New trustee wants re-investigation of Sandusky matter

Newly elected alumni trustees to Penn State's board left no doubt Friday that they would press on for exoneration of the university and its leaders in the child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

Al Lord, former head of student loan lender Sallie Mae, introduced a resolution as the meeting was about to end that calls for a re-investigation of the Sandusky matter, while blasting the university-commissioned report released two years ago by former FBI director Louis Freeh. It was the Freeh report that said university leaders including former President Graham B. Spanier and the late football coach Joe Paterno covered up Sandusky's crimes.

The motion was seconded by Alice Pope, a university professor and another newly elected alumni trustee.

The board agreed to table the motion until the matter can be discussed at a private session, likely when the board holds its next regular meeting in September.

"Ultimately, we're looking for repudiation of the conclusions reached by Louis Freeh," said Anthony Lubrano, a Chester County businessman and alumni-elected trustee.

Lord said the board should not wait for the outcome of the criminal case pending against Spanier and two other former administrators, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz. The question remains, he said: "Did Graham Spanier and Joe Paterno know about Sandusky?"

Freeh, he noted, answered that question definitively, even though "there's virtually no proof." A third party investigator is needed to find the real answer, he said.

In his resolution, Lord notes that the Freeh report caused "financial and reputational damage" to Penn State and has been shown to have flaws.

"I don't expect to win this resolution, but I want the board on the record," said Lord.

Lord is one of nine alumni-elected trustees on the 32-member board. The July meeting was his first as a trustee.