The College Republicans is facing possible disciplinary action from the Center for Student Engagement after using amplified sound in their Sept. 11 memorial -- a move a student affairs administrator called a "blatant disregard for university policy."

Stan Latta, director of unions and student activities, wrote a letter to College Republicans President Seth Bender last week to alert him of the administration's displeasure over the situation.

"I am very disappointed that you and the other members of the College Republicans chose to ignore the prohibition on amplified sound, even after discussions with the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Office of University Relations and me," Latta wrote.

Bender said the memorial was successful. "When this is all said and done, everyone will realize that the College Republicans did not break any university policy," he said. "The real focus of all this needs to be the fact that 3,000 men, women and children died five years ago. We need to still remember that."

Penn State policy AD51, which applies to "expressive activities at outdoor locations" states that "use of sound amplification equipment is generally prohibited between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m."

The policy says amplification is allowed at Old Main from noon to 1 p.m. The College Republicans' memorial service began at 8 a.m. on the Old Main lawn on Monday of last week, the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"They ran a microphone to an FM broadcast device," Latta said in an interview yesterday. "They had two boom boxes tuned to that FM frequency that were broadcasting the speaker's voices."

Latta said since the memorial was a "group program," the group would face any possible sanctions, not Bender himself.

"The Center for Student Engagement handles group discipline," Latta said. "I couldn't speculate on what the sanction might be, if any. That's why there's due process; there will be a hearing, I assume."

Latta's letter said the center would review the case, and Bender could "expect to hear from Mr. Barry Bram," who is the center's associate vice president.

Bram wouldn't comment, calling the situation a "disciplinary matter."

Penn State's policy AD51 provides no information on what punishments may be given to those who violate it.