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.
The Westboro Baptist Church, infamously known for protests at funerals of fallen soldiers, is planning to bring their hate-filled rhetoric to Happy Valley for this Saturday's game against Nebraska.
It’s been five very long days and the only notable words to come from Graham Spanier have been “unconditional support.” Well, now we know why. Two members close to the administration have told the Chronicle that Graham Spanier is following strict orders to stay silent. One of the sources said, "It's tearing Graham up to sit by and watch everything he's done to build up this university over nearly 17 years—and see this individual's alleged acts tear away at it."