Although the situation was expected to be resolved early this week, the Office of Judicial Affairs has not yet issued a ruling in the case of Penn State football players Scott Paxson, Tyler Reed, Andrew Richardson and E.Z. Smith, three sources close to the situation told The Daily Collegian yesterday.

The four players, who were indefinitely suspended late last week by coach Joe Paterno for their potential involvement in a January bow-and-arrow incident, are still not participating in the first week of spring practice, according to the sources, who had said last weekend that they hoped a ruling would be made early this week. A decision might not be made until early next week, two of the sources added. Federal law does not allow Judicial Affairs to comment on the status of non-violent cases.

"The wheels of justice are turning slowly, but it's progressing," said one source, who asked not to be named. "The story is straightening out."

The sources also indicated that the players' official status with the team will not be decided until after Judicial Affairs has made its ruling.

The four players were suspended from the team as a result of the January incident in which arrows were fired through a wall of Nittany Apartments Building 33 into an adjoining apartment that was occupied at the time. Citations for criminal mischief were filed against Paxson and Reed, both residents of Nittany Apartments Building 33.

Richardson, also of Nittany Apartments Building 33, and Smith, who lives off campus, have not been charged.

The University Police are still investigating the incident, according to Officer Ted Delaney, who filed the citation. He said he is not able to comment on details of the investigation until it is closed, which he could take about a week.

Penn State Sports Information Director Jeff Nelson indicated Monday, the first day of spring practice, that the official status of the four players had not been altered. Additionally, he told The Patriot-News of Harrisburg that he has spoken to Paterno since the coach's pre-spring practice press conference, during which Paterno indicated he would allow the university to handle the situation before implementing his own course of action.

"I asked Coach if I needed to make any changes to the roster to update it, and Coach indicated that I did not," Nelson was quoted as saying in yesterday's edition of The Patriot-News. "I've been told that nothing has changed."

In 2004, Paxson and Smith started 11 games at defensive tackle and center, respectively, while Reed started nine games at guard and Richardson started six games at offensive tackle.