<p><<So how about this, as a compromise which cleans house but doesn’t punish players, band members, and cheer/dance:</p>
<p>Replace every staffer in the program. Every last employee, every last volunteer, from the AD right down to the lowliest graduate assistant.>></p>
<p>I think that’s fair and workable.</p>
<p>The current students should not be punished for the arrogance, bad judgement and stupidity of a bunch of adults. But at the same time - the students need to learn that the culture that created this horrific situation cannot and will not be tolerated.</p>
<p>Living in PA, this is obviously close to home. We also have high school and college age children and have looked at many colleges in the region. Despite this shocking recent situation, the largest reason to not consider PSU is actually cost. PSU has the highest in-state tuition costs of any college in the US: [Penn</a> State tuition highest in nation for in-state students|UWIRE](<a href=“‘Penn and Teller’s Bullsh*t’ gives the down and dirty info on Hulu | UWire”>Penn State tuition highest in nation for in-state students | UWire)
The support that PA puts into education is appalling, and likely going to get worse. While other states have more heavily emphasized and subsidized higher education as a way to promote long term economic and job growth, PA has not. This will continue to promote ‘brain drain’ in this state for years to come. On a related note, PA also has one of the worst economic environments for businesses as well.</p>
<p>A comparison in our region:
In State Tuition:</p>
<p>For top students in this region, it is not unusual to get both an ‘in state’ tuition waiver, and a much more significant merit package than PSU would offer, which makes the cost of attending an out of state college significantly less than Penn State. Private colleges and universities also compete very well with PSU for top students in regards to total cost of attending. Unfortunately for PSU, the recent woes are probably only going to compound the problem of attracting these students.</p>
<p>Penn-state students shouldn’t have to face the negative consequences but regardless of this they will face the negative consequences. It doesn’t matter what should happen, it’s about what will happen. Prospective penn-state students should re-consider if their aim is a lucrative career. If they’re planning on going to academia then yeah they probably still be okay but Penn states reputation is now tarnished. Penn-state is still a good university and I’m sure the majority of the community are outstanding citzens but that’s not important. Perception is everything. The media have shown Penn-students moral compass to be lacking. It doesn’t matter what is. It’s about what’s perceived to be. You can turn unjust to just. You can turn just to unjust. Penn-students should still raise money/try to fix the reputation but none of that will change the reputation. It’s good that they’re raising money, but if we’re being real no one actually gives a **** about that.The media won’t really do much to report that.</p>
<p><< It’s good that they’re raising money, but if we’re being real no one actually gives a **** about that. The media won’t really do much to report that.>></p>
<p>And that - in a nutshell - is the problem. The responsible, caring, good students aren’t “news.” </p>
<p>What a shame that they are the ones that are going to be penalized because of the media’s need to get ratings.</p>
<p>I believe that Penn State will really struggle to attract quality students for quite awhile. Who would pay top dollar for all that baggage? Who would want to enter Penn State next year, for the post-disaster rebuilding, when there are plenty of other great options out there for an enjoyable college experience? Who wants to graduate, and discuss this horrible incident repeatedly with new acquaintances for the next few decades?</p>
<p>They’ve already priced themselves outrageously, as the nation’s most expensive flagship, which was ridiculous even before this horrible affair. PA residents can now attend equally strong flagships in other states for the same price as Penn State in-state COA. Penn State will be forced to drop prices substantially, or begin to offer big merit dollars if they want to hold their academics. It will probably take some time for them to realize that.</p>
<p>Yes, the effect of this will linger for decades. This will be the image that comes to mind whenever the words “Penn State” are spoken. Penn State students will be grappling with this for the rest of their lives.</p>
<p>Moody’s is considering lowering PSU’s rating. People with voices in the news are calling for the end of Penn State football. I wouldn’t consider PSU as a choice for me if I were in high school now. College is expensive, and the far-reaching results of this horrific scandal are yet unknown. There are too many other colleges out there to risk 4 years and tens of thousands of dollars on PSU at this time.</p>
<p>The fall out is already beginning for students. I was just sent a link to this [letter</a> from a PSU student published on SI.com](<a href=“http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/11/14/Week10/1.html]letter”>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/11/14/Week10/1.html). The student relates that four students have already lost their spring internships because of the companies not wanting to be affiliated with Penn State. Also, corporate sponsors are pulling out of their THON charity fundraiser for pediatric cancer. That is how bad it is. I still don’t think many in Central PA realize how bad the perception is right now outside of that area.</p>
<p>This will leave a mark for decades. This is undoubtedly the worst scandal in higher education and sports history. They will be dissecting and writing about this for decades.</p>
<p>Pennquack - if you are going to comment on the article -please do so accurately.</p>
<p>“Four students APPARENTLY lost their spring internships because companies didn’t want to be associated with Penn State. Corporate sponsors are SUPPOSEDLY pulling out of THON…”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, I talked to 2 people I know who recruit at PSU. Both are still planning their future visits and have no plans to change their recruiting practices.</p>
