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Penn State's disgrace
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A Nov. 29 Post-Gazette story ("Spanier Receiving $3.3 Million Penn State Package") stated that Graham Spanier, the disgraced former president of Penn State University, will receive a severance and salary package worth nearly $3.3 million in compensation while he awaits trial for his role in allegedly covering up the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
It states that in 2001, Mr. Spanier was paid $3,255,762, which included "his $700,000 salary as president, $82,557 of taxable benefits and one-time compensation totaling $2,473,205." The fact that Mr. Spanier is seeking this money is an insult to PSU families and residents of Pennsylvania. According to Penn State's tuition calculator, a full-time student who attends the main campus pays $8,700 in tuition plus room, board, etc. (around $15,000 per year). Mr. Spanier's $700,000 salary alone would pay for 50 full-time students for four years.
The Penn State Office of Student Conduct states a student may be expelled if the student:
"Constitutes a violation of local, state or federal law, including repeat violations of any local, state or federal law committed in the municipality where the University is located; Indicates that the student may present a danger or threat to the health or safety of him/herself or others; Significantly impinges upon the rights, property or achievements of self or others or significantly breaches the peace and/or causes social disorder; or is detrimental to the educational interests of the University."
These all apply to Spanier. Students would be expelled, he gets paid. It's a disgrace.
I wonder how much of Mr. Spanier's $3 million could go toward life-long therapy for victims of Jerry Sandusky.
STEPHEN ARCH
Findlay
The letter writer is an English instructor at Robert Morris University and sexual abuse survivor.
First Published December 9, 2012 12:00 am
