Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., 218 HUB, sent an e-mail message to The Daily Collegian yesterday claiming that Penn State football players were involved in an altercation that took place during an event sponsored by the fraternity early Saturday morning.

University police are investigating the incident, which took place at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion at about 4 a.m., but no one has been charged.

The altercation resulted in two broken trophy cases, said Ice Pavilion manager Chris Whittemore.

"There were a lot of football players at the function, and not all of them were involved, but there were some involved," Alpha Phi Alpha President Chris Johnson said. "Also, some of their friends from Virginia that were up were involved. For a while, it was really uneven, and the football players were pounding on other guys; at times, it was even, and it was like a bar-style fight."

Penn State Sports Information Director Jeff Nelson issued this statement: "We are aware of an incident that occurred this past weekend. It appears that no student-athletes were instigators, but a student-athlete may have been a victim. Once we have all the pertinent information, we will act accordingly."

Johnson called Nelson's comment "fair" and said he did not know who instigated the fight. In the letter, Johnson indicates that no members of the fraternity were involved.

The letter, signed by Johnson and fraternity secretary Osvaldo. V. Lee III, claims the altercation involved at least 10 people and occurred near the end of the group's annual "Black Ice" party. He said the fight lasted between five and seven minutes, and the police arrived between two and three minutes after the fight ended.

The letter noted that it was the first time in several years there was any kind of problem at the event.

Whittemore also said the incident was an aberration from previous Alpha Phi Alpha events at the Ice Pavilion.

"It's an unfortunate incident that happened," he said. "We never had any issues with [Alpha Phi Alpha] in the past. They're really a good group to work with."

Johnson said the fraternity decided to come forward because it did not want the incident to be ignored.

"Anything involving athletes is always swept under the rug," he said. "But my main concern is not student-athletes, it's ending violence on campus. Violence on campus has to stop."

According to the police report, three people were injured in the fight but refused treatment.

The letter described the results of the altercation as "horrifying."

"Several people, involved on both sides, received bloody lips," it read. "One person had his tooth knocked out. Several individuals were hit in the face and head with liquor bottles. Metal rope stands used to control the crowd as they entered and exited the facility were now used as weapons inflicting painful facial and head wounds ... which in some cases, required stitches to fix."

Johnson said those that needed stitches left the Ice Pavilion before the police arrived. He said he would be meeting with Whittemore today to discuss the damages to the Ice Pavilion.

Signs posted on the doors to the building yesterday warned skaters not to walk through the lobby bare-footed.