VOTE AS IF THE REPUTATION OF YOUR ALMA MATER DEPENDS ON IT. IT DOES.

The upcoming election for Governor offers the opportunity to get the media to focus on the Truth because the Truth clearly shows Tom Corbett damaged Penn State university without regard for the Truth.  Popularly elected Alumni Trustees will have the power to make the Truth known so vote for the Trustee candidates who are willing to fight for the Truth.  

by Barry Bozeman

May 8, 2013 will mark the end of this year's Board of Trustees election. The turnout as of April 24 is just under 19,000 votes lagging behind 2012 and 2013 by 20 to 25%. As we have attempted to explain in several posts here on SMSS, the makeup of the BoT runs counter to the interests of Penn State University:

In our view, Tom Corbett and those who are beholden to him, are in clear breach of their fiduciary duty to Penn State due to clear and compelling conflicts of interest. Their violations should constitute grounds for removal from the Board of Trustees. Corbett's desire to gut Commonwealth funding for Penn State is just one obvious example of his personal conflict with what is in the best interest of Penn State. His handling of the attack on Penn State and his part in the firing of Joe Paterno and the termination and indictment of Graham Spanier is even more obvious and repellent. We support a strong group of Trustees who will fight Corbett and bring these breaches of fiduciary duty to light in this election year. How can a Trustee bound by law to do what is in the best interest of Penn State be the architect of these attacks on Penn State and remain on the Board of Trustees ? 


Erickson nixes renaming of Beaver Stadium, Emmert Agrees

Erickson's parting shot is a thumbs down on Paterno Field

By

O.J. Frazier

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA:  Outgoing PSU President Rodney Erickson rejected a proposal from an alumni group to rename Beaver Stadium to Paterno Field.

Erickson, whose title was changed from “Interim President” to “President” without the knowledge of Ken Frazier and Ron Tomalis, revealed he never wanted to be President because he didn’t like to make decisions.

When asked about his rejection of the proposal of the new name of the stadium, Erickson remarked, “I was hoping that issue wouldn’t have come up before I retired.  Fortunately, when it did, I was able to reach out to some of the trustees who recommended against it. I have absolute faith in those trustees. I signed the NCAA Consent Decree based on their advice.”

I then asked Erickson what he learned from his experience as President.

“I have learned a great deal from my experience in the aftermath of the Sandusky scandal.  I think one of the greatest lessons I learned was the value of our traditions here at Penn State.  To rename the stadium, I think would upset many of the alumni who sat in Beaver Stadium all those years on fall Saturdays.  I’m sure most of them can still remember, as I do, that famous stadium cheer:  PENN STATE….LIVES HERE!

The NCAA’s Mark Emmert also agreed with Penn State’s decision on the matter. 

Emmert stated: 

“If there is one thing that sets college football apart from professional sports it’s the traditions.  We tend to be traditionalists who want to see the Big Ten er,  Eleven er, ah, whatever, square off in the Rose Bowl against the Pac-10, er, I mean, Pac-12."

As I looked at Emmert with a raised eyebrow, he knew that I knew he was full of crap, so he quickly changed his reasoning.

“Well, to be honest, I think that you still have some traditions that shouldn’t be messed with," remarked Emmert.  "When I was President of Washington we played at Huskie Stadium and when I was at LSU, the games were played at Tiger Stadium.  I see no reason why Penn State wouldn’t want to keep their stadium named after their mascot.”

More Baldwin: Schultz's GJ testimony reveals Baldwin's underhandedness

Former PSU General Counsel Cynthia testified she had discussed Subpoena 1179 with Gary Schultz, but Schultz's testimony reveals Baldwin told him little to nothing.

By
Ray Blehar

In the November 1, 2012 Conspiracy of Silence presentment, Linda Kelly's Office of Attorney General (OAG) made the case that Cynthia Baldwin had done her utmost to gather information responsive to Subpoena 1179 and blamed the PSU administrators for obstructing the investigation.  Subpoena 1179 requested “[A]ny and all records pertaining to Jerry Sandusky and incidents reported to have occurred on or about March 2002 and any other information concerning Jerry Sandusky in inappropriate contact with underage males on and off University property.”  

Curiously, page 24 of the presentment mentions that "no independent efforts were made to search the paper files of Athletic Director, Tim Curley, the Vice-President for Business and Finance Gary Schultz or President of the University, Graham Spanier.   The "independent" efforts -- that allegedly weren't made -- would have been done at the direction of Baldwin.

