Free Republic

It is one of the biggest mysteries of the Penn State scandal: how has former university president Graham Spanier escaped criminal indictment in connection with the Jerry Sandusky sexual-abuse case? Two other former top school officials—ex-VP Gary Schultz and onetime athletic director Tim Curley—are facing trial on charges of failure to report suspected child abuse and lying to a grand jury. All three were singled out for scathing criticism in the Freeh report, the definitive investigation into the university’s handling of the Sandusky scandal, for their “concealment” of the football coach’s sordid conduct and for their “striking lack of empathy...

In yet another shocking development in the Penn State story, ousted president Graham Spanier will soon begin working with the federal government on projects related to national security, The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, Pa., first reported. In an email written to the paper, Spanier said: “For the next several months, as I transition to my post-presidential plans, I will be working on a special project for the U.S. government relating (to) national security.

Former Penn State President Graham Spanier could face criminal charges in relation to the Jerry Sandusky case now that prosecutors have uncovered new evidence, NBC News reported this morning. According to NBC, prosecutors uncovered emails sent in 2001 in relation to what former assistant coach Mike McQueary reported he saw in a Lasch Building shower. McQueary, a graduate assistant at the time, testified that he saw Sandusky doing something that appeared to be "severe" and "sexual" in nature. Emails uncovered by investigators suggest Spanier conferred with former Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz, saying it would be...

A lawsuit filed Friday by former Penn State President Graham Spanier against the university shows the investigation into what others knew about the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse accusations, and when, may be far from over. Spanier, who was removed from office by Penn State trustees on Nov. 9 — four days after Sandusky was charged — is seeking the court’s help in getting access to a trove of emails from 1998 through 2004. According to the lawsuit, filed in Centre County court, the emails were thought not to be recoverable until a few weeks ago. The disclosure about the...

The Patriot-News reported the US attorney requested info on Sandusky and his charity, "The Second Mile." A grand jury has alleged the former assistant coach molested 10 boys, most of whom he met through "The Second Mile" n/p charity. It is not known if the subpoena is directly related to the ongoing case, or part of an unspecified investigation. "The Second Mile" received a request for info WRT Sandusky's travel records days after he was arrested. The subpoena also wants info about ex- Penn State president Graham Spanier, and two ex-school officials, who have been charged with perjury and failure...

PITTSBURGH -- Penn State University president Rodney Erickson faces a crowd of alumni Wednesday in Pittsburgh, some of whom aren't happy about the way the school handled the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal, the firing of football coach Joe Paterno and a lack of transparency in dealing with the case. Erickson is attempting to repair the school's image with alumni, faculty, staff and students, more than two months since Sandusky was arrested. Some alumni have criticized the school saying it failed to conduct a complete investigation before firing Paterno and ousting Erickson's predecessor, Graham Spanier, while decrying the school's...

STATE COLLEGE -- Minutes after Mike McQueary says he stumbled upon something between Jerry Sandusky and a boy in a Penn State shower in 2002, he went to his father’s State College home seeking advice. There, Dr. Jonathan Dranov, a family friend and colleague of McQueary’s father, sat with the then 28-year-old graduate assistant and listened to his very first account of what he had seen, a source told The Patriot-News. According to the source with knowledge of Dranov’s testimony before the grand jury, it went like this: McQueary heard "sex sounds" and the shower running, and a young boy...

An Arizona man claims he was sexually abused 30 years ago by a Penn State professor — and the university refused to investigate his claims. Paul McLaughlin, now of Phoenix, says the abuse began when he was just 11 and lasted from 1977-81, with an education professor and two other predators targeting him. The victim told ABC News that he made audiotapes in 2001 of conversations where Prof. Jack Neisworth admitted performing oral sex on him. “Although I had clear evidence of abuse by this professor, the university refused to act,” charged McLaughlin. “Last week’s arrest of Penn State coach...

Former Penn State student disciplinarian Vicky Triponey tells The Wall Street Journal that football players were treated "more favorably than other students accused of violating the community standards as defined by the student code of conduct." Triponey, who resigned her post as the university's standards and conduct officer in 2007, spoke to the newspaper after it obtained a 2005 email from her to then-president Graham Spanier and others in which Triponey expressed her concerns about the disciplinary process as it pertained to football players. Coach Joe Paterno "is insistent he knows best how to discipline his players ... and their...

The Penn State Sandusky scandal is getting weirder by the day. Besides the delays in reporting a serial child molester for years, in the past week conflicts of interests in presiding judge as well as Penn State investigating committees, we have learned that Sandusky’s lawyer impregnated an underage teen in the past, and a bizarre Sandusky interview with Bob Costas made news. The most amazing link however has been identified by researchers into Graham Spanier’s past. If it is not odd enough that Mr. Spanier was complicit in not reporting the Sandusky rape to the police, Mr. Spanier has a...

