Tag Archives: United States

Apr 22 2013

Louis Freeh and Company–At it Again–Biased, Non Factual!


Does any of this sound familiar?? At least the Board of Trustees knew who to hire to cover THEIR Butts–even if it meant throwing Penn State and Joe Paterno and State College under the bus. The Board of Trustees was interested in ONE Thing–keeping themselves protected at the expense of everyone else. Failure of their fiduciary duties and so much more!!

Universal Entertainment Corporation announced that Judge Michael Chertoff, the former U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, has issued an assessment castigating last year’s report by Former FBI Director Louis J. Freehconcerning the affairs of Japanese gaming entrepreneur Kazuo Okada and his
affiliated companies. According to Judge Chertoff, the Freeh report was”structurally deficient, one-sided, and seemingly advocacy-driven.” Moreover, its conclusions, “simply are not credible.” Instead, Judge Chertoff found
Freeh’s report to be “deeply flawed” and “lack[ing] basic indicia of a credible
investigation.”
Freeh’s report was prepared on February 18, 2012 at the behest of Wynn Resorts, Limited. At the direction of Steve Wynn, Wynn Resorts turned around and used the report that same day to rationalize the forcible redemption of 24,549,222 shares of Wynn Resorts held by Aruze USA, Inc., a company whose ultimate majority owner is Mr. Okada. At the time, Aruze USA was the largest single shareholder in Wynn Resorts, owning close to 20% of Wynn Resorts’ outstanding stock.

Although Aruze USA’s shareholdings had a market value of at least 2.7 billion U.S. dollars at the time, Wynn Resorts provided Aruze USA with just a non-transferrable, fully subordinated, $1.9 billion, ten-year note in exchange. Wynn Resorts’ stock price rose $6.71, or 5.9%, per share the next day, providing tremendous financial gains to Steve Wynn and the other Wynn Resorts Directors who had just stripped Aruze USA of its shareholdings based on the Freeh report.

Statement from Kazuo Okada

In response to the independent analysis provided by Judge Chertoff, Universal Entertainment founder and Chairman Kazuo Okada said, “This confirms what I have maintained since the day the Freeh report was issued and the Wynn Board moved to strip us of our stake in a company we helped found — that the Freeh report was prepared carelessly and improperly, and contains a number of clear errors. It’s obvious that this biased report was part of Steve Wynn’s campaign to eliminate me as a rival to his power within Wynn Resorts.’”

According to the summary, the Freeh report’s most significant shortcomings include:

   -- Timing that implies that Wynn Resorts commissioned the report for a clear 
      purpose: to justify ousting Mr. Okada from the Board and redeeming Aruze 
      USA's 20 percent stake in the company at a substantial discount; 

   -- Consistently pairing grave and far-reaching conclusions with scant and 
      unreliable supporting evidence and incomplete investigation and analysis, 
      including broadly alleging a "practice and pattern" of Foreign Corrupt 
      Practices Act (FCPA) violations without sufficient detail to meaningfully 
      evaluate these incidents; 

   -- Reaching legal conclusions through deficient legal analysis, including 
      asserting a bad faith, possibly criminal violation of Philippine law 
      while ignoring key aspects of the legal analysis Wynn Resorts 
      commissioned from a local law firm; and, 

   -- Failing to provide any meaningful explanation of its process and citing 
      documents that are of dubious provenance or otherwise unreliable, as well 
      as relying on potentially biased interviewees.
Excerpted from the Wall Street Journal, April 22, 2013
Apr 15 2013

Report of Mid States Regarding Accreditation


STATEMENT OF ACCREDITATION STATUS

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY 201 Old Main Building University Park, PA 16802 Phone: (814) 865-4700; Fax: (814) 865-1100 http://www.psu.edu

