Patriot News Reporter Charlie Thompson Reflects On The Last Two Years And What They Mean To This Election And The Presidential Search

Patriot News reporter Charlie Thompson wrote on article reflecting on the last two years at Penn State and what they mean to this election and the Presidential Search.  I find the most poignant quote to come from Barmak Nassirian, an independent higher education policy analyst based in Washington D.C., who recommends that our University would best be served by moving forward: 

If you really care about Penn State, you ought to care about Penn State being able to go about its business.
 

You can read the full story here.  As a trustee, I have been working hard to improve our governance and oversignt, to hire the best and the brightest administrators, and to work with the Blue & White Vision Council to identify Penn State's strengths, challenges, and aspirations as we proceed with the selection of our 18th President.

 

The Magic (And Reality) Of THON

Today I picked up my weekly version of The Collegian which is delivered to my office.  It was terrific to see the headline "Thrice As Nice". Our wrestlers, like all our student athletes, make us proud. 

Below the fold however a headline caught my eye "THON Child Passes Away".  As I read the article I realized I had met this THON child, Nick Pantalone, on September 11, 2012, at the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Four Diamonds Fund in Hershey.  The celebration honored Charles and Irma Millard who established the fund on the very day they lost their eleven year old son Christopher.  The name of the fund came from a story Christopher wrote about the quest for four diamonds: courage, wisdom, honesty, and strength.  In 1977, the Four Diamonds Fund became the sole beneficiary of THON.

Nick spoke at the 40th Anniversary celebration.  He spoke so eloquently, with so much wisdom, and with so much hope.  It was clear he did not allow his cancer to stop him from living a full life.  His much too soon passing is a reminder that while the efforts of THON help hundreds of families more research is needed to help find a cure for childhood cancer.

Nick's passing is a reminder of Why We Dance and why we should continue to give to the largest student run philanthropy in the world.  I made a donation today in honor of Nick.  I hope you will consider giving as well.

Onward State Weighs In On This Year's Election

I was happy to participate in an interview with Onward State regarding the upcoming election. You can read more the full story here. Just a reminder, if you did not receive a ballot for nominations, you can request a ballot for voting by:  

• Emailing bot@psu.edu
• Providing your:
• complete name at time of graduation (maiden name included)
• year of graduation
• college and major
• current e-mail address (where you would like to receive ballots)
• mailing address

Working To Increase Communications

I spent my Friday afternoon and evening at the Nittany Lion Inn.  What is not to love about this place?  The Nittany Lion Inn encompasses all that is Penn State.  Each year the Chancellors from the Commonwealth Campuses and their advisory board presidents get together for the "University Meeting of the Chairs of the Campus Advisory Boards".  This was the first year the board of trustees participated in this gathering.  I hope it is the first of many.  Again, this is one example of how Keith Masser and I are committed to increasing communications between the board and its constituents.  We began our discussions by introducing ourselves, discussing the work of the board, answering questions, and listening to comments from the advisory board presidents.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner, camaraderie, and entertainment.  One suggestion to come out of the gathering was to invite trustees to attend the meetings of the advisory boards at the Commonwealth Campuses.  I fully support this idea.  I hope others feel the same way.  I'm in!

More Good News From Penn State: More Employers Attend The 2013 Spring Career Days

In another sign that Penn State continues to be a strong academic institution that produces students who are successful in the workplace, employer attendance at the Spring Career Days is up from 333 in 2012 to 344 in 2013.    Spring Career Days offer students the chance to consider graduate careers, student internships, and summer jobs.  Here's what employers have to say about Penn State and its students:

“We find consistently strong employees coming from Penn State.”

— Marisha Baldwin, university recruiting manager, Siemens Corporation

“We continue to recruit and invest our time at Penn State due to the success of the alumni we have hired.”

— Brooks Rennoll, recruiter, Dick’s Sporting Goods

Penn State is one of the biggest schools, with one of the biggest career fairs, with a great reputation, which gives employers a larger pool of well-educated students to interview.”

— Kathryn Starrgaard, recruiter, TSC Services LLC

For several years I have participated in the on-campus recruitment of Penn State students from the Dickinson School of Law.  This past summer a student from Dickinson not only participated in our summer associated program, but was offered a full time position for the Fall 2013 based upon her stellar performance as a summer associate.

You can read more about Spring Career Days here. 

FAQ#10-What Have You Done To Fulfill Your Fiduciary Obligation To Penn State?

I have fulfilled my fiduciary obligations in various ways, including, but not limited to, being prepared for and attending meetings*, participating in numerous committees, serving on the General Counsel Search Committee, serving on the distinguished Alumni Selection Committee, serving as a judge for Alumni elections, actively engaging with Commonwealth Campuses in my area, actively engaging in alumni groups, acting as a trustee representative at the Berks campus and law school graduations, participating in the final interviews for the Vice President of Finance, Director of Ethics & Legal Compliance, and Provost, engaging with faculty, staff, administration, and students, and serving on the Blue & White Vision Council.

