BWI June Issue underscores PSU Culture

[SueWilson4AlumniCouncil]

I always read my BWI cover to cover and I was struck in the gut by the item at the top of P. 10 in the June 5 issue. "Penn State Salutes Classroom Standouts." Read down and we see that 370 student-athletes won awards on 4/13 for Academic Achievement. This was the SECOND highest total in program history. What ranked first I wondered? the 2012-13 year! When students and student athletes in particular were trying to survive HELL. When the NCAA and Louis Freeh condemned them (us) for a FOOTBALL CULTURE gone wild. REALLY? What frosts and burns me all at once is- WHY did not one Trustee nor administrator stand up to that empty and very ugly condemnation? Penn State had ALWAYS stood for success with honor, and our athletes underscored it decade after decade with the GSR and GPAs to prove it.

 

[BradJMitchell4AlumniCouncil]

I always read my BWI cover to cover and I was struck in the gut by the item at the top of P. 10 in the June 5 issue. "Penn State Salutes Classroom Standouts." Read down and we see that 370 student-athletes won awards on 4/13 for Academic Achievement. This was the SECOND highest total in program history. What ranked first I wondered? the 2012-13 year! When students and student athletes in particular were trying to survive HELL. When the NCAA and Louis Freeh condemned them (us) for a FOOTBALL CULTURE gone wild. REALLY? What frosts and burns me all at once is- WHY did not one Trustee nor administrator stand up to that empty and very ugly condemnation? Penn State had ALWAYS stood for success with honor, and our athletes underscored it decade after decade with the GSR and GPAs to prove it.

Sue - I could not agree more! Over the past six decades, the so called "football culture" firmly placed Penn State in the national conciousness as a a great university and helped raise $billions to fuel Penn State's academic aspirations of excellence. This work was grind it out, day after day, consistent disciplined commitment -- and to witness Penn State's own trustees destroy it in all in a matter of days in 2011 was horrific. Let's also remember Webster's definition of Trustee -- "one to whom something is entrusted". Yes, as alums, we entrusted Penn State's reputation, integrity and financial resources to the 2011 Board of Trustees and we now know these "trustees" put their own personal interests before the interests of Penn State and thus failed us all. We can never let this happen again.

 

[BobPSU92]

Sue - I could not agree more! Over the past six decades, the so called "football culture" firmly placed Penn State in the national conciousness as a a great university and helped raise $billions to fuel Penn State's academic aspirations of excellence. This work was grind it out, day after day, consistent disciplined commitment -- and to witness Penn State's own trustees destroy it in all in a matter of days in 2011 was horrific. Let's also remember Webster's definition of Trustee -- "one to whom something is entrusted". Yes, as alums, we entrusted Penn State's reputation, integrity and financial resources to the 2011 Board of Trustees and we now know these "trustees" put their own personal interests before the interests of Penn State and thus failed us all. We can never let this happen again.

Absolutely. Very well said!

 

[PSUMATT85]

Sue - I could not agree more! Over the past six decades, the so called "football culture" firmly placed Penn State in the national conciousness as a a great university and helped raise $billions to fuel Penn State's academic aspirations of excellence. This work was grind it out, day after day, consistent disciplined commitment -- and to witness Penn State's own trustees destroy it in all in a matter of days in 2011 was horrific. Let's also remember Webster's definition of Trustee -- "one to whom something is entrusted". Yes, as alums, we entrusted Penn State's reputation, integrity and financial resources to the 2011 Board of Trustees and we now know these "trustees" put their own personal interests before the interests of Penn State and thus failed us all. We can never let this happen again.

Thanks Brad and Sue. Now one has ever answered either of your concerns. Remember, our trustees and rod erickson shot down AL when he tried to make this point. No one ever really said why.