Emerging from the Storm:  Join our conversation with Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey

CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION
8 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) Wednesday, Sept. 12

During the turmoil of the past 10 months, many Penn Staters have found themselves struggling as they try to discuss the Sandusky scandal and aftermath with friends and families who aren’t tied to the university.
 
So here’s a way for Penn Staters to come together and help each other think about what it means for Penn State to move forward and various ways to make that happen.
 
Join sociology instructors Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Wednesday, Sept. 12, as they continue this conversation online.  For this dialogue to continueundefinedand to be productiveundefinedwe need your voice.
 
The conversation will continue at www.livestream.com/pennstater.  You can watch and listen as Sam and Laurie talk live about everything from the Joe Paterno statue controversy to child sex abuse to what we’ve learned about leadership.  And, of course, what Penn Staters can do nowundefinedfor ourselves and our school.
 
You ask can questions and comment in real time. Simply go to www.livesetream.com/pennstater, and you’ll see a text box where you can post questions and comments.  You can also participate via Facebook or Twitter.

Click here to read the article from the September/October issue of The Penn Stater

Our fellow Nashville Penn Stater, Erin Seeley, has been recognized nationally for her work in biology!  Check out the story here: http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2012/08/new-view-of-infection-response/.  Way to go Erin!

Today we receive a very harsh penalty from the NCAA and as Head Coach of the Nittany Lions football program, I will do everything in my power to not only comply, but help guide the University forward to become a national leader in ethics, compliance and operational excellence. I knew when I accepted the position that there would be tough times ahead. But I am committed for the long term to Penn State and our student athletes.

I was then and I remain convinced that our student athletes are the best in the country. I could not be more proud to lead this team and these courageous and humble young men into the upcoming 2012 season. Together we are committed to building a better athletic program and university.

http://live.psu.edu/story/60478

The Freeh Report concluded that individuals at Penn State University entrusted to positions of authority shunned their basic responsibility to protect children and innocent children suffered as a result. Our hearts go out to the victims of this abuse and their families.

Today Penn State takes another step forward in changing the culture at the institution as we accept the penalties of the NCAA for the failure of leadership that occurred on our campus. We are deeply disappointed that some of our leaders could have turned a blind eye to such abuse, and agree that the culture at Penn State must change. As we move forward, today's student athletes have a challenging road ahead. But they will do the right thing, as they have always done. I am confident all of our head coaches will come together to make the change necessary to drive our university forward. Penn State will continue to fully support its established athletic programs, which provide opportunities for more than 800 student athletes.

Working together, the path ahead will not be easy. But it is necessary, just, and will bring a better future. Our faculty, staff, students, athletes and parents will work together as Penn State begins this new chapter. Through this cooperation and collaboration, Penn State will become a national model for compliance, ethics and embodiment of the student athlete credo.

http://live.psu.edu/story/60478

A Message From
President Rodney Erickson

The tragedy of child sexual abuse that occurred at our University altered the lives of innocent children. Today, as every day, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the victims of Mr. Sandusky and all other victims of child abuse.

Against this backdrop, Penn State accepts the penalties and corrective actions announced today by the NCAA www.ncaa.com. With today's announcement and the action it requires of us, the University takes a significant step forward.

The NCAA ruling holds the University accountable for the failure of those in power to protect children and insists that all areas of the University community are held to the same high standards of honesty and integrity.

The NCAA also mandates that Penn State become a national leader to help victims of child sexual assault and to promote awareness across our nation. Specifically, the University will pay $12 million a year for the next five years into a special endowment created to fund programs for the detection, prevention and treatment of child abuse. This total of $60 million can never reduce the pain suffered by victims, but will help provide them hope and healing.

The NCAA penalty will also affect the football program. There is a four-year ban on all post-season games, including bowl games and the Big Ten Championship game, and a future reduction in the number of football scholarships that can be granted. We are grateful that the current student athletes are not prevented from participation because of the failures of leadership that occurred. Additionally the NCAA has vacated all wins of Penn State football from 1998-2011.

We also welcome the Athletics Integrity Agreement and the third-party monitor, who will be drilling into compliance and culture issues in intercollegiate athletics, in conjunction with the recommendations of the Freeh Report. Lastly a probationary period of five years will be imposed.

It is important to know we are entering a new chapter at Penn State and making necessary changes. We must create a culture in which people are not afraid to speak up, management is not compartmentalized, all are expected to demonstrate the highest ethical standards, and the operating philosophy is open, collegial, and collaborative.

Since receiving Judge Freeh's preliminary recommendations in January, the University has instituted several reforms. Today we accept the terms of the consent decree imposed by the NCAA. As Penn State embarks upon change and progress, this announcement helps to further define our course. It is with this compass that we will strive for a better tomorrow.

