Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity is facing charges of furnishing alcohol to minors and unlawful acts relative to liquor after an incident earlier this month.
According to a criminal complaint, State College Police responded at 12:32 a.m. on Nov. 11 for a report of a college-aged female suffering an alcohol overdose outside the fraternity house at 328 E. Fairmount Ave.
Police said the 19-year-old appeared highly intoxicated and was going in and out of consciousness. She had to be held up by two of her friends and “had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage, blood shot eyes, and mumbled speech,” according to the complaint. One of the friends reported the woman had been drinking inside the fraternity house, police said.
The woman was taken to Mt. Nittany Medical Center for treatment of an alcohol overdose.
Police later interviewed the woman, who said she and her friends were at the fraternity house that night to celebrate her birthday. They didn’t know anyone at the fraternity, but she said they were allowed in and were not asked for identification.
She said four fraternity brothers were giving out vodka and soda until they ran out of soda and began serving just shots of vodka. She allegedly was given more alcohol than others because she was celebrating her birthday, and estimated she had five alcoholic beverages while at the fraternity house.
The misdemeanor charges were filed this week, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 17.
Fraternities and sororities at Penn State continue to undergo regulations levied after Beta Theta Pi pledge Timothy Piazza’s death, including a moratorium on socials with alcohol. Penn State has suspended the Alpha Sigma Phi chapter on an interim basis for the duration of an investigation into possible policy violations.
If Alpha Sigma Phi is ultimately found guilty of policy violations, it would be the eleventh chapter housed under the Interfraternity Council currently facing suspension.
Most recently, Delta Tau Delta had its recognition revoked earlier this month after being charged with furnishing alcohol to minors.
Also this fall, Delta Upsilon’s recognition was revoked for reportedly organizing socials with alcohol and underage drinking and Pi Lambda Phi’s recognition was revoked for providing guests with alcohol on three occasions during social event.
