Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity has been placed on a year-long administrative warning by the Interfraternity Council Board of Control following a fight that occurred outside the fraternity five weeks ago.

The board ordered the fraternity to develop an educational seminar on how to handle potentially violent situations at their house. The program is mandatory for all chapter members and will be open to the general public. In addition, every chapter member must participate in a community service project within one year.

The fraternity received notice of the sanctions Feb. 18 and had a week to appeal the decision, said IFC Board of Control Chairman Mike Patton. He added that the fraternity chose not to appeal.

Alpha Sigma Phi President Robby Miller said he supports the board's decision.

At a closed board hearing on Feb. 16, a hearing pool composed of five randomly selected fraternity presidents found Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, 328 E. Fairmount Ave., guilty of violating IFC bylaws. The organization prohibits conduct that threatens or endangers the health and safety of a person on University-owned or controlled property.

Members of Alpha Sigma Phi were allegedly involved in a fight Jan. 23 with Penn State football recruit Brad Scioli of Bridgeport, Pa., and University student Scott O'Hara.

IFC Board of Control rules state that if a chapter under administrative warning violates another IFC bylaw, the sanction will be stricter, Patton said.

Chapter adviser Larry Walker said the resulting sanctions were fair. But he said members of Alpha Sigma Phi were not the instigators of the incident. The community service and education program is "a positive experience coming from a negative," he said.

IFC President Bill Donato agreed the sanctions should have some positive impact, and added that the fraternity presidents who heard the case came to an appropriate decision.

Greek Life Coordinator Rick Funk said the board reached a fair decision based on the circumstances surrounding the case.

Jeffery Owens, director of Alpha Sigma Phi chapter services in Delaware, Ohio, said he was notified yesterday of the sanctions. The national chapter has already begun assisting the local chapter in choosing a community service project, he said.

"I think that it's a fair sentence and the national headquarters will support the IFC Board of Control," Owens said.

The State College Police Department's investigation of the fight resulted in three citations for disorderly conduct.

On Feb. 1, Scioli and Alpha Sigma Phi members Greg Foster and Shawn Landgraf were cited for disorderly conduct. All three have pleaded guilty and paid fines of $150 plus $71 in non-traffic violations.

The police investigation has been closed, said Lt. Carmine Prestia.

Director of Judiciary Affairs Donald Suit said Friday that the University could also pursue disciplinary action against the students. He added he has not been aware of any action taken against Foster or Landgraf.

"Normally if something happens where an assault was committed, we would normally deal with it here," Suit said.

Scioli, an All-state linebacker from Upper Merion High School, has signed a binding letter of intent to play for Penn State since the fight. Scioli could not be reached for comment last night and O'Hara (junior-education) refused to comment.