The traditional benchmarks of the success of a University (endowment, giving, and admissions) are all positive.  As I mentioned in my March 18, 2013, post:

• The yield rate for paid accepts is ahead of last year's rate meaning more students than ever are choosing Penn State (University Park is up 3% and other campuses are up 1%).
• Applications to Penn State's College of Medicine applications are up 5%.
• The World Campus celebrated its 15 year anniversary with five straight years of double digit growth.
• The number of alumni donors is on pace with last year.
• The dollars raised in annual giving are running twenty-one percent ahead of last year. 

In addition, as has recently been reported from July-December 2012, the University's endowment and similar funds total increased by $98 million exceeding the June 30 record level of $1.86 billion.  It is clear that despite the challenges of the last 16 months, Penn State is as strong as ever!

When I joined the Board I was on the Campus Environment Committee.  I initially requested to be on this committee because of my interest in the graduate schools and Commonwealth campuses that make up Penn State.  While this committee was a great way to learn more about the structure of Penn State and the programs then offered to students, I wanted to serve on a committee that made more decisions with respect to the future of the University.  I shared with my mentor on the board that I thought my experience as a construction litigator would be best served on the Finance & Physical Plant committee.  In July 2011, I began my service on that committee.  When we realigned the committees (and added new committees) after the events of November 2011, I joined the Legal & Compliance Committee and the Committee on Outreach, Development and Community Relations.  Since the Legal & Compliance Committee was a new committee, I drafted our first charter which sets forth the roles and expectations of the committee.  When our general counsel joined us in July 2012, he finalized them.  I also served as Vice Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee until January 2013.  I now also serve on the Committee on Academic Affairs & Student Life. 

Without a doubt the Legal & Compliance Committee is the most active committee on which I serve.  We meet for telephone conferences weekly.  In addition, on average we meet in person once a month for several hours at a time.

Throughout the election process, I intend to expand on each of these issues more fully.

*As previously stated, due to an unavoidable work commitment, I was not in attendance at the May 2011 meeting of the Board of Trustees.  This is the only meeting I have missed.

Update on Proposed Governance Changes

Today I attended the Senate State Government Committee Hearing on proposed governance reforms at Penn State.   Jim Broadhurst testified on behalf of the Governance and Long-Range Planning Committee of the Board.  Keith Masser and Ira Lubert answered questions from the committee.  As a candidate for the Board, I was unable to testify or participate in the hearing.  The room was filled with proud Penn Staters concerned about the necessary reforms to our Board.  Their presence certainly served as a reminder that Penn Staters are voters throughout the Commonwealth.

The Board has already taken steps to implement numerous changes to improve the governance and oversight of our Board, including, but not limited to:

• Restructuring existing committees and adding new committees (such as Governance & Long Range Planning and the Legal & Compliance committees)
• Reducing the term limits of trustees an additional three years
• Committee membership (with the exception of Legal & Compliance) now includes faculty members, staff and students
• Key staff positions now have a dual reporting line to the President and the Board
• A public comment session has been added to the Board meeting
• Many committees allow for public comment if time permits

At its last meeting the Governance and Long-Range Planning Committee voted to recommend that a package of reforms be voted upon by the Board.  We will in fact vote on each proposed reform at our May 3, 2013, meeting.  Given discussions I have had with fellow Board members (including a seminar in January with the full board), I would be extremely surprised if all of these proposed revisions were not implemented.  Below is a highlight of the proposed reforms:

• The President will be an ex officio non-voting member of the Board.
• The President will no longer serve as Secretary.  The Secretary will be elected by the Board.
• The Governor will be an ex officio non-voting member of the Board.
• Quorum will be increased to 16 members.
• A five year term limit will be imposed on committee chairs.
• The waiting period for an employee to become a trustee will be increased from three years to five years.
• The composition and method of selection of the executive committee will be revised to create a larger executive committee.
• The Charter will reflect the existing practice of electronic notice and voting.
• Electronic delivery of required notices for the Board will now be permitted.
• The notice provisions will be consistent with PA Sunshine Law.
• Telephonic meetings in compliance with the PA Sunshine Law will be permitted.
• The Chair may excuse non-voting members from any meetings at his or her discretion.
• The Charter will accurately reflect the current practice for reimbursement of travel expenses.
• A provision for the removal of trustees for certain breaches of fiduciary obligations will be added.
• General archaic or irrelevant language will be removed and replaced. 

Once these reforms are implemented, the Board will then move to the next level of reforms that need a closer look with some additional input from important constituents.  These reforms include, but are not limited to, the composition of the Board, the size of the Board, and the selection or election process by which trustees become members of the Board.  The reforms we will vote on in May are just the beginning of a continuing process to review our structure, administration, and composition to ensure the highest and most effective Board possible.   