Chief Executive Officer: Dr. Rodney A. Erickson, President
INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION
Enrollment (Headcount): 74371 Undergraduate; 13024 Graduate
Control: Public
Affiliation: State
Carnegie Classification: Research – Very High Research Activity
Degrees Offered: Postsecondary Certificate (< 1 year), Postsecondary Certificate (>=1 year, < 2 years), Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Postbaccalaureate Certificate, Master’s, Doctor’s – Professional Practice, Doctor’s – Research/Scholarship;
Distance Education Programs: Yes
Accreditors Approved by U.S. Secretary of Education: American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar; American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology; Commission on Acceditation of Healthcare Management Education; Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Commission on English Language Program Accreditation; Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology; Liaison Committee on Medical Education; National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation; National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation; National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on Accreditation; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education; National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
Other Accreditors: Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences; Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND); Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education; Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology; Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications; American Academy of Forensic Science; American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians; American Chemical Society; Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International; Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-International (AACSB); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education; Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; Council on Rehabilitation Education; Institute of Food Technologists; Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB); National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences; National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB); National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE); National Association of Schools of Public Affairs & Administration (NASPAA); North American Wildlife Technology Association; Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing – Licensing; Pennsylvania Department of Education; Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA) of America; Society of American Foresters; Society of Wood Science and Technology
Instructional Locations
Branch Campuses: Dickinson School of Law, Carlisle, PA; Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
Additional Locations: Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies, Malvern, PA; Penn State Abington, Abington, PA; Penn State Altoona, Altoona, PA; Penn State Beaver, Monaca, PA; Penn State Berks, Reading, PA; Penn State Brandywine, Media, PA; Penn State DuBois, DuBois, PA; Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, Erie, PA; Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, Uniontown, PA; Penn State Greater Allegheny, McKeesport, PA; Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, PA; Penn State Hazleton, Hazleton, PA; Penn State Lehigh Valley, Center Valley, PA; Penn State Mont Alto, Mont Alto, PA; Penn State New Kensington, Upper Burrell, PA; Penn State Schuylkill, Schuylkill Haven, PA; Penn State Shenango, Sharon, PA; Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Lehman, PA; Penn State Worthington Scranton, Dunmore, PA; Penn State York, York, PA
Other Instructional Sites: Abington Hospital, Abington, PA; Aria Health, Philadelphia, PA; ARIS-SON, Abington, PA; Clearfield Area High School, Clearfield, PA; Community Education Council of Elk and Cameron Counties, St. Marys, PA; Downtown Conference Center, Altoona, PA; Erie Regional Skill Center, Erie, PA; Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA; Kraft, Wilkes-Barre, PA; Lancaster Center, Lancaster, PA; Lebanon, Lebanon, PA; Mount Nittany Medical Center/Clinics in Centre County, State College, PA; Northern Tier Center, Towanda, PA; Penn State Continuing Education at Williamsport, Williamsport, PA; Pittsburgh Mills Mall, Tarentum, PA; Proctor & Gamble, Mehoopany, PA; Regional Learning Alliance, Cranberry Twp., PA; Sallie Mae, Hanover Twp., PA; Shaver’s Creek, Petersburg, PA; The Penn State Learning Center (Lewistown), Lewistown, PA; Tobyhanna Army Depot, Tobyhanna, PA; Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, PA
ACCREDITATION INFORMATION
Status: Member since 1921
Last Reaffirmed: November 15, 2012

Most Recent Commission Action:

November 15, 2012: To accept the monitoring report, to note the visit by the Commission’s representatives, to remove the warning, and to reaffirm accreditation. To request a monitoring report, due November 1, 2013, documenting (1) the impact on the University budget and the identification of sources of funding to cover the requirements of (a) the report of the U.S. Department of Education regarding the University’s compliance with the Clery Act and associated penalties; (b) updated estimates of the projected costs and liabilities associated with related litigation and the implementation of the Freeh Report recommendations and the NCAA Consent Decree requirements; and (c) the recommendations that are articulated in the report of the external monitor called for by Recommendation 8.3 of the Freeh Report (Standard 3); and (2) developments associated with the revision of the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees to accommodate (a) the expanded involvement of faculty, staff, and students on Board committees and (b) the dual reporting accountability to both the Board and the President of key positions, including that of the General Counsel and the Directors of Internal Audit and Compliance (Standard 4). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2014-2015.

 

Brief History Since Last Comprehensive Evaluation:

November 18, 2010: To accept the Periodic Review Report and to reaffirm accreditation. To request a progress report due by April 1, 2012 documenting evidence of further progress in: (1) the establishment of learning goals at the program level in all programs; and (2) the use of appropriate assessment of the attainment of learning goals at the program level, including use of direct measures of the assessment of student learning and evidence that assessment results are used to improve teaching and learning (Standard 14). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2014-2015.
March 1, 2012: To accept the Commission-requested information report, to remind the institution that the Commission must continue to be informed of any further developments that may result in changes in mission, programs, personnel and/or budget arising from the institution’s investigation or that may result in a change of status with external oversight bodies, such as the NCAA, and to request that the institution provide to the Commission copies of all relevant reports from its investigation or to its external oversight bodies. To further remind the institution of the progress report due by April 1, 2012 documenting evidence of further progress in: (1) the establishment of learning goals at the program level in all programs; and (2) the use of appropriate assessment of the attainment of learning goals at the program level, including use of direct measures of the assessment of student learning and evidence that assessment results are used to improve teaching and learning (Standard 14). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2014-2015.
June 28, 2012: To accept the progress report. To remind the institution that the Commission must continue to be informed of any further developments that may result in changes in mission, programs, personnel, and/or budget arising from the institution’s investigation or that may result in a change of status with external oversight bodies, such as the NCAA, and to request that the institution provide to the Commission copies of all relevant reports from its investigation or to its external oversight bodies. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2014-2015.
August 6, 2012: To warn the institution that its accreditation is in jeopardy based on information contained in the institutionally commissioned Report of the Special Investigative Counsel (Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP, July 12, 2012) and the Binding Consent Decree Imposed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and Accepted by the Pennsylvania State University (July 23, 2013) and insufficient evidence that the institution is currently in compliance with the Requirements of Affiliation 5 (compliance with all applicable government policies, regulations, and requirements) and 9 (institution’s governing body responsibility for the quality and integrity of the institution, for ensuring that the institution’s mission is being carried out, and for making freely available to the Commission accurate, fair, and complete information on all aspects of the institution and its operations) and with Standard 4 (Leadership and Governance) and Standard 6 (Integrity). To note that the institution remains accredited while on warning. To request a monitoring report due by September 30, 2012 documenting steps that have been taken and are planned to ensure the institution’s full compliance with Requirements of Affiliation 5 and 9 as well as Accreditation Standards 4 and 6. In addition, to request that the monitoring report also address Accreditation Standard 3 (Institutional Resources) with regard to the institution’s capacity and plans for addressing financial obligations that will or may result from the investigation and related settlements, etc. A small team visit will follow submission of the monitoring report. To remind the institution that the Commission must continue to be informed of any further significant related developments, including the provision of copies of any and all relevant external reports. The due date for the next evaluation visit will be established when accreditation is reaffirmed.

 

Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2014 – 2015

Next Periodic Review Report: 2020

Date Printed: April 15, 2013

DEFINITIONS

Branch Campus – A location of an institution that is geographically apart and independent of the main campus of the institution. The location is independent if the location: offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential; has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization; and has its own budgetary and hiring authority.
Additional Location – A location, other than a branch campus, that is geographically apart from the main campus and at which the institution offers at least 50 percent of an educational program. ANYA (“Approved but Not Yet Active”) indicates that the location is included within the scope of accreditation but has not yet begun to offer courses. This designation is removed after the Commission receives notification that courses have begun at this location.
Other Instructional Sites – A location, other than a branch campus or additional location, at which the institution offers one or more courses for credit.
Distance Education Programs – Yes or No indicates whether or not the institution has been approved to offer one or more degree or certificate/diploma programs for which students could meet 50% or more of their requirements by taking distance education courses.

EXPLANATION OF COMMISSION ACTIONS

An institution’s accreditation continues unless it is explicitly suspended or removed. In addition to reviewing the institution’s accreditation status at least every 5 years, actions are taken for substantive changes (such as a new degree or geographic site, or a change of ownership) or when other events occur that require review for continued compliance. Any type of report or visit required by the Commission is reviewed and voted on by the Commission after it is completed.

In increasing order of seriousness, a report by an institution to the Commission may be accepted, acknowledged, or rejected.

Levels of Actions:

Grant or Re-Affirm Accreditation without follow-up

Defer a decision on initial accreditation: The institution shows promise but the evaluation team has identified issues of concern and recommends that the institution be given a specified time period to address those concerns.

Postpone a decision on (reaffirmation of) accreditation: The Commission has determined that there is insufficient information to substantiate institutional compliance with one or more standards.

Continue accreditation: A delay of up to one year may be granted to ensure a current and accurate representation of the institution or in the event of circumstances beyond the institution’s control (natural disaster, U.S. State Department travel warnings, etc.)

Recommendations to be addressed in the next Periodic Review Report: Suggestions for improvement are given, but no follow-up is needed for compliance.

Supplemental Information Report: This is required when a decision is postponed and are intended only to allow the institution to provide further information, not to give the institution time to formulate plans or initiate remedial action.

Progress report: The Commission needs assurance that the institution is carrying out activities that were planned or were being implemented at the time of a report or on-site visit.

Monitoring report: There is a potential for the institution to become non-compliant with MSCHE standards; issues are more complex or more numerous; or issues require a substantive, detailed report. A visit may or may not be required.

Warning: The Commission acts to Warn an institution that its accreditation may be in jeopardy when the institution is not in compliance with one or more Commission standards and a follow-up report, called a monitoring report, is required to demonstrate that the institution has made appropriate improvements to bring itself into compliance. Warning indicates that the Commission believes that, although the institution is out of compliance, the institution has the capacity to make appropriate improvements within a reasonable period of time and the institution has the capacity to sustain itself in the long term.

