PSU: No givebacks

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posted: January 05, 2012

HARRISBURG - In the immediate aftermath of the child sex-abuse scandal that erupted two months ago, Penn State's Board of Trustees and its new president focused on repairing the school's tarnished image and braced for financial backlash, going so far as to recommend reminding any outraged donors that they wouldn't get their money back, according to internal memos obtained by the Associated Press.

Four memos sent Nov. 14-18 describe the school's scrambling response less than two weeks after former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested on child-molestation charges. Two Penn State administrators also were charged with lying to a grand jury and with failing to properly report suspected child abuse.

"This is another indication that we are taking control of the narrative of our story," school president Rodney Erickson wrote.

The scandal led to the ouster of Graham Spanier, Erickson's predecessor, and the firing of venerable football coach Joe Paterno, a decision by the trustees that triggered rioting in downtown State College and produced dozens of criminal charges.

A Nov. 18 note from Erickson included an attachment with "talking points" for donors, including that the school had not changed its policy that gifts are not returned.

Both the number of donors and number of gifts to Penn State increased in November, compared with the same month a year earlier. Total donations to Penn State were $3.1 million in November, compared with $1.1 million in November 2010, according to the university.

Index by Keyword
|
Index by Date
|
About Philly.com
|
Contact Us
|
Terms of Use & Privacy Statement
|
Copyright 2013