My Thoughts On Ken Frazier and Bill Cluck's Exchange

I believe Ken Frazier's letter to the editor says it best.  In addition, Mr. Cluck has publicly stated:

I bear no ill will to Mr Frazier's ill-tempered outburst. We can agree to disagree whether his "facts" are actually just the opinions of one Board member. Mr Frazier was not speaking for the Task Force or the Committee on Legal and Compliance. I am more concerned with the substance of our "spirited" discussion at Thursday's committee meeting. I am pleased that chairman Eckel allowed for public comment, which is more than I can say for another committee.
 

I do know Mr. Cluck and Mr. Frazier spoke today via telephone.  After speaking, Mr. Cluck publicly stated:

Ken Frazier just called and offered his heart felt apology. I accepted his apology. We had a nice civil conversation and he even volunteered that I have his vote. He will respond to my list of questions posted about the Task Force.
 

To be clear, I think Ken's verbal apology on Friday, written apology on Sunday and verbal apology on Sunday were all highly appropriate.

Great Things Are Happening At Penn State!

I spent Thursday and Friday in Hershey, PA for our March Board of Trustees' meeting.  Our meeting in Hershey has become an annual tradition which enables the Board of Trustees to spend time with the people who make up one of Penn State's most valuable assets - The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the College of Medicine.  My day began on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. with committee meetings that went until 5:30 p.m.  We then shared dinner with many of the great people from the Penn State Hershey community.  On Friday we began our meetings at 7:15 a.m.  Before lunch we had the opportunity to tour the recently opened children's hospital.  Last year we had a hard hat tour but this year it was really moving to see the patients benefiting from the services provided at Penn State Hershey.  We even got to meet with a little boy named Tay who loves to get visitors.  We discussed the Eagle's new head coach and the Muppet Movie.  Pictures of THON were all around.  Just one more reason to be Penn State proud! 

Then we had lunch with some medical students.  The medical student at my table has an interest in ophthalmology.  A childhood friend of mine is an oncological ophthalmologist at Wills Eye Hospital.  By the end of lunch I had connected the two of them so the Penn State student could gain some additional knowledge about that particular field of medicine.  Undoubtedly, meeting Penn State students is one of the best parts of being a trustee.  We then finished up the day with our public meeting that lasted until nearly 6 p.m.

You can be sure of one thing - great things are happening at Penn State.  Here are just some of the highlights:

• The Governor's proposed budget includes level funding for higher education.
• The yield rate for paid accepts is ahead of last year's rate meaning more students than ever are choosing Penn State (University Park is up 3% and other campuses are up 1%).
• Applications to Penn State's College of Medicine applications are up 5%.
• The World Campus celebrated its 15 year anniversary with five straight years of double digit growth.
• Penn State is now engaging in MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses).
• Susan Basso was named as the first Vice President of Human Resources. 
• Regis Becker was announced as the first Director of Ethics and Compliance
• Julie Del Giorno was announced as the first Athletics Integrity Officer.
• Penn State's College of Communications weekly newscast was named best in the nation.
• Penn State athletes set a record by winning seven Big10 Championships.
• The number of alumni donors is on pace with last year.
• The dollars raised in annual giving are running twenty-one percent ahead of last year. 
• The Board of Trustee's governance committed recommended numerous changes to the by-laws, charter, and standing orders to improve governance and oversight.  The Board will vote on these changes at our May 2013 meeting.
• Penn State will pursue on campus housing at Penn State Abington and Penn State Brandywine.

Spotlight on Penn State Brandywine

In 1967, Penn State Brandywine in Media, Pennsylvania (approximately 20 miles west of Philadelphia) was founded. Although it is currently a commuter campus, PSU Brandywine has been on the short list of possible locations to build on campus housing.  There are approximately 1,600 students.  PSU Brandywine offers 12 baccalaureate degrees and 3 associate degrees. 

This campus is near and dear to my heart as my husband graduated from there in 2007.  After a job loss and an interest in switching careers, he returned to Penn State to complete his degree.  The administration could not have been more helpful with respect to helping him achieve his goal of finishing his college education as quickly as possible.  Having a PSU campus in our backyard significantly changed our life.

As a trustee, I support the campuses near me in any way I can.  I have personally met with PSU Brandywine's Chancellor Sophia T. Wisniewska, Ph.D. on numerous occasions.  I have supported events at the campus such as the Spring Soiree.  This year's emcee is Karen Rogers.  If you are in the area, you should consider supporting this great event.  Here we are at the event last year.

Want to get involved with this campus?  Here is your chance.  The Penn State Brandywine Alumni Society is currently accepting applications.  Click here to learn more about the process.  The deadline for submission is April 1st.  