Penn State alum raising funds for SanduskyTribune News Services 2:06 p.m. CST, November 11, 2011 Sam Stellatella, a three-position player in the 1950s for Penn State, is trying to raise funds for Jerry Sandusky's legal defense. Stellatella has donated money and has urged other former players to do the same. "I told him he's going to need a million dollars to defend himself," the 73-year-old Stellatella told the Associated Press. "He called me back and said, `What am I going to do with this money?' I said, `Use it for your lawyer because you're going to need it.'"

Former Penn State President Graham Spanier’s status as a professor in the College of Health and Human Development is unknown, university officials said Friday morning. The Board of Trustees is working on Spanier’s contract, university spokeswoman Lisa Powers said. Spanier’s listing did not appear in the Penn State directory. His wife, Sandra Spanier, an English professor at Penn State, remained in the university directory. Sandra Spanier is the general editor of the Hemingway Letters Project and is listed on the Department of English’s website as a tenure-line faculty member. College of Health and Human Development officials were unavailable to answer...

STATE COLLEGE -- More than a thousand Penn State students are moving between the campus and downtown, chanting in support of football coach Joe Paterno, whose job has been questioned over his handling of sex-abuse allegations involving a former coach. Crowds began to gather around 10 p.m. on Beaver Avenue. After police in riot gear told them to move along, the students moved to Old Main. They sang the alma mater, professed their love for Paterno and profanely denounced Sandusky. They pointed toward Penn State president Graham Spanier's still-lit office. Then, after a brief "back to Beaver" chant, the crowd...

Penn State trustees fired football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier (SPAN-yer) amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against an assistant coach. The massive shakeup Wednesday night came hours after Paterno announced that he planned to retire at the end of his 46th season. But the outcry following the arrest of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky on molestation charges proved too much for the board to ignore. One key question has been why Paterno and other top school officials didn't go to police in 2002 after being told a graduate assistant saw...

...The Easton Express-Times is reporting the Penn State president Graham Spanier will by out -- either by resignation or firing -- by the end of the day.Easton Express-TimesPenn State University President Graham Spanier will either resign or be voted out by the end of today, a source close to the board of trustees told The Express-Times. An interim president, most likely Executive Vice President and Provost Rodney A. Erickson, will be appointed and a nationwide search for a permanent replacement will begin... Spanier was made aware in 2002 that a graduate assistant coach had seen former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky...

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Patriot-News of Harrisburg is calling for the immediate resignation of Penn State President Graham Spanier in a rare, full-page, front-page editorial amid the child sex-abuse case involving a former football coach. Tuesday's editorial also calls for this to be legendary coach Joe Paterno's last season. Both men are under close scrutiny for their responses to an alleged sexual encounter involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and a young boy in a locker room shower. SNIP "There are the obligations we all have to uphold the law. There are then the obligations we all have to do...

Penn State College Republicans has formed a committee to fight the negative response members say they have received from many Penn State administrators and students after several members attended a controversial Halloween party. College Republicans chair Brian Battaglia said the organization is carrying a "business as usual" attitude through this semester. Battaglia said the past incidents have taken so much of the College Republicans' time, the group recently formed a standing committee to counter the demands made by Black Caucus and to come up with better ways to deal with the situation. "People don't come to the club to talk...

The discovery of hateful photos on the personal web page of the president of the College Republicans was met with outrage by students, faculty, and staff in the Penn State community. University leaders condemned this behavior and spoke out against acts that foster racism, sexism, homophobia and incivility. Penn State is committed to a campus climate where the humanity and dignity of each individual is respected. The recently updated and published plan, "A Framework to Foster Diversity at Penn State, 2004-09," outlines the promotion of diversity through institutional leadership, financial support for programs, and strategies and approaches that encourage...

In response to outrage over photos posted on a student leader's Web site, the Black Caucus launched a platform of proposed additions to university policy meant to improve the racial climate at Penn State last night. Groups offended by pictures found on College Republicans chair Brian Battaglia's Web site last week met in the HUB-Robeson Center's Heritage Hall to discuss emotions surrounding hateful incidents on campus and present a list of expectations to the university. Tiffanie Lewis, president of Black Caucus, sat on the panel of student leaders who oversaw the town hall meeting. She said minority groups have been...

The fallout from controversial Halloween photos posted on the College Republican chair's personal Web site has led one student to announce her withdrawal from the university. Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Pollock/Nittany Sen. Vicky Cangelosi announced her resignation and intention to withdraw at Tuesday's Senate meeting. She said she no longer feels safe at the university and that she feels Penn State President Graham Spanier put her in danger by including a link to The fallout from controversial Halloween photos posted on the College Republican chair's personal Web site has led one student to announce her withdrawal from the university. Undergraduate...