Probation: The Commission places an institution on Probation when, in the Commission’s judgment, the institution is not in compliance with one or more Commission standards and that the non-compliance is sufficiently serious, extensive, or acute that it raises concern about one or more of the following:

  1. the adequacy of the education provided by the institution;
  2. the institution’s capacity to make appropriate improvements in a timely fashion; or
  3. the institution’s capacity to sustain itself in the long term.

 

Probation is often, but need not always be, preceded by an action of Warning or Postponement. If the Commission had previously postponed a decision or placed the institution on Warning, the Commission may place the institution on Probation if it determines that the institution has failed to address satisfactorily the Commission’s concerns in the prior action of postponement or warning regarding compliance with Commission standards. This action is accompanied by a request for a monitoring report, and a special visit follows. Probation may, but need not always, precede an action of Show Cause.

Suspend accreditation: Accreditation has been Continued for one year and an appropriate evaluation is not possible. This is a procedural action that would result in Removal of Accreditation if accreditation cannot be reaffirmed within the period of suspension.

Show cause why the institution’s accreditation should not be removed: The institution is required to present its case for accreditation by means of a substantive report and/or an on-site evaluation. A “Public Disclosure Statement” is issued by the Commission.

Remove accreditation. If the institution appeals this action, its accreditation remains in effect until the appeal is completed.

Other actions are described in the Commission policy, “Range of Commission Actions on Accreditation.”

Jan 16 2013

BECOME IMMORTALIZED AS PART OF THE STATE COLLEGE INSPIRATION MURAL


For a limited time, the Public Art Academy is offering the opportunity for people to purchase bricks that will make up a new sidewalk underneath the Inspiration Mural in State College, Pennsylvania.
This new sidewalk will be called Inspiration Way, a tribute to these figures from the State College and Penn State communities who have been an inspiration to so many. Michael Pilato would like to expand the mural and add additional inspirational figures that showcase the greatness of Penn State, such as THON, the Blue Band, and Penn State’s world-renowned academic programs like Agriculture, Meteorology, and Engineering.
In addition to supporting the addition of new figures to the mural, purchasing a brick will also support our ability to apply a protective coating that will shield the mural from adverse weather and acts of vandalism, extending its life and stories for years.
Individuals and organizations can now purchase bricks that will then be engraved with your name. It’s your opportunity to publicly show your support for our community.
Inspiration Way will be made up of bricks and stones in three sizes:

  • 4″ x 8″ red bricks
  • 8″ x 8″ bluestones
  • 12″ x 12″ diamond granite centerpieces

We will be building this out over multiple phases, with a focus first on the portion of the sidewalk at the intersection of College Avenue & Heister Street. All orders placed before February 1, 2013 will be part of Phase One. Construction will then take place in Spring 2013.

Brick/Stone Selection *

$100: Individual Brick/Stone – 4″ x 8″ (3 lines of inscription)$250: Bluestone – 8″ x 8″ (4 lines of inscription)$1,000: Diamond Granite Centerpiece – 12″ x 12″ (5 lines of inscription)*STUDENT ONLY PRICE* $75: Individual Brick/Stone – 4″ x 8″ (3 lines of inscription)
Sep 30 2012

Penn State Campus Brigade Club Goes Global


By Victoria Faconti

A brigade on campus has waged a war on fighting poverty and providing sustainable development to third world countries.

The Penn State branch of Global Brigades represents an international student-run non-profit organization that plan trips to countries like Ghana and Honduras to help improve various nations around the world.

Penn State has the largest Global Brigades club out of 200 throughout Europe and the United States, said Campus Chair of Global Brigades of Penn State Michael Henry.

“Communities in developing countries don’t have the resources to carry out their own development projects, and that’s where Brigades comes in,” Henry said.

Henry (senior-immunology and infectious disease) said the goal of Global Brigades is to give students practical on-the-ground experience in sustainable development while working to better the lives of those living in underdeveloped countries.

Global Brigades has a total of nine different chapters that focus on different parts of providing a variety of services to a village in need. Penn State has seven different chapters including architecture, environmental, medical, water, business, human rights and public health.

“It was an eye-opener to experience a different way of life and interact with people who have different values and value the environment the same way we do,” Lindsay McPhail (senior-economic and community environmental development) who has been in the business and environmental chapter said. McPhail went on a trip in January to Panama and helped build greenhouses and gardens.

Each of the chapters focuses on their own project, such as establishing a bank that supplies loans to small entrepreneurs or installing water gravity pipe stream systems so that the villages can have clean drinking water.

Every year, the chapters take separate trips to work on their specific projects. Students host fundraisers, canning trips and bake sales throughout the year to raise money to fund their trips. The brigade is currently doing a fundraiser with Rita’s Italian Ice and selling Italian ice to raise money for their upcoming trip to Honduras.

Fundraising Chair Mitchell Johnson (senior-environmental systems engineering) went to Honduras during winter break last year and helped establish and educate a water council who keep up the improvement systems they installed during their trip.

“It was a great introduction into sustainable water development and make a actual positive impact,” Johnson said.

Last year the largest brigade on campus — medical — traveled with 70 people each trip to Ghana and Panama.

Sep 2 2012

Penn State Football Media Guide–Not this Year?


I got this in an email this morning, and I am outraged.  We need to let the University know how we feel about this decision.  It is OUR media guide, and OUR record, and OUR history!!  And the NCAA can’t take that away from us!

“I was wondering why I hadn’t received my media guide this year, so I called the office this AM.  I was dismayed at the response.

 The media guide WILL NOT be distributed, not at all, this year.  While it had in fact been printed, there were ‘inaccuracies’ (as the lady delicately put it).  I said, oh you mean the players who transferred late, and she said, yes, that’s part of it, but it was also some statistics that needed to be corrected. 

 It took me a couple nano-seconds to realize what she was talking about.  I told her that my two cents was to keep all those facts and figures in there, and if they felt they HAD to caveat it, then do so…..but KEEP THOSE RECORDS STATS INTACT.  She (surprisingly) told me that’s the universal feeling, not just among callers but there on the staff too, but…..”

Aug 8 2012

Ryan McCombie Appeals to the Penn State Board of Trustees


Ryan McCombie’s Appeal to the Board of Trustees 06 August 2012
Dear fellow board members
The challenges we have dealt with over the past year have been the most difficult and demanding that any Board of a Public University has ever faced. The issues are incredibly painful and highly contentious and the path that we should follow is anything but clear. Nonetheless, it is our mission to determine what happened without favor or bias toward the responsible parties, just as it is our duty as trustees to act in the best interests of Penn State. I do not believe the recent actions of the Administration and the NCAA have been consistent with that mission, and I cannot but feel that our inaction is a failure in our duty. I believe we owe to all involved – especially our University community – to insist on and require full due process before we accept these penalties.
Due process is not a theoretical concept to me. It is one of the core values that I fought for as a Navy Seal and as a 26-year veteran of the US Navy. I spent much of my adult life in 3rd world countries ruled by tyrannical dictators. Little did I know upon retiring from this exciting yet stressful vocation to bucolic Central PA, that I would become embroiled in a comparable experience here.
I respect Louis Freeh and I appreciate the work he and his staff did to investigate the handling of the Sandusky matter. At the same time, I think it is important to recognize that the Freeh report is not the equivalent of a legal hearing or review. No one testified under oath; multiple key witnesses were not interviewed; accused parties were not given a fair chance to respond; the findings were highly subjective; and several individuals are still waiting to have their day in court. Yet despite these very serious limitations and others, our Board allowed the Freeh report to be presented as a full and fair review, which it most certainly is not; and we stood by passively while the University accepted an unprecedented penalty from the NCAA, based entirely on the findings of the Freeh report. These are grave mistakes that inflict undue harm on the entire Penn State community, in addition to compromising the rights of numerous individuals.
The argument that is given on all of these issues is that we must do whatever we can to serve the victims and act in a way that eliminates the chance that something like this can ever happen again. I support that end and understand the sentiment behind it, but also know that we owe it to our University and the constituencies we represent to demand due process in this matter. Our desire for speed and decisiveness cannot and must not justify actions that clearly and decisively compromise the future of this institution, unfairly tarnish its reputation and violate the rights of accused individuals. If in the rush to put this crisis behind us, we act in a way that limits the discovery of the full truth or unfairly blames certain individuals, while exempting others who rightfully deserve blame, we will have completely failed on the most important task this Board will ever have.
It is for these reasons that I have decided to file an appeal today with the NCAA seeking a full due process hearing. Additionally, I will be, along with others, seeking to determine whether President Erickson had the authority to enter into the consent decree absent Board approval. It is my belief that this matter did require board approval and that we should engage in a full, and complete, review. In the end, we all benefit from having this matter handled correctly and with full regard for due process – only then can we be truly confident in the result and the actions we take as a board. Furthermore, only after we have given all involved the opportunity to be heard can we move forward together as one University.
It is my sincere hope that some or all of you will join me on this path. If you wish to join in my appeal, please contact my attorney, Paul Kelly, at (617) 305-1263, or by email paul.kelly@jacksonlewis.com.
Let me also be clear: I do not do this seeking a predetermined result nor do I claim to know what the final answers will be. If there is blame to be borne by any or all of our officials, a due process hearing will not hide that fact and I will accept it – as will the tens of thousands of Penn Staters out there not assuaged by a limited process.
I know my actions will be poorly received by some on this board and in the community at large. To that end it would be easier to remain silent and allow these unfair actions to remain unchallenged. I cannot do this. As long as I am a member of this board, I will fight to learn the full truth of the Sandusky scandal and then, and only then, endorse the assignment of blame and the imposition of sanctions.
For the Glory,
Ryan J. McCombie
Aug 7 2012

Penn State Trustee Speaks Out, Challenges Trustees!


A House Divided…

 

Old Main–For the Glory!

These last months have been painful and difficult.  Our University is besieged from all quarters with an overarching criticism of our culture, ethics and integrity.  The Nittany Nation finds itself in narrow straits with few allies and little maneuvering room.  A person is not defined by how he acts in tranquil waters and fair weather.  A person is judged by how he responds in storms and crisis – so too, will be our University.

We cannot continue to fight internally and win the bigger battle of who we truly are as a University.  I understand the visceral anger many feel, recognize the blame many seek to place and sympathize with the calls for punishment and retribution.   I understand the total frustration we have felt as the last 9 months unfolded.  Nevertheless, history invariably judges fairly and truthfully the events of today.   Now, we need to await that judgment.    We must resolve our family squabbles later when a full understanding of these events is known.  Now, there are more than enough external battles to be fought and won.

Crisis calls for unlikely bedfellows.  During the “Cold War” The US and the Soviet Union who had a strategy of “mutual assured destruction” (MAD) were, nevertheless allies against terrorism.  Our family cannot continue to expend our psychic energy attacking each other no matter how great our rage.  There are sufficient external forces doing that already.  Regardless of how we feel about Coach Paterno,  the Board of Trustees or the Administration, we all know that we do not want our University torn apart by internal strife.  History will reveal what happened here!  History will fairly and truthfully judge all of the actors in this Shakespearean tragedy. Now we need to await that judgement and move forward together for our University.

Today – right now-  we all need to address the huge challenges facing Penn State.  We should conduct ourselves in a manner today  that will allow us to look back a decade from now with pride and honor.  This will require the cooperation, coordination and commitment from all dimensions of the University.  The entire family must engage!  From the Board of Trustees to the  Lettermen, from the alumni association to the alumni groups, from the students to the faculty and townsfolk.  We all need to come together for the Pennsylvania State University to heal, recover and thrive.   We need to show the World once again who Penn State truly is and always has been – that we represent a great and noble University with loyal alumni & friends, dedicated and heartfelt students and a staff second to none.  We can do this!  After all – We are Penn State!

-Ryan J. McCombie

Aug 3 2012

Penn State Olympians


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As the Olympic Flame finishes its trip around the globe, a  school-record 19 Penn Staters are gearing up to represent their school  and countries at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Opening ceremonies at  the Olympics take place July 27.

Not including the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, where 65 countries did  not participate, Penn State has sent athletes to each Olympic Games  since 1948, a streak of 15-consecutive Games. Nittany Lion athletes also  competed at the 1908 and 1948 Games in London, now the only city to be  chosen to host the event three times. Walter Bahr, Penn State’s men’s  soccer coach from 1974-87, was one of nine competitors from the school  at the 1948 Games.

In all, Penn State competitors have won 23 medals, including five  gold-medal efforts, from 78 Olympians. Former men’s gymnastics  assistant coach Kevin Tan  is the most recent Penn Stater to medal in the Olympics, earning a team  bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Suzanne McConnell was the last  Penn Stater to capture a gold medal, earning the medal as a member of  the 1988 U.S. women’s basketball team. McConnell also took home bronze  at the 1992 Games.

The 2012 Nittany Lion contingent consists of competitors from  seven sports, including both male and female competitors in fencing,  track & field and volleyball. Natalie Dell will make history for the  school as the first Nittany Lion to compete in rowing at the Olympics.

Four competitors are current student-athletes at Penn State,  while an additional 14 alumni and one Nittany Lion coach will also  compete. Eight individuals will represent seven countries other than the  U.S., including Canada, Great Britain, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto  Rico, and Suriname.

Penn State will be well represented in track & field with five athletes. Dominique Blake,  a 2008 graduate, earned a spot in the Jamaican relay pool on the heels  of a sixth-place finish in the women’s 400 final. The former NCAA  champion in 4×400-meter relay already has some international experience  under her belt, competing for Jamaica in the open 400 at the World  Indoors, where she finished as a semi-finalist.

Shana Cox  will represent Great Britain in the 400-meter event. Cox, another 2008  graduate, was an 11-time All-American and NCAA champion in the 400- and  4×400-meter relay as a Nittany Lion.

Kirsten Nieuwendam  (Paramibo, Suriname), who owns sophomore eligibility indoors and  freshman eligibility outdoors at Penn State, is set to compete in the  200-meters for her home country of Suriname. The trip will be the second  for Nieuwendam, who competed in the same event at the Beijing Games in  2008. Nieuwendam enjoyed outstanding success in 2012, finishing second  in both the 400-meters and 4×400-meter relay at the Big Ten Indoor  Championships, before adding another silver medal in the 4×400, as well  as a third-place effort in the 200 at the outdoor conference meet.

Bridget Franek, a 2010 graduate, and Ryan Whiting,  a volunteer head coach for the Nittany Lions, will compete for the  United States. Franek qualified for her first career Olympic berth,  placing second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic  Trials in Eugene, Ore. Franek, who was an NCAA champion in the event in  2010, matched her highest-ever US finish in the effort, thanks to a  finishing time of 9:35.62. A 10-time NCAA All-American while wearing the  Blue and White, Franek clinched a spot on her third U.S. squad, having  traveled to the IAAF World Championships in 2009, and 2011. Whiting -  the defending World Indoor Champion in the shot put – also earned his  first Olympic spot, via a second-place finish in his signature event.  One of the top throwers in the world as well as a volunteer coach on the  Nittany Lion track & field staff, Whiting recorded a toss of  71-0.75 (21.66) to finish second to only Reese Hoffa’s 72-2.25 (22.00).  Whiting is also no stranger to qualifying for U.S. teams, representing  his country at the 2011 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, and 2012 IAAF  World Indoor Championships. The Harrisburg, Pa., native was a six-time  NCAA Champion while competing at Arizona State.

Four women’s volleyball players will be a part of the U.S. squad, including two 2009 graduates, Nicole Fawcett and Christa Harmotto, and 2010 graduates Alisha Glass Megan Hodge.  Harmotto and Hodge were both selections to the 12-player U.S. squad,  while Fawcett and Glass serve as alternates for the group.

The four Nittany Lions were all a part of Penn State’s historic  run to four straight NCAA titles between 2007-10. Harmotto and Fawcett  helped Penn State capture two (2007, 2008), while Hodge and Glass were  part of three (2007, 2008, 2009). The 2009 AVCA National Player of the  Year and ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year,  Hodge was a four-time First Team AVCA All-American. Hodge closed out her  Penn State career ranked second all-time in the record books with 2,142  career kills and amassed a career record of 142-5 (97%). She also  helped lead Penn State to 102 of its record-breaking 109-match winning  streak. Harmotto is second in the Penn State career records in hitting  percentage at .433 and fourth all-time in total blocks at 682.

Matt Anderson  will help lead the U.S. men’s volleyball team. A two-time AVCA  All-American and the 2008 AVCA co-National Player of the Year, Anderson  led Penn State to the 2008 NCAA title where he was named the Most  Outstanding Player of the championship. After leaving early to pursue a  professional volleyball career, Anderson has become a fixture on the  U.S. Men’s National Team. Most recently, Anderson led the U.S. Men to a  gold medal in the NORCECA Men’s Continential Olympic Qualification  Tournament where he was also named “Best Spiker”. He is making is first  Olympic Games appearance.

A trio of fencers also compete at the London Games with Miles Chamley-Watson (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Doris Willette representing the U.S. and Daniel Gomez-Tanamachi (Mexico City, Mexico) donning Mexico’s colors.

Chamley-Watson took the 2012 collegiate season off to pursue a  spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. It paid off as he qualified for the third  spot on the foil squad. This follows his junior season at Penn State in  2010-11 that saw him fence his way to All-America honors for the third  straight time with a runner-up finish. As a sophomore, Chamley-Watson  tied for third at NCAAs, duplicating his performance as a freshman in  2009. Willette, a four-time All-American and two-time national champion,  competed for Penn State from 2006-2011 and is making her second  straight appearance in the Olympic games. Willette left Penn State with a  117-14 dual record and won the NCAA title in the women’s foil in 2007  and 2009 and was an All-American in 2010 and 2011.

Gomez-Tanamachi will be making his first appearance at the  Olympics for his home country of Mexico.  He enjoyed a stellar junior  campaign in 2012, going 24-8 and placing first at the Mid-Atlantic/South  Regional to qualify for the National Championships. He defeated 13  opponents to claim 10th in the nation and was an Honorable Mention  All-American.  After the season, Gomez-Tanamachi claimed a spot on the  Mexico Men’s Foil Team for the 2012 Olympics in London and will return  to Penn State as a senior this fall.

Soccer alumnae Erin McLeod and Carmelina Moscato¸ both 2006  graduates, will take to the pitch for Canada this summer. McLeod left  Penn State as one of the most accomplished goalkeepers, earning NSCAA  All-America First Team honors after leading the Nittany Lions to a No. 1  ranking during the 2005 season and a Women’s College Cup berth. McLeod  was a two-time All-Big Ten First Team honoree, posting a 0.64 goals  against average and a record of 39-2-3. McLeod was also a semifinalist  for the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy, a rare feat for a  goalkeeper. Her counterpart, Moscato, was a defensive stalwart on the  2005 College Cup team. Moscato helped lead the Nittany Lions to four Big  Ten championships and the 2001 Big Ten Tournament championship. During  the 2005 season, Moscato and McLeod teamed up to lead PSU to its best  season ever at 23-0-2 with a 19-game winning streak. Along with McLeod,  Moscato has been a mainstay in the Canadian National Team defense,  earning trips to the 2003 and 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments.  Moscato is making her first Olympic appearance while McLeod is making  her second after competing at the Beijing Games.

A pair of Nittany Lions will also be active in men’s gymnastics competition. Alumnus Tommy Ramos and junior Felix Aronovich  (Kiryat Bialik, Israel) will represent Puerto Rico and Israel,  respectively. The duo gives Penn State two Olympic gymnasts at the same  Games for the first time since 1992 when Terry Bartlett and Ian Shelley  represented Great Britain in Barcelona. A six-time All-American under  the tutelage of Penn State head coach Randy Jepson,  Ramos played a prominent role in helping the Nittany Lions to the  program’s NCAA-record 12th national championship in 2007 and a Big Ten  title in 2008. A two-time Big Ten still rings champion, he held the Penn  State record in the event (16.000), set at the 2008 National Collegiate  Championships, until Scott Rosenthal broke it in the 2012 season opener against Army, scoring a 16.300.

Interestingly, Aronovich qualified twice for the Olympics, first  meeting the Olympic committee requirements at a test event in London in  January and then meeting the Israeli Olympic committee conditions by  placing 11th in the all-around at the European Championships in May. In  2012, Aronovich was a key member of a Penn State squad that finished  third at the National Collegiate Championships. He earned his first two  career All-America honors, placing seventh in the all-around during the  team finals and placing fifth in the parallel bars at the individual  finals. At the 2012 Big Ten Championships, Aronovich placed fourth in  the all-around, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors. The former Big  Ten Co-Freshman of the Year had his best collegiate season in 2012,  setting career highs in five of six events and the all-around. The  five-time Big Ten Gymnast of the Week has recorded 55 top three  finishes, including 29 title wins, during his collegiate career.

Dell, a 2007 graduate, is a third-year member of the U.S. Rowing  team after competing for the club-level Penn State squad, where she went  undefeated in 2006. Competing in women’s quadruple sculls, the 2012  Games mark the first Olympic trip for Dell. She offers strong  international experience, winning bronze in the quadruple sculls at the  2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup II and silver in the same event at the  2011 World Rowing Championships.

Cyclist Bobby Lea, a 2006 graduate, will travel to his second  Olympics this summer after competing in Beijing in 2008. The endurance  cyclist will look to improve upon his 16th-place showing in the Madison  event in 2008, this time competing in the Omnium. Lea won 30 collegiate  national titles as a part of the Penn State Cycling Team before turning  pro after graduation. Since the Beijing Games, Lea has collected four  national championships, including gold in the Individual Pursuit and the  Omnium at the 2011 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships

Aug 2 2012

Paterno Catholic Student Faith Center project nears completion


UNIVERSITY PARK — George Waxler and Herb Murray, with Sekula Sign Corp., in DuBois, finished installing a sign Wednesday at the Suzanne Pohland Paterno Catholic Student Faith Center on Park Avenue.

Tony DeGol, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona Johnstown, said construction on the center is winding down, and the center should be open to students early in the fall semester.

“We’re very excited for this,” DeGol said. “It’s shaping up beautifully, and we’re so excited after years of planning this to see it coming to fruition.

“It’s going to mean a lot for Catholic students returning to Penn State to have this facility available to them.”

Sue Paterno is the wife of the late Joe Paterno.

Jul 27 2012

Calling ALL Penn State Lettermen!!


O’Brien is calling all lettermen for a squad meeting on campus next Tuesday

If you know anyone who played football for Penn State, please make sure they get this message!!