By Jake Palmateer

Staff Writer

ONEONTA — Hartwick College suspended its men’s lacrosse team after an alleged hazing incident Sunday.

Oneonta police said an 18-year-old member of the team contacted them Sunday night and said rookie players were told to strip naked in a room at an off-campus residence Sunday afternoon and drink a keg of beer.

Sgt. Gerald French said they are not aware of anyone who was injured in the alleged incident and the students were not restrained.

"It doesn’t appear like they were locked in," French said.

French said their clothes were also not removed by older members of the team.

"They were told to take them off," French said.

French said there was no indication the five to 11 freshman lacrosse players said to be involved in the incident were threatened with violence at the student house at 55 Spruce St.

At this point, he said, the only possible charges would be misdemeanors or violations.

Hartwick officials released a statement Monday saying the team is suspended until at least this coming Monday when a formal decision on its season is expected to be announced.

A scrimmage with Le Moyne College and Herkimer County Community College scheduled for Saturday has been canceled, college sp

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okesman Francis Borrego said Monday.

Borrego said the college is conducting its own investigation and would not comment on the incident.

The statement said college administrators are investigating alleged violations of Hartwick’s nonhazing policy.

The college’s nonhazing policy states that any inappropriate initiation activity can be punished by expulsion and is subject to prosecution under state law.

Borrego said there have been no cases of hazing investigated at the college in recent years.

"There is nothing documented in the last five years," Borrego said.

The team has been training and was scheduled to open its regular season March 4 against St. Lawrence University in Syracuse.

Last season, the team had an 11-7 record and finished as the runner-up in the Empire 8 league tournament and the ECAC Upstate Tournament. The team had 44 players on its 2005 roster.

Several players contacted Monday refused to comment and said they were told by administrators not to talk to the media.

French said the original complainant was supposed to bring other players to the police station Monday afternoon to give statements. But by early Monday night, he said, no lacrosse players had shown up.

Police didn’t identify the 18-year-old complainant.

French said charges that could be lodged as the incident is understood include endangering the welfare of a child, unlawfully dealing with a child or possibly first- or second-degree hazing, which are all misdemeanors.

If the students don’t come forward, the police department could consult with city prosecutor Michael Getman, who could pursue unlawfully dealing with a child charges for the alleged alcohol consumption by minors, French said.

"Obviously, they were underage," French said.

French said he was not aware if the keg of beer was a half keg or a quarter keg or who purchased the beer.

A half keg typically holds 160 12-ounce cups of beer, while a quarter keg has 80 12-ounce cups.

French said the team’s coach, Bill Bjorness, was not involved in the alleged incident.

Bjorness did not return calls for comment Monday.