There will be no championships or tournament titles for the Penn State men's club soccer team this spring.

There won't be any games or reserved on-campus practice facilities either, for that matter. The team has had all competitive play suspended for the spring semester by a recent University Student Government Supreme Court ruling.

"Last November the men's team participated in a national club athletic organization's tournament," said the director of Penn State club sports, Dale Roth. "They had some problems in the hotel and some damages were incurred and then there were some behavior problems on the return flight on Southwest Airlines."

Roth said that the violations occurred during the 2002 Collegiate Soccer Sport Club Championships, a tournament considered to be the national championship of club soccer. The tournament was held Nov. 20-23 in Bakersfield, Calif. The team finished second in the men's open division, losing in the championship game 4-0 to Texas A&M.

The tournament's lodging sites were contacted for this story and one hotel, the Best Western Crystal Palace Inn, was willing to confirm that room damage had occurred that weekend. However, in accordance with California state law, the hotel could not disclose any specific information regarding previous guests.

In a letter to the men's club soccer team, the USG Supreme Court cited the problems that arose as "violations against Policies and Rules of Student Organizations." The document the court references in the letter says that the policies outlined in its text are meant to reflect the university's interest in student organizations promoting awareness, values and responsible behavior. It states: "When persons are functioning in the capacity of members of a registered student organization, they will be held accountable for their behavior individually and collectively." The court ruled that the club had violated university policies of awareness, values and responsible behavior, and, as such was subject to sanctioning.

The letter, which outlines the court's March 3 ruling on the matter, was dated as being mailed to the club team's president, Dan Mayo, as well as Roth on March 24.

The ruling also stipulates that the club is placed on two years' probation, with any violation of university policy during that time resulting in the loss of the club's charter. Play will be suspended for the 2003 and 2004 spring semesters, and only conference play will be permitted during the 2003 fall semester.

When contacted, Mayo said he had yet to receive the letter. He said the team still intends to compete for a national championship this fall and declined any further comment. "I believe overall with the seriousness of this issue it was a fair ruling by the court," said sophomore forward Ian St. Rose. "Everyone is disappointed, but we are relieved the punishment isn't more severe. I think [the ruling] is a strong message. It sets the precedent for other organizations that you have to behave."

St. Rose expressed his desire for the team to move forward during difficult times.

"We need to get back to playing soccer," he said.

USG Supreme Court Chief Justice M. Taylor Rhodes doesn't anticipate the court will have much more to say about the incident.

"The ruling speaks for itself," he said. "If the court feels the need to issue a press release it will do so."

The court also recommended that action be taken, at the discretion of Roth, for the club's violations of alcohol policy.

"Alcohol is not permitted during the travel period of the club," Roth said.

"We're going to require that clubs create their own internal code of conduct. We want conduct to become more a part of club sports; we want it to be more about how you act and behave yourself, and not just how well you play the sport."

Based on the terms of its probation, the men's club soccer team will resume play of its regular-season schedule in the 2004 fall semester, provided that no additional violations occur during the two-year period.