Penn State will move forward with a renewed sense of commitment to excellence and integrity in all aspects of our University. We continue to recognize the important role that intercollegiate athletics provides for our student athletes and the wider University community as we strive to appropriately balance academic and athletic accomplishments. Penn State will continue to be a world-class educational institution of which our students, faculty, staff and alumni can be justifiably proud.

President Rodney Erickson

http://live.psu.edu/story/60475

A Message From
President Rodney Erickson

Dear Penn State Alumni:

As we all can attest, it has been a heart-wrenching and difficult eight months since we first learned of the charges against Jerry Sandusky and top-level Penn State officials. With the release Thursday of the investigative report by Judge Louis Freeh, the last several days have taken an additional toll.

My heart remains heavy for the victims of this tragedy, which has been a sobering reminder of what can occur when we fail to protect society's weakest and most vulnerable. As one learned scholar so aptly said, "All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing."

We can never again allow this to happen.

The 267-page Freeh Report, while difficult to digest, was a necessary step in finding the truth and continuing our healing process as a community. We must not be afraid to examine ourselves, our policies and our actions undefined with the clear intent of taking corrective measures and righting the wrongs.

As I have said in previous messages to you, the University is committed to ensuring that our campuses are safe for children and helping build greater awareness of child sexual abuse and maltreatment. We also are committed to reaching out to any victims of Mr. Sandusky's conduct, to discuss the University's responsibility for any failures in leadership and to help them heal.

Although we cannot undo history, we can become agents for change and reaffirm our core values of honesty, integrity and justice. I promise you, we will learn from our past and take the steps that will allow us to emerge and grow into a stronger, better university.

As we move forward, there are many decisions that must be made undefined decisions that are not without consequences and must not be done without careful thought. Many of these decisions involve individuals and practices deeply woven into the fabric of our community.

All of this will take time.

Time to heal. Time to comprehend. Time to trust. Time to transform. Time to regain what has been lost, and time to move forward.

The world is watching and they are anxious for expedient responses. I would ask that your response to this public scrutiny be to continue your excellent work in the classroom, the lab, the office or wherever you are making your mark in this world and on behalf of Penn State. It is through your diligence and dedication that the world will again view Penn State as a force for advancement and good.

This is not the end of the process, nor will it be the end of a number of investigations or inquiries into the University. We will continue to cooperate fully with all agencies and will communicate these interactions with you, our community. We plan to analyze the many recommendations made in the Freeh Report and begin implementing a number of them as quickly as possible. We also will keep you updated on these actions at www.progress.psu.edu.

As always, I am proud of the work of our faculty, staff, students and alumni. As we face the difficult weeks and months ahead I ask that you keep the victims in mind and continue to uphold the high standard of excellence that will take this great University into the future.

President Rodney Erickson

2012 Annual Picnic

Saturday, July 28th, 2012
12noon - 4pm
Paul and Lynne Anderson's home
651 Post Oak Circle, Brentwood, TN 37027

 

Please join us at the home of Paul and Lynne Anderson on Saturday, July 28th for our annual picnic.  There will be plenty of food, swimming (bring your swimsuit!), activities, and Penn State memories!  The picnic will be catered this year, and we will have grilled stickies!  We will announce the winner of our 2012 scholarship and wish all our local students good luck as they head to Dear Old State for the upcoming school year.
 
Please note that due to Alumni Association restrictions, neither the chapter nor the host house are permitted to provide alcohol, however you are welcome to bring your own.  No glass is allowed by the pool but plastic cups will be available. Softdrinks will be provided.

Click Here to Register

The Nashville Penn Staters were scheduled to volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee on Saturday, July 14th. However, Second Harvest contacted us today to inform us our group could not volunteer because the Food Bank is so low on donations and they do not have any projects or sorting for us to do.
 
In light of this obvious need in Middle Tennessee, we will be collecting food donations for Second Harvest at all of our football viewing parties this year. All unused, non-perishable food items, such as cereal, soup, canned vegetables, rice and beans, are welcome. In the past we have donated over 125 pounds of food collected at our annual Christmas party; surely over the course of the football season we can match or exceed that amount!
 
Please consider bringing food to the games or volunteering with us at Second Harvest on Saturday, October 20th. Thanks.

Do you have pictures of Penn State that you would like to share with the chapter?  We are looking for your favorite Penn State related pictures of you and your friends or family that we can post on the website.  For example, these could be pictures of you at a football game, in front of the lion shrine or enjoying ice cream at the creamery.  We would also like pictures of you wearing your Penn State gear in other places besides on campus.  We would like to have as many pictures of different members as possible because we want the community to know how proud we are of our chapter.  If you have pictures, please email them to Jen at jd.honeytree@gmail.com.  We look forward to seeing your favorite Penn State memories!