Have You Visited The Progress Web Site Lately?

The Progress Web Site was formed to provide the Penn State community up to date communications on difficult issues from 2011 and 2012, including ongoing legal matters. 

Did you know there is a FAQ's page? Check it out here.  You can also sign up for email updates. 

Welcome To Penn State's First Director of Ethics & Compliance: Regis W. Becker

There is no doubt that higher education is becoming more regulated.  On April 1, 2013, Regis W. Becker will return to his roots - Penn State University, as its first Director of Ethics & Compliance.  As a member of the Legal & Compliance Committee, I had the opportunity to interview Reg (as well as other candidates).  His experience is both wide and deep.  I am confident in his ability to hit the ground running, to establish an office which utilizes best practices, and to help make Penn State first in class in the area of compliance.  Being part of the selection process is just one of the many ways I have made a difference as a PSU trustee.  I look forward to working directly with Reg as he will report to the Legal & Compliance Committee.  Welcome aboard Reg! 

To read more about Reg and this new position, click here.

Looking Ahead: The Presidential Search

By far, the most important decision on the horizon is selecting the next President of Penn State.

In November 2012 the BOT formed a Presidential Selection Committee which will oversee the presidential selection process.  Although the ultimate determination falls on the Board of Trustees, the decision will not be made in a vacuum. 

At the January 2013 board meeting, we announced the Search and Screen Committee which is comprised of nine faculty members, one staff member, two academic deans, one vice president, two undergraduate students and one graduate student and one representative each from the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Alumni Association. You can see the full list of members of the Search and Selection Committee here.

We recently announced the selection of Isaacson, Miller as the search firm to lead us through the selection process.  Isaacson, Miller will be conducting forums with faculty, students, and staff to consider the following: What characteristics do you want the next President to have?  What do you think the challenges and opportunities that will face Penn State in the next 10 years?  Read more about the forum here. 

Last month, the Blue & White Vision Council (of which I am a member) met with members of the Presidential Selection Committee and the Search and Screen Committee to collaborate, to brainstorm, and to answer the same question.  It was impossible to leave that meeting without the feeling that at its core Penn State is first and foremost a world class research institution dedicated to providing a quality education to its students while fulfilling its land grant mission.

FAQ#9-What Are Your Views On The NCAA Sanctions?

The people hurt most by the NCAA sanctions are our current student athletes who work hard both on and off the field to represent Penn State.  The announcement of the NCAA sanctions was the most tumultuous time I have experienced on this board.  Upon learning of the sanctions, the immediate reaction of many of us was anger, outrage, and disbelief.  There was so much strife on the board that we called an in person meeting to discuss what had happened.  At the end of that three hour meeting, we issued the following statement:

The Penn State board of trustees met for a discussion tonight. A vote was not required and none was taken.

The board finds the punitive sanctions difficult and the process with the NCAA unfortunate. But as we understand it, the alternatives were worse as confirmed by NCAA President Mark Emmert’s recent statement that Penn State was likely facing a multiyear death sentence.
The university and board resolve to move forward together to recognize the historical excellence in Penn State’s academic and athletic programs. We anticipate and look forward to demonstrating our outstanding performance in complying with the sanctions. 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 remain a world-class educational institution of which our students, faculty, staff and alumni can be justifiably proud. The commitment demonstrated by our student athletes in recent days embodies all that is good about Penn State and we look forward to unprecedented support by the Nittany nation when we take the field this fall.

I stood behind this statement when we issued it and I stand behind it now.  Nevertheless, angst over the sanctions continued.  The trustees called another meeting on August 12, 2012, at which time there was a proposal to ratify the consent decree.  During that call, President Erickson, General Counsel Steve Dunham, and outside counsel Gene Marsh explained the process with the NCAA.  You can listen to that call below.  While I would not have ratified the NCAA decree if asked, I will not second guess the decisions of our President, General Counsel, and outside counsel.  You can hear my remarks at 1:14:30.  I too share the view that the NCAA's demands of confidentiality ironically resulted in precisely what the Freeh Report criticized.

As egregious as the sanctions are, the certainty of the end of the sanctions has permitted Coach O'Brien to be able to recruit with a realistic timetable.  I cannot imagine how he could successfully recruit if the degree of sanctions was an unknown.  Coach O'Brien and our entire team showed the world who WE ARE this past season!

FAQ#8-What Are Your Views On The Freeh Report?

To me, the most important part of the Freeh Report is its recommendations.  Undoubtedly, these recommendations will make Penn State a better institution.  The administration and staff at Penn State have worked tirelessly over the last 9 months to implement these recommendations.  You can follow the University’s progress here.  Colleges and universities across the country are looking to Penn State to set the gold standard for oversight, governance, and child safety issues.  This is just one more reason to be Penn State proud!

