Four members of the University of Maine football team have transferred to other schools this summer after being dismissed from the team for violations of UMaine’s Student-Athlete Code of Conduct.

Dante Fusco, Kendrick Ballantyne, Maurice Garlic, and Tom Labenski will pursue their careers elsewhere.

UMaine athletics spokesman Brent Williamson on Thursday would confirm only that four players had transferred. He said the department would neither identify the individuals nor discuss the circumstances that led to their departures.

Fusco, the Black Bears’ starting tight end, and Labenski, a reserve fullback, were sanctioned by UMaine athletic director Patrick Nero after their involvement in a May 2 party at Labenski’s house in Old Town.

Labenski was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child and furnishing a place for minors to consume alcohol. Two boys ages 13 and 14, one of whom was Fusco’s younger brother, were found intoxicated at the party.

Fusco was summoned for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor. Police estimated that 300 people attended the party and that many of them were consuming alcohol.

Three former UMaine football players also were arrested at the gathering while a current team member, Evign Dodge, was summoned for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

Ballantyne, a receiver from Gorham, and defensive back Garlic reportedly were dismissed from the team by Nero for ongoing disciplinary problems during 2003-04.

UMaine’s Student-Athlete Code of Conduct operates on a point system which assigns values to many common violations of university rules and Maine laws committed by college students.

However, the policy states, “Any violation of [the code] is considered serious and could subject the student-athlete to the possibility of immediate suspension from intercollegiate competition and from the team. The nature and severity of the violation will determine the disciplinary action taken, if necessary.”

Fusco played in eight of UMaine’s 11 games last season and was a starter in 2002. Last fall he was used primarily as a blocker but made 13 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown.