MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Madison has lifted the suspension of the UW marching band, so it will perform at this Saturday's game against Penn State.

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The university held a news conference at 3 p.m. Wednesday to announce the status of the marching band.

Allegations of hazing, alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct prompted band director Mike Leckrone to suspend the band last Friday and a university investigation into the allegations.

Leckrone, Dean of Students Lori Berquam and College of Letters and Science Dean Gary Sandefur spoke at the event.

UW officials said the marching band will not travel with the team for the time being and, if additional complaints surface, school officials will reconsider the suspension. School officials are vowing to end a culture of hazing and alcohol abuse.

Berquam said her investigation has concluded there was a pattern of inappropriate behavior involving underage and excessive drinking, sexualized behavior and hazing. She said much of the activity involved upperclassmen who bullied freshmen.

Some of the behavior included locking individuals in the bus bath for hours, blindfolding them and having them remove lingerie from a male band member, and pressuring them to get odd haircuts, WISC-TV reported.

According to the university, 70 band members were interviewed provided information that confirmed details of the complaints, with some occurring on a Sept. 27 trip to Ann Arbor, Mich.

No criminal investigation is under way, and no school discipline has been handed out so far against any student, WISC-TV reported. The investigation is till ongoing, though.

It is not known how many alleged victims quit the band because of what occurred. The incidents happened over the last several weeks in various locations including bars, private homes, buses, and hotel rooms.

"These activities represent intimidating behavior and extremely poor judgment on the part of people who represent the university as ambassadors," said Berquam, in a university news release.

Said Leckrone, "Along with my staff and student band leaders, we will take a major role in changing the culture of this band as we move forward. There are actions we will take immediately, as well as long-term strategies that need to be identified and implemented. I continue to be concerned about underlying culture problems. If they persist, we will suspend again."

In last Friday's announcement regarding the suspension, the university said the behavior of the band is consistent with conduct that put the band on probation in 2006 by then-Chancellor John Wiley.

Two years ago, the band was put on probation for hazing, sexually explicit behavior and alcohol use incidents on a road trip to Michigan.

In 2000, UW set a written code of conduct for the band and Leckrone had taken action against violators in the past.

A letter recently sent to parents of some 300 students in the marching band gives more details about the hazing accusations that led to the band's suspension last Friday.

In the letter, Berquam tells parents that "there's a concern that students may have been placed in unsafe situations or experienced humiliation in a hazing-like atmosphere."

Specific accusations in the letter were: being forced or pressured to drink alcohol; being forced or pressured to have their hair cut in an unusual way; and being forced or pressured "to eat something disgusting."

Last week's suspension was the first time in Leckrone's nearly 40-year history that the marching band didn't perform at a home game.

Leckrone said that while his decision may have been somewhat impetuous, he was comfortable with it and believes he did the right thing. He said he wanted to act quickly after he was approached with credible information about possible band misconduct.

The band did not play at last Saturday's home football game with Ohio State. Wisconsin suffered a tough 20-17 loss to Ohio State. Recorded music was utilized instead.

Band members were allowed to go to Saturday's game, but they had to have a ticket.