<p>I feel the mass majority of people on this forum have been swept with the new age media hype. Things happen and things go. Sure people might remember an event, but it becomes less of a shock later on. Virginia Tech, Katrina, BP oil spill, whatever. I remember how it was a huge deal when a US soldier died in Iraq for the first time. Now it seems most people are numb to it. It’s sad, really, but it’s because we have grown accustomed to sensationalism that we constantly crave the next big news.</p>
<p>In all honesty, just think back to early news stories from 2008 and how it has just faded in time–think of political events, global events, whatever (Politics is a huge one…just recall back to ‘scandals’ with Obama during his campaign).</p>
<p>People who think this will affect the school for decades are silly. Notre Dame has had recent scandals of covering up rape victims, in the 90’s, prominent colleges were charged with colluding on college scholarships. Sports programs have knowingly violated NCAA rules about player compensation. Harvard’s former president larry summer made sexist comments. And MIT’s former President lied about her educational background.</p>
<p>We will recall some of these events, but they lose their spot at the forefront of our minds. And this will too. Sad? Sure. But it will pass. You don’t see a mass exodus of Catholics after there were coverups of abuse. So stop being so hyperbolic and dramatic. Your kids safety hasn’t changed for God’s sake. If you think so, you really need to have a reality check.</p>
<p>I am in no way affiliated with Penn State but rather just someone who has read enough news to recognize sensationalism and overly reactive individuals.</p>
<p>My husband asked me this last night: “if D was offered a full scholarship to Penn would you want her to go.” </p>
<p>I said probably. We don’t have tens of thousands to spend on her college. And I still think Penn is strong academically. But I do hesitate because I am afraid there will be consequences with employment. A negative connotation.</p>
<p>It is folly to believe that this scandal is going to vanish from the national media anytime soon. There are civil and criminal cases ahead, which will not be wrapped up in a matter of months and will be very heavily covered in the news. There is no way around that. Public attention may wax and wane with the course of these trials but you can be sure that when they are in full swing, the media and the country will be paying attention.</p>
<p>I think a better PSU will rise from these ashes. I think they’ll be much more dedicated to the culture/climate and less to the dollar bill. I think Sandusky’s bail will be revoked soon, the football coaches will resign as a group at the season’s end in 2 weeks. I think Mike McQueary (who is now quoted as saying he DID, in fact, stop the abuse he witnessed and remove the child, --presumption is that he was told later it was all being taken care of) will be vindicated as perhaps inept but not evil. I would not be surprised if people further up the chain are involved; that’s PA politics for sure. </p>
<p>Sandusky’s attorney is a local defense atty who is famous for defending a tragic DUI case with “the students/victims in the street were drunk too” and if they had been sober, they could have run fast enough to get out of the way of his client’s car. This, while not an effective defense, shows where this case is likely to go: to crazyland. Sandusky is apparently not just a pedophile, but a sociopath? Who answers Costas’ questions like he did? (We enjoyed watching Costas — a Syracuse grad! – struggle to keep his composure)</p>
<p>I hope PSU comes out stronger too. I hope it becomes a model of a big sports school that clearly demonstrates to the rest of us that the academics trumps sports as it should in an educational institution. I hope it becomes a school that all other big sports schools emulate.</p>
<p>My best wishes to the PSU community.</p>
<p>PS. Sandusky’s lawyer impregnated a 16 year old girl he was representing as a lawyer as a 49 year old man. I hear PA’s age of consent is 16. Amazing… Birds of a feather? (meaning he and his client - Sandusky). I guess they would really have a good rapport…</p>
<p>Oh, it’s already gone there. No attorney in his right mind would allow his client to answer questions on national TV as Sandusky did last night. Besides the “ick” factor, Sandusky has now forfeited his 5th amendment right on the subjects of showering, touching, horseplay, and his feelings about little boys. Everything he said last night can be used against him.</p>
<p>First post ever. I work for a Fortune 500 company and am responsible for my younger siblings’ college plans (one currently a high school senior). So on 2 separate fronts, this incident affected me negatively. For work, if there’s a 2012 grad who sends their resume, I’ll have to wonder if that person was one of the “one more game” crowd. Doesn’t mean I won’t do an informational interview if they have the proper credentials, but I’d definitely ask them point blank. </p>
<p>For my little sister, who’s passionate about musical theatre, we already had the discussion, and she already mentioned “why would I want to be in that environment”? PSU is one of the premier MT programs in the nation, and yet she herself will opt out of even applying and try different places. We’re not PA residents, so perhaps an in-state view is different. I’m guessing she won’t be in the very small minority who has second thoughts about applying.</p>
<p>I do feel bad about current students who have not participated in the reckless behavior as the other few. I feel really bad about parents who sent their children to PSU and have been proud - I’m sure they’re concerned about their children’s future in some way. PSU needs to clean house big time. Suspending football for a year would really be a great litmus test. Anyone who disagrees (student, faculty, administration) would be a great candidate for “Operation Clean House.”</p>