NCAA's Emmert Tour Is Good News For PSU Fans

Mark Emmert's recent media tour has given PSU fans renewed vigor in our fight for the truth and the repeal of the unjust sanctions.  We need Mark Emmert to keep talking because when he does, bad things happen.
Meanwhile, the "Big Five" conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big XII, SEC, and PAC-12) might be planning a jail break.

After the Mike and Mike Show, twitter lit up with a lot of funny tweets.

Hat tip to Onward State for this collection, which closed with this incredibly funny tweet by former PSU linebacking great, Mike Mauti....

Bryant Gumbel came out with this gem:

"Emmert has lately been on a media tour of sorts and to say it’s been a disaster would be giving it and him a ton of undue credit."

However, it was this tweet by Ivan Maisel that did double duty, who in response to an LSU writer who thought Emmert handled the Penn State case correctly, bashed the Freeh Report and Emmert in the same tweet.

FEAR & LOATHING in HAPPY VALLEY - The BALDWIN DUPLICITY and The CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE

CYNTHIA BALDWIN - Who is this Woman? 

And how can we explain or even understand her actions ?  

By all biographical and outward signs, Cynthia Baldwin is a major success story:

PSU BA in English 1966, MA in Amer. Lit 1974. Worked as a teacher, English professor and Asst. Dean of Students at PSU's Greater Allegheny Campus. JD from Duquesne 1983, Prosecuting Attorney Bureau of Consumer Protection. First black woman elected to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas 1989 - 2006. Appointed interim Supreme Court Justice by Governor Ed Rendell.Jan 2008 Duane Morris, LLP -. appellate litigation non-profit issues. VP / General Counsel at PSU Jan 2010 to announced resignation in Jan 2012   President PSU Alumni Assn 1989-91.and Chair of the Board of Trustees 2004-07.

What happened to Cynthia Baldwin seems a complete mystery? 

Continuing yesterday's  PROSECUTION or PERSECUTION - CONSPIRACY of SILENCE we can compare Graham Spanier, Tim Culey and Gary Schultz's actions to Cynthia Baldwin - the person these administrators believed was representing them and Penn State at the Grand Jury.

PSU President Graham Spanier was a good friend and benefactor to Cynthia, putting her name forward for several awards and honors over his 16 years at the helm of PSU. He approved her request to resign from the board and take over as in-house General Counsel & VP when the Board decided to go with in-house counsel in January 2010. Turns out that may be the biggest mistake Graham ever made. 

In 2012, Graham Spanier was under review for a very high security clearance from the Department of Defense and the Intelligence community, since he was involved with:

National Security Higher Education Advisory Board,

The National Counterintelligence Working Group, and

The Board of Advisors for the President at the Naval Postgraduate School & War College

Baldwin told the federal Office of Personnel Management in early 2012 that Spanier was very smart, “a man of integrity,” and “very forthcoming and open” with the board of trustees. 
About six months later she testified before a grand jury that Spanier told a series of lies and misleading statements before and after Sandusky was arrested in late 2011. 

How does that make any sense, Cynthia? How can a person make 180 degree opposite claims in 6 months. In early 2012 Spanier is a "forthcoming open man of integrity" - half a year later he's a "misleading liar". 

When you read the POST HEARING MEMORANDUM from Graham Spanier's Attorneys you will be even more astounded at Cynthia Baldwin's behavior and statements along with the court's acceptance of this behavior. Typically I would not suggest a full reading of a long legal document, but this one is simply astounding. Some excerpts:

PROSECUTION or PERSECUTION - The CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE

FEAR & LOATHING in HAPPY VALLEY - PENN STATE LEADERS UNDER ATTACK
by Barry Bozeman

“ The District Attorney is a quasi-judicial officer. He represents the commonwealth and the commonwealth demands no victims. It seeks justice only--equal and impartial justice-- and it is as much the duty of the district attorney to see that no innocent man suffers as it is to see that no guilty man escapes. Hence, he should act impartially. He should present the commonwealth’s case fairly, and should not press upon the jury any deductions from the evidence that are not strictly legitimate. When he exceeds this limit, and in hot zeal seeks to influence them by appealing to their prejudices, he is no longer an impartial official, but becomes a heated partisan.” Bailey v. Commonwealth, 193 Ky. 687, 237 S.W. 

In Nov of 2012 mere weeks prior to relinquishing the office to which she was appointed by Tom Corbett, Linda Kelly once again takes the stage to proffer charges against Penn State's former President Graham Spanier and to alter the charges against former AD Tim Curley and VP Gary Schultz. 

SMSS was on this development prior to the typical staged circus designed by Kelly et al to maximize the theater for the chattering hyena class sometimes known as the media. Once again she fills her stage with a large supporting cast, this time featuring more uniforms than a meeting of the Chiefs of Staff. 

One thing leaps out at us from the beginning when taking more than a cursory glance at this freak show. What exactly was the motive for this Conspiracy of Silence touted by the Freeh Fiction and the Persecution? Why would covering for an ex-coach no longer on the payroll of PSU be of the slightest benefit to Graham Spanier, Tim Curley or Gary Schultz? Please keep that in mind as you delve deeper into this morass of prevarications. 

Part 3: The Media’s Conspiracy of Silence

The media became willing accomplices of Tom Corbett and  the “Old Guard” BOT by not reporting exculpatory facts in the case of the PSU Three

By

Ray Blehar

The story so far:  In February 2014, I wrote Part 1 of this series, highlighting how the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (PA OAG) suppressed and manipulated evidence in order to charge former Penn State University (PSU) officials Curley and Schultz with crimes related to the Sandusky scandal.  Two weeks later, in Part 2, I revealed how the PSU Board of Trustees (PSU BOT) engaged with Louis Freeh and various public relations firms to perpetuate a false narrative that former PSU President Graham Spanier and deceased coaching legend, Joe Paterno had concealed Sandusky’s crimes from the public.  

After the release of the Freeh Report, Governor Tom Corbett piled on, condemning the actions of “the prior administration” and “prior people who were in control.”

Corbett stated:  “I’m very disappointed in the lack of forthcoming evidence to the subpoena that was given to them by the Attorney General’s office.” 

The statement was a continuation of a theme of misattribution – or assigning blame or responsibility where it didn’t belong.  It is a fact that Cynthia Baldwin received a letter from the Attorney General in December 2011 that admonished her for failure to comply with grand jury subpoenas.  The letter referenced information that was subpoenaed before Curley, Schultz, and Spanier had any knowledge of the investigation.  Moreover, Schultz was retired at the time of the subpoena, thus had no role in answering that particular request.  Corbett’s July 2012 statement was part of the Commonwealth’s strategy of trying the case in the court of public opinion.  Their allies in the media had the easiest job of all -- do nothing.  Let the public continue to believe that the AG's and Freeh's narratives on the case were not disputed by any of the legal proceedings.  As you will see, they carried out their part magnificently.  

 

Part 3: Keeping the PSU Three Convicted In the Court of Public Opinion

After the release of the Freeh Report, the PA government,  the “old guard” PSU Board of Trustees, and especially the local media did everything in their power to ensure that the PSU Three (Spanier, Curley, and Schultz) remained convicted in the court of public opinion.    

About three months after the release of the Freeh Report and Corbett’s presser accusing the “prior administration” of wrong-doing, the OAG made the Freeh Report "official" by issuing the Conspiracy of Silence presentment (or the Freeh Report-Lite).  The conspiracy and obstruction charges in the presentment were mostly based on the testimony of former PSU Counsel Cynthia Baldwin, who claimed that the PSU Three were uncooperative in responding to the grand jury subpoenas.

PROSECUTORS - POWER CONFLICT and CORRUPTION with UNLIMITED RESOURCES

FEAR & LOATHING in HAPPY VALLEY
by Barry Bozeman (an homage to Dr. Gonzo, who would have done justice to this story)

Prosecutors are “shepherds of justice.” When a government lawyer, with enormous resources at his or her disposal, abuses power and ignores ethical standards, he or she undermines public trust and inflicts damage beyond calculation to our system of justice. This consequence, alone, compels the responsible and ethical exercise of this power.

CORBETT, KELLY, BEEMER, FINA, BALDWIN, and FREEH

These 5 PROSECUTORS have the wealth and power of the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at their disposal and, in the case of prosecutor Freeh, 8.2 million Penn State dollars that he used to trash The Penn State Culture. 

CORBETT and BALDWIN both hold or held positions on the Penn State Board of Trustees. 
CORBETT became GOVERNOR.
BALDWIN was the GENERAL COUNSEL for Penn State University.

CORBETT was ATTORNEY GENERAL when the Grand Jury was convened. 
KELLY was CORBETT'S hand picked successor. She did not seek election.
BEEMER was KELLY'S chief of staff. 
FINA was lead prosecutor on the Curley, Schultz, and Spanier cases until he resigned. 
BEEMER took over for FINA.

The