As a litigator, I walk into the court room with the very same evidence as my opponent yet we argue two totally different sides to the jury.  The jury then decides the case.  The jury’s decision is ultimately influenced by the backgrounds, knowledge, feelings, etc. of its members.  In the end, the attorneys must accept the finding of the jury. 

The Freeh Report is Judge Freeh’s view of the evidence.  The Board never accepted the findings of the Freeh Report.  We accepted responsibility for the failures identified in the report, including our own.  The Freeh Report identified specific failures of the board.  We are working hard to remedy these failures through our governance changes.  

The Freeh Report was not commissioned with the intent that the Board would ever “vote” on it.  Rather, it was commissioned so we could determine how something like this happened at Penn State and to give us guidance on how to prevent something like this happening in the future.  Although I do not believe there is any need to vote on the Freeh Report now, I do believe there is a need to have a board discussion about the Freeh Report.  As has been reported, some trustees question the Freeh Report.  We, as trustees who commissioned the report, need to hash out this issue.  We need to talk about it, get it out on the table, and understand each other’s point of view.  

While Judge Freeh did not interview Coach Paterno, Gary Shultz, or Tim Curley, he did have their grand jury testimony as well as the contemporaneous notes and emails.  We have stated that we will not comment on the guilt or innocence of any party.  I stand behind this commitment.

The Paterno Report is the Paterno’s view of the evidence.  We are all indebted to the Paternos for commissioning the Clemente Report.  It is a must read for all of us.  As a society, we owe it to each other to educate ourselves about the signs of child predators.  We should do all we can to prevent harm to children.

Everyone is capable of reading these reports and coming to their own conclusions.  I respect and appreciate that people will reach different conclusions.

 

With respect to the issue of why the Board allowed the Freeh Group to release the report to the public at the same time that it released the Freeh Report to the Board, I refer you to the position PS4RS took in January 2012:

As an alumnus, I'm disappointed because it doesn't sound like any of the leadership is delivering on all their promises of transparency. If Louis Freeh needs his investigative report to be client-approved, how is this investigation truly independent?
 

Thus, it was in an effort to fulfill our commitment to transparency that we agreed that the Board would receive the Freeh Report simultaneously with the public.

FAQ#7-Is it true your law firm represents Cynthia Baldwin?

Yes, this is true.  My law firm is a nationwide law firm with over 500 attorneys in 17 offices throughout 9 states and the District of Columbia.  The attorney who is representing her is not in my office.  In fact, I have never even met him, let alone spoken to him about this, or any other, case.  I had no involvement in the selection of my firm to represent Ms. Baldwin.  I have no monetary interest in this representation.  I am an income partner at my firm, thus I do not share in its profits.  An ethical wall was immediately established to prevent any conflict between my role on the board and my firm's representation of Ms. Baldwin.  As such, I have no access to any files (either physical or on-line).  Likewise, I cannot participate in any board discussion related to Ms. Baldwin.  As a licensed attorney, I take my professional responsibilities seriously.  As such, I will not, and cannot, comment any further on this topic.   

FAQ#6-What was your thought process with respect to Coach Paterno?

PLEASE NOTE: THE THOUGHTS BELOW ARE MY OWN, NOT THAT OF THE BOARD.  EACH BOARD MEMBER HAS THEIR OWN REASON FOR MAKING THE DECISION.  I DO NOT SPEAK FOR THEM.  ALSO, I AM NOT TRYING TO LAY BLAME OR MAKE EXCUSES.  I AM ONLY TRYING TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ASKED. 


On Saturday, November 5, 2011, I received an email from a fellow PSU grad at approximately 3 p.m. with a messaging along the lines of “I bet you never thought you signed up for this!” There was also an email from the university scheduling a conference call. Realizing something was going on I googled “Penn State”. This is how I learned the news.

I immediately searched the web and found the presentment. I read the entire thing by our 5 p.m. call. When I read the presentment my initial reaction was that we needed to determine who knew what and when. The Presentment stated that Coach Paterno had been told of activity “of a sexual nature” between Sandusky and a young boy. During our call we planned a meeting for 7 p.m. the next evening.

When I arrived at Old Main I was given a press release that had been issued by the Paternos. I asked if the press release had been run by anyone at the university before it was issued. I was told it had not been run by the university. When the decision was made to cancel the regularly scheduled press conference, there was no agreement with this decision. Instead, the press was told to stay tuned as plans were in the works for an off campus press conference (no such conference ever took place). 

At that time it was clear that the university’s interests and Coach Paterno's interests were not aligned. We should have been working together on this issue – the biggest crisis the university had ever faced. Rather, we were two ships not communicating with one another. I did not think these actions were in the best interests of the university. My decision to remove Coach Paterno as head coach was largely based on the events that transpired after the presentment was issued.

The trustees had a call on Tuesday night during which time I thought we would decide what actions to take with respect to Coach Paterno and Graham Spanier. However, many trustees thought that such a decision could not be made over the phone. Rather, we needed to be face to face, to look each other in the eye, to read each other's body language in making such a monumental decision. We agreed to make the decision on Wednesday night when we met in person.

I could not sleep that night as the decisions weighed heavily on my mind. I did not know what other trustees were going to decide. I appreciate all this University has done for the Commonwealth. I appreciate all Joe Paterno has done for Penn State. I understood what Penn State meant to so many people. I understood the magnitude of the decisions we would make the next day. No matter what we decided, we would forever change people's lives, Penn State, and history. This decision was left in the hands of 32 people. I was one of them.

On Wednesday Coach Paterno announced his retirement without consulting with the university.   

By Wednesday evening none of the trustees thought that the football season could go on “business as usual” with Coach Paterno on the sidelines and in front of the press. As such, we made the decision to remove him as head coach for the remainder of the season. We did honor his contract. Yes, I have seen the letter that Cynthia Baldwin sent to him. It should not have been sent to him.

It seems so clear now that the university and Coach Paterno should have been speaking to each other and working with each other during those five days. Looking back it seems unbelievable that neither side communicated with one another. I often think of how things might have been different if any small changes were made that week. Posnanski recently wrote that after reading the presentment, Coach Paterno’s own family told him that he might have to face the possibility of never coaching another game. Under such circumstances it saddens me that we didn’t find a way to handle this better. We both should have been working together. When we made out decision, it was around 9 p.m. at night. It has also been widely reported why we made the decision to call his home. First, there were news vans and students surrounding his home. We did not think it was appropriate to have such a message be delivered so publicly. It surely would have been caught on camera. No one would have liked that either. Second, we did not think we could wait until the morning as many details of our meetings that week were reaching the press. The last thing we wanted was for Coach Paterno to hear the news from the press. Let me be clear – we got this wrong. None of us are proud of how we handled this and we accept responsibility for the fall out it has caused. 

I agree 100% with Sue Paterno’s statement – Joe Paterno did deserve more.

Every board member has a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for all that Joe Paterno and his family did, and continue to do, for our university. He influenced and molded countless men. He and Sue were generous with their time, money, and talent. You may wonder how we could all feel this way and still remove him as head coach but as fiduciaries we had to make the decisions in the best interests of the University.

FAQ#5-Were You At The May 2011 Meeting When The Report On The Grand Jury Was Given?

I have only missed one meeting during my nearly three years as a trustee and it was the May 2011 meeting.  Although I did follow up with a fellow trustee regarding what was discussed at the meeting, there was no mention of any report on the grand jury proceedings.  I do not live in the Harrisburg area and did not read the Patriot News.  As such, I did not see the Sara Ganim article in March 2011.  To ensure that trustees are kept on to date on stories, we now receive an "Issues Update" Monday through Friday which lists articles of concern and interest to the university.

FAQ#4-Why Did You Delete My Comments?

I did not delete any comments.  Rather, they were flagged to be monitored.  I have published them all.  In the near future, I will be shutting down the comments on the web site as it is easier to manage communications if all comments are in one spot...on my Facebook page.  

FAQ #3 - When Will The Freeh Contract Be Released?

I have been of the opinion since the beginning that we should simply release the Freeh Contract.  I have pushed for the release of it.  I am happy to say that the Freeh Contract will be released shortly on the Progress web site.

FAQ#2-Rumor has it...

As for the rumor that if I am not elected by the alumni that I will just be slotted into the Business & Industry trustee position - that is false.  The alumni election results are announced the same day as the Business & Industry trustees are announced.  Only the judges of the alumni election know who the winners are.  The board finds out at the same time the public finds out.  Thus, it would be impossible for any slot to be "held" for me.

PLEASE READ: My Communication Plan

Well, to say this page has exploded in the last 24 hours would be an understatement.  I do intend to dialogue so let me tell you how I plan to do it.

• My social media team is just me.  I don't have anyone else running this page for me.  Any responses are from me, not someone on a "staff".  Please understand that while I will try my best to respond in a timely fashion, I am only one person.  I have a family, a job, my trustee responsibilities, and a whole list of other things I do in my life.  This election is important to me though so I am making this page a priority. 
• I just published all the comments on my blog.  There was a setting that had me moderating them.  It seems everyone is migrating there from my Facebook page so I have now shut down the comments on this site.  By cutting off the comments on my blog I am not trying to stifle the conversation.  Rather, I am trying to manage the communication better.  If I have a centralized site for comments that will enable better communication.  Please feel free to continue to comment on my Facebook site.
• I intend on doing longer blogs to cover the three main issues: 1) Coach Paterno; 2) the Freeh Report; and 3) the NCAA sanctions.
• My goal is to address all of those issues in the next few days.
• I may respond to some other questions before that time but only because the answer is a quick, easy one to give.  The bigger topics deserve a more thoughtful response.  The label "FAQ#__" has nothing to do with the importance of the question.
• I hope at all times we can respect each others viewpoints.  I know you will not agree with some of mine but that does not mean that I should not communicate with you.
• I thank you in advance for your patience.

FAQ#1: Why Do You Consider The Ads To Be "Negative" Campaigning?

In the past elections, I have never seen any campaign or candidate name another candidate in an ad or encourage alumni not to vote for another candidate.  Rather, candidates promoted their own agendas.  Perhaps our university was fortunate enough to steer clear of the tactics utilized in main stream elections for a long time.  From the looks of it, those days are over.  The purpose of the ad is clearly to encourage alumni not to vote for me or Paul Suhey rather than to endorse another candidate.  It is the change from endorsing a candidate to denouncing another candidate that I consider it to be "negative". 

Just Another Example Of Who We Are!

When most of us think of Spring Break, we likely think of sitting on the beach or of heading home for the week to rest and relax (at least this is what I did!).  Today I read a story (you can read it here) about a group of Penn State students from the Behrend campus who spent their Spring Break helping others.  One group went to Puerto Rico where they planted, pruned, mulched and applied organic fertilizer to help grow food for distribution.  Also on the list was learning the basics of bamboo and earthbag construction.  Another group stayed close to campus and volunteered in their own backyard at L’Arche Erie, the Erie City Mission, Habitat for Humanity and at Mary the Apostle Catholic Worker.  This story made me proud to be a Penn Stater for several reasons.  First, it is just another shining example of the values and ethics of our students.  During the last 2 1/2 years I have met many students.  Each one of them is impressive with their own unique story and amazing credentials.  They are involved in academics and activities alike.  I've heard recruiters say this is one of the reasons they love to recruit Penn State students - they are already used to balancing many obligations.  Meeting so many fantastic students has been one of the best things about being a trustee.  Second, the story highlights a Commonwealth campus.  When many people think about Penn State, they likely think - State College, University Park, Happy Valley.  However, Penn State is throughout the Commonwealth from Erie to Abington, from Fayette to Worthington.  The Commonwealth campuses enable Penn State to fulfull its land grant mission of making a diverse program of studies financially accessible to a vast segment of the population.  As a trustee, I have had the pleasure of visiting three of the Commonwealth campuses and have seen first hand the pride these students, faculty, and administration take in their campus.  I am committed to keeping the "state" in Penn State.  All across the Commonwealth people are Penn State proud!  What makes you Penn State proud?

My Thoughts On Negative Campaigning

Only two schools in the Big 10 have alumni elected trustees.  Penn State is lucky enough to be one of those schools.  I first ran for the Board of Trustees in 2009.  In 2009, there were twelve (12) of us on the ballot which at the time was considered unprecedented.  I came in 4th place, besting all of the non-incumbents.  I ran for the Board of Trustees again in 2010 and received the third highest number of votes by a narrow margin.  Campaigning during those years was certainly different.  Today the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published Bill Schackner's article entitled "Attack Ad Targets 2 Incumbents In Trustee Election At Penn State".  You can read the full article here.  Unfortunately I missed Bill's call yesterday and was unable to get back to him until the evening at which time I received his voicemail.  I followed up with an email to him last night.  Here is what I said:

Negative campaigning doesn't achieve a single thing for the 96,000 students that rely on Penn State for a world class education. I won't engage in it. I'm focused on what I have been focused on during my entire tenure as a trustee and that is on what I can do to make Penn State an even greater University that it already is and what I can do to make the student experience at Penn State an even greater one.  How we achieve this is a debate worth having but as for negative campaigning, I won’t engage in it.  That’s not my style.  Never has been and never will be.

Being a trustee is not always an easy job and involves a huge time commitment. I applaud all thirty-eight (38) of my fellow candidates for stepping up and for being willing to serve our University.  No matter what the outcome of the election, I hope we all find ways to serve Penn State, either at University Park, a Commonwealth Campus in our area, or at one of the many Outreach opportunities throughout our Commonwealth.  Good luck to all!  For the Glory!

Congratulations To Bill O'Brien and the entire Penn State Football Team!

On Friday, March 1st, the Maxwell Club honored Bill O'Brien with the Collegiate Coach of the Year Award.  He really deserved this award.  Coach O'Brien is a class act!  The search committee definitely got it right when they hired him.  I look forward to more great things from him and his staff in the coming years.  But Coach O'Brien wasn't the only Penn Stater the Maxwell Club honored that night.  Not given every year, the Maxwell Club bestowed the prestigous Thomas Brookshier Spirit Award on the Nittany Lion seniors.  Again, these players were so classy this season.  Their can do attitude in the face of adversity is a testament to all that is great about Penn State.  Speaking of all that is great about Penn State, how about Eric Shrive?  The Maxwell Club named him the winner of the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Award.  Eric spent time and energy fundraising to fight against kidney cancer.  Read more about the Maxwell Club Awards Dinner here.

There is also talk of playing a game in Ireland.  How cool would that be?  I would definitely go.  You can read more about the possibility of such a game here.   

When Does Voting Begin?

Voting begins April 10; winners will be announced at the May 3 meeting.  

Can I Vote For You?

Alumni trustees are elected, three each year for three-year terms, by the following procedure: On or before January 15 each year, nominating ballots are sent (1) to all alumni of the University who have, within two years prior to March 1 of each year, been either active members of the Penn State Alumni Association or contributors to the Penn State Fund, or (2) to any other alumni (see Qualifications of Electors) who make a request in writing for a ballot.

QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTORS

(1) Alumni

(a) "All graduates who have received a first or bachelor's degree or an advanced degree from the University, and former students (limited to those persons who have satisfactorily passed one semester's or two terms' work, or more, in any of the University courses requiring two years, or more, for completion) shall be eligibile to vote for alumni trustees, at the election next following the year of their graduation or the year following that in which they were no longer in attendance at the University..."

To be eligible, former students must have been full time for at least one semester or two terms, have been in a degree seeking program, and have passed. Currently enrolled students are not eligible.

Alumni may request a nomination or election ballot by sending an e-mail to BOT@psu.edu, including the following information:

• complete name at time of graduation (maiden name included)
• year of graduation
• college and major
• current e-mail address (where you would like to receive ballots)
• mailing address

Twelve (12)...is it the magic number?????

My ballot position is #12.  Is this the magic number?  To find out my thoughts on my ballot position, read here!

Who Is My Competition?

Want to know who my competition is?  Check out the list of 39 candidates here!

My Role As Vice Chair

People have asked if the current election has anything to do with my recent election by the Board as its Vice Chair.  Read my answer here.

My Position Statement For 2013 Election

I ask you to re-elect me as a trustee because my work on the Board is not complete. When elected in 2010, I focused on fulfilling the duties of a trustee as set forth in our governing documents.  I observed, listened, learned about the operations of our University, and built relationships with the administration, alumni, Commonwealth Chancellors, fellow Trustees, and students.  The events of November 5, 2011, and all that followed were emotionally powerful.  During this challenging time I have remained fully dedicated to Penn State and to fulfilling my fiduciary duty as a trustee.  I quickly established myself as a leader capable of effecting change through my ability to connect with, motivate, and engage others.  My fellow trustees recognized these qualities when they elected me as Vice Chair of the Board.

I am committed to ensuring the timely implementation of the governance changes our University needs to become the gold standard for governance in higher education.  I am also committed to the following:

(1) improving the transparency of our Board;
(2) fostering communications between our Board and its constituents;
(3) encouraging discussion and debate among our Board;
(4) preserving our Land Grant mission;
(5) strengthening my connections with the Commonwealth campuses;
(6) addressing the changes in higher education; and
(7) making Penn State an even greater University than it is today.

I am grateful to serve this University.  It would be my honor to continue.  The Board has elected me as its leader; I ask that you do too!

My Biographical Sketch For 2013 Election

Stephanie Deviney is a partner at Fox Rothschild LLP and a member of the firm's Litigation Department and Construction Law Group.  In 2011 Stephanie was named a "Lawyer on the Fast Track".

Stephanie is Vice Chair of the Board and has served: (1) on the Campus Environment, Finance and Physical Plant, Audit & Risk, Legal & Compliance, Outreach, Development & Community Relations committees; (2) on the General Counsel Search Committee; (3) on the Distinguished Alumni Selection Committee; (4) as a judge for the alumni trustee election; (5) as a trustee representative at the final interviews for the positions of Vice President of Finance and Director of Compliance; and (6) as a trustee representative for the Berks Campus and law school graduations.  As a member of the Blue and White Vision Council, Stephanie’s committee is exploring Penn State’s special character and structure.

Stephanie graduated from the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University in 1997 where she was a member of Law Review and the National Trial Competition Team.  Stephanie was a member of the Political Science Honor Society, Dean’s List, and Alpha Chi Omega sorority at the University of Richmond. Stephanie attended Villa Maria Academy where she serves on the Board of Directors for the Alumnae Association and Parent Advisory Board.  Stephanie also volunteers at St. Elizabeth Parish & School in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania.

Stephanie and her husband Jimmy (’07) are lifetime members of the Penn State Alumni Association.  They reside in Glenmoore, Pennsylvania with their son, Seamus.