Please combine this with my latest post that includes the misson and commitment to character by Penn State University. Also check out this morning’s NYTimes which details dear “JoePa’s” quest for money at the end and demonstrates how football runs Penn State, a State-funded institution of supposedly higher learning.
The Paterno family demanded a box at the stadium next to the University’s president’s box, free for 25 years. They got another, on another floor. But this alone demonstrates the power of Joe Paterno over a State institution. They got a $5.5 million payout for JoePa’s failing to report sex crimes.
Everyone is suspect, from the Governor to the legislature to the Board of Trustees to the new President and new athletic officials.
It is my recommendation that as the only independent force involved with this unfortunate situation, Mr. Freeh and his team be tasked by the Board of Trustees to form a truly independent committee to reorganize said Board, investigate the new president of Penn State and the new hirees in the athletic department and re-constitute the Board of Trustees to assure this doesn’t remain a good ol’ boys network that runs the University and covers up crimes.
I would also ask that the Clery documents that have been non-existent for 22 years be instituted immediately and that when a new BOT and President and staff are in place, everyone undergo training. Including students and athletes (if they can be considered students).
It is understood that one member of the Board of Trustees must remain before an organization is rendered null and void. I believe that Trustee should be hand-picked by Mr. Freeh and should agree in writing to resign the moment his/her replacement takes office.
All papers must be taken into custody, if they haven’t been already, before they’re shredded. This institution has a penchant for protecting itself and its staff above all others and the Board and the State have let all the detritus flow by like it didn’t matter. To a ten year-old boy, or a 24 year-old man who was assaulted 14 years ago, it matters. To Mr. Sandusky’s adopted son, it matters.
If I were the NCAA, I’d suspend the entire football program for at least a year, while the University gets its act together and State, Board and staff go back to the mission (see prior post) and figure out where they went wrong.
To the Accreditation folks, check things out. Is this a research institution or a football institution? If Joe Paterno was king there, what does that say about academics? Is this really a place to learn? Or a place where football players have tutors and get longer times and books to study for tests when regular students do not have these resources?
Finally, look at the Big Ten. I’m sure you’ll find a whole lot of skeletons lurking in their closets. And if you don’t audit, you’ll be just as guilty as Sandusky and the Big 4 and will be brought down just as hard. Yes, President Obama should have an Independent Prosecutor to look into the NCAA and its collegiate athletics programs.
This upsets me because of the children who have been harmed. It is in my nature to find logical recommendations for reform when harm has been done and layers and layers of staff, trustees, state officials and donors have covered it up. Hope I’ve helped a bit, Mr, Freeh. Dee
Cooking with Dee 