It’s being widely reported that Penn State president Graham Spanier has been told to resign or be fired. I learned of it from the ESPN news crawl but the Express-Times appears to have broken the story:
Penn State President Graham Spanier will quit or be fired today in wake of Sandusky charges, source says
Penn State University President Graham Spanier will either resign or be voted out by the end of today, a source close to the board of trustees told The Express-Times.
An interim president, most likely Executive Vice President and Provost Rodney A. Erickson, will be appointed and a nationwide search for a permanent replacement will begin, according to the source who requested anonymity.
Spanier was made aware in 2002 that a graduate assistant coach had seen former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky allegedly sexually assault a young boy in a shower in the Penn State locker room, according to grand jury testimony. Spanier did not involve police, according to testimony. Spanier has not been charged, but there have been many calls for his resignation.
This is a no brainer. I would have fired Spanier for his announcement, shortly after the news broke Saturday, that “Tim Curley and Gary Schultz have my unconditional support. I have known and worked daily with Tim and Gary for more than 16 years. I have complete confidence in how they have handled the allegations about a former University employee.” That he was informed of the situation nine years ago and did nothing means he should be in prison, not given the option of resignation with dignity.
