Outstanding Letter to Dr. Barron from Peggy Bauer Glaser

Letter to Dr. Barron: An alumni perspective and call to action.

Dear Dr. Barron:

Back in 2012 I wrote to our board and had published a letter to the editor based on my extensive background in Human Resources. I've attached a copy.

Just this week, the NCAA issued a statement that essentially agrees with my expert opinion (I use the term expert, not lightly. Before I retired, I had over 30 years experience in HR and was Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administration, held the highest certification in Human Resources, plus I conducted training on human resources and compliance issues.).

Whereas in 2012 the NCAA, based on the flawed Freeh report, criticized Joe Paterno and
others for not investigating the allegations of Sandusky's sexual abuse of a child, now the NCAA is saying that no members of athletics should attempt to direct or intervene in a sexual abuse investigation. So now, they have concluded that Joe Paterno was correct in reporting the allegation and then stepping aside. If you will read my letter from 2012, that is exactly what Joe Paterno should have done--and what he did.

So Joe Paterno was fired for doing what he should have done from an HR policy position and from the ultimate position of the NCAA.

Whereas in 2012 the NCAA, based on the flawed Freeh report, criticized Joe Paterno and others for allegedly covering up Sandusky's abuse, the Pennsylvania state prosecutor Frank Fina addressed the question of whether or not there was any evidence of the involvement of Joe Paterno in a cover up and he replied that no such evidence was found.

So Joe Paterno was fired even though there was no evidence of a cover-up.

The culture of the University was brought into question by the NCAA. Nowhere did the NCAA recognize that, at the time, we had the highest graduation rate of athletes, most academic all Americans, most sought after students for business recruitment, and Penn State was ranked 49th in the WORLD. Please see my letter from 2012 to Mark Emmert.

So Joe Paterno was tarnished with the false accusation that Penn State had a football culture.

Our University, MY University, has been dragged through the mud these past few years based on false accusations. These false accusations were further augmented by the silence and lack of defense from the University. I wrote a letter (attached) to the Board expressing the
impact on me and other alumni.

With such important supporting evidence of Joe Paterno's having done the right thing, you have the opportunity to set the record straight and recognize the character of Joe Paterno and the significant contribution he made. Through his efforts he helped build the reputation of the University as a national, no-- international, premier institution of higher education. He built student athletes and made a difference in their lives. Now is the time to formally recognize Joe Paterno.

Recognition can be achieved by such actions as: return the statue, name the stadium field Paterno Field, seek the rightful return the 409 record built by success with honor, seek to overturn the sanctions, adopt a culture of standing up for the University, and let the alumni community know the University also believes in success with honor.

Do the honorable thing.