandated study hours, and weekly interviews. They were allegedly forced to carry items of a sexual nature and drive members at all hours, leading to exhaustion. Failure to comply resulted in threats of physical punishment or expulsion.
• Physical Abuse and Humiliation: The hazing allegedly involved extreme physical acts at multiple locations, including the fraternity house and off-campus residences.
  1. Pledges were reportedly forced to strip to their underwear in cold weather and lie in vomit-soaked grass.
  2. They were subjected to calisthenics while being sprayed in the face with a hose in a manner described as similar to waterboarding.
  3. One pledge was allegedly hog-tied face-down on a table for over an hour.
  4. Pledges were forced to consume large quantities of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until they vomited, and then continue with physical exercises.
• Incident Leading to Hospitalization: On November 3, the plaintiff was allegedly forced to perform over 100 pushups and 500 squats while reciting the fraternity creed. The resulting extreme exhaustion led to an inability to stand. Days later, he was hospitalized for four days with symptoms of rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure.

Violation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The alleged events directly contravene several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting a failure to protect student welfare and uphold principles of justice and quality education.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The core of the allegations is a severe violation of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. The physical abuse described in the lawsuit, leading to rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, and physical collapse, is a direct assault on the health of students. The psychological torment, threats, and humiliation undermine mental well-being, creating a toxic environment that is detrimental to personal development.

SDG 4: Quality Education

The hazing practices fundamentally undermine SDG 4, which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities. A safe, non-violent, and inclusive learning environment is a prerequisite for quality education. The alleged activities created a hostile and dangerous atmosphere, diverting students’ time and energy from their academic responsibilities through forced tasks and physical exhaustion, thereby impeding their ability to learn and succeed.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

This case raises critical questions related to SDG 16, which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies and calls for effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions. The lawsuit argues that the University of Houston, as an institution, failed to provide adequate oversight and protect student safety, despite having the authority to regulate on-campus organizations. The legal action itself represents a pursuit of justice and accountability for the violence and abuse perpetrated. The fraternity’s internal culture, as alleged, demonstrates a breakdown of institutional responsibility to foster a peaceful and respectful community.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is directly relevant as the article focuses on severe physical and mental health consequences resulting from hazing. The pledge suffered acute kidney failure and rhabdomyolysis, requiring a four-day hospitalization. The article also implies psychological harm, noting the student is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.”

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The events described take place within an educational setting, the University of Houston. The lawsuit argues that the university failed to provide a safe learning environment, which is a fundamental aspect of quality education. The hazing activities, such as being forced to drive members in the early morning hours, directly interfered with the student’s well-being and ability to focus on his education.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is connected through the themes of violence, abuse, and the pursuit of justice. The hazing rituals described constitute physical violence and abuse. The filing of a lawsuit represents an attempt to access justice and hold institutions (the university and the fraternity) accountable for their failure to protect students and enforce rules against such violent acts.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

    The article highlights the failure to prevent harmful activities that led to a severe health condition (acute kidney failure). The pledge’s hospitalization and the fear of retribution touch upon the need to treat physical ailments and promote mental well-being by preventing such traumatic events.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender-sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.

    The article explicitly details an unsafe and violent environment. The lawsuit claims the university “failed to act even though it had the power to regulate, suspend, or remove organizations that endangered student safety,” directly addressing the failure to meet this target.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

    The hazing described in the article is a clear form of violence. The physical abuse included being “forced to do over 100 pushups, 500 squats,” being sprayed with a hose “in a way similar to waterboarding,” and other acts that led to severe injury, directly relating to the goal of reducing violence.

  • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

    The pledge is seeking justice and compensation by filing a lawsuit against the fraternity and the university. This action is a direct application of the legal system to address grievances and hold responsible parties accountable, which is the core of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

  • Indicator: Number of hospitalizations resulting from hazing activities.

    The article explicitly states that the pledge was “hospitalized” and “stayed for four days” due to injuries sustained during hazing.

  • Indicator: Incidence of specific medical conditions caused by physical abuse.

    The lawsuit details the pledge’s diagnosis of “rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure,” with tests showing “very high creatine kinase levels.”

• For SDG 4 (Quality Education)

  • Indicator: Number of reported incidents of violence on campus or in university-affiliated housing.

    The lawsuit itself serves as a formal report of violence occurring at the “Phi Kappa Phi house,” which the university “owned and directly controlled.”

• For SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

  • Indicator: Number of victims of physical violence reported to authorities or through legal channels.

    The pledge who filed the lawsuit is a documented victim of physical violence.

  • Indicator: Number of legal actions filed to seek justice for violence and abuse.

    The entire article is centered on the fact that “a pledge is suing the University of Houston and the collegiate chapter of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.”

  • Indicator: Institutional responses to violence, such as suspensions or dissolutions of responsible groups.

    The article mentions that “Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters suspending the UH chapter on Nov. 6, leading to its dissolution.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: abc13.com