There have not been too many positive vibes in Penn State over the past few weeks, but as we come to terms with the allegations against our university, there is something we can take solace in and celebrate. Yesterday, former Penn State Football player Adam Taliaferro was elected to a seat on the Gloucester County Board of Freeholders in New Jersey.
Not one person could envision what has taken place in Happy Valley over these past few days. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, everything has changed. Our university is in shambles, and just one man is holding himself accountable.
In January of 2010, Penn State hired Cynthia Baldwin as the university's full-time general counsel and chief legal officer. This wouldn't have been notable, if it weren't for the fact that she was the first in-house lawyer the university ever had. Before Baldwin, Penn State relied on Wendell Courtney, an attorney in the Central Pennsylvania law firm of McQuaide-Blasko, for most of its legal work. In addition to serving as primary counsel for the university, he also did work, pro bono, for The Second Mile charity.
Rodney Erickson has been the Executive Vice President and Provost of the University since 1999. Speculation had indicated that former Pennsylvania Governor and Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge might be brought in as interim President. While the Trustees may be appointing someone to lead in the interim, it is Erickson who currently has the experience necessary to run the University on a day-to-day basis, and according to the Express-Times, is the most likely heir-apparent to replace Spanier in his exit.
Check out video of last night's gathering at Beaver Canyon.
Rallies, protests, and marches are being coordinated at every Penn State landmark, and all everyone has been able to talk about since the start of the week are the allegations surrounding some of our beloved school symbols. Some people are saying they are ashamed to be Penn Staters, that somehow the actions of a few have caused all of us to become embarrassed. But why is this? This one scandal doesn't define us as a University, but other things, positive ones, do.