Texas A&M Students Sue Fraternity, Several From Houston Area

HOUSTON, TX — Two Texas A&M students filed a lawsuit in Harris County against the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and eight A&M students, claiming they poured an industrial cleaner on them during a hazing incident in late March, causing serious chemical burns.

Patrick Close and Jose Figueroa were freshmen rushing for Sigma Alpha Epsilon during the spring 2021 semester. The lawsuit, which was filed Oct. 18 in the Harris County 234th District Court, claims that members of the fraternity poured various substances on them, including human spit, raw eggs, paint and the industrial-strength, solvent-based cleaner SC-200 while they engaged in "various kinesthetic activities" on March 29.

Close and Figueroa claim they received severe burns from the cleaner and underwent two skin graft surgeries in Houston. The two are "permanently disfigured" because of their injuries, according to the lawsuit.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, Inc., the national organization is listed as a defendant as is Texas Tau, the Texas A&M chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The students listed in the suit are Austin Marshall, George Jarkesy, Dylan Vacek, Ryan Pugh, Andrew Mitchell, Kaleb Snodgrass, Cole Gerletti and Jorge Garza.

Five of the named defendants are from Harris County. Marshall is from Katy, Jarkesy from Tomball and Garza from Spring. Vacek and Gerletti are listed as being from Cypress.

Marshall, Vacek, Pugh, Mitchell and Garza are listed as current students in the Texas A&M directory.

Close and Figueroa are seeking in excess of $1 million in damages and pre- and post-judgment interest.

"Although Sigma Alpha Epsilon does not comment on matters related to litigation, we want to be clear that hazing in any form will not be tolerated, and members who engage in these types of activities will be held accountable to the fullest extent," a Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity spokesperson said. "Hazing has absolutely no place in Sigma Alpha Epsilon."

Texas A&M did not immediately respond to a request for comment.