CDT - Penn State Says Underage Drinkers to Face Sanctions
By Harold Goodridge - Centre Daily Times
STATE COLLEGE — The 20 underage drinkers caught at the raid of an early Saturday morning party at Theta Chi fraternity house at 523 S. Allen St. will face university sanctions, as well as punishment under the law, according to university officials.
"We are investigating the matter," said Bill Mahon, spokesman for Penn State. "Those that were students will face university sanctions."
Mahon said the university does not yet know who the students are or the specifics of the charges against them. He added that any punishment from the university hinges on an investigation of the charges.
The party, which attracted about 250 people, was busted up after a plainclothes Pennsylvania Liquor Control Enforcement officer infiltrated the party and witnessed underage drinking.
The officer obtained a warrant and six borough police officers entered the party and handed out citations to the underage drinkers, police said at a Saturday briefing.
An ambulance was called to the scene for a male and female who were unresponsive due to drinking excessive alcohol.
Borough police would not release the names of the underage drinkers and the charges they are facing. Police did say that the charges will be filed by Pennsylvania Liquor Control Enforcement.
"This is a serious problem at Penn State and we take it seriously," said Mahon.
I hope at some point students start to pay attention to this issue and what it is doing to this community."
State College police Chief Tom King had announced at community drug and alcohol prevention meeting earlier in the month that under-cover officers might be used to ensure that underage drinking did not take place at parties held at fraternity houses and at student apartments.
Theta Chi members reached at the fraternity house had no comment about the raid.
InterFraternity Council officials could not be reached for comment.