The Binghamton University men’s club soccer team has been suspended until the fall 2008 semester and is required to perform a collective 500 hours of community service as punishment for drinking before a match during an away tournament.

Though the infraction was not related to the recently-implemented Article 129-A, which gives the administration authority to charge entire student organizations for breaking University code, the alcohol-related incident will cost them the ‘slower’ of the team’s two seasons.

According to J.J. Gould, the team’s co-captain, six to eight members of the team were found to be drinking alcohol less than 24 hours before a consolation game during the regional tournament last month. A noise complaint brought attention to the room in the hotel several teams stayed at. Gould said teams from other universities were also suspended.

‘I understand the process, the process works well,’ Gould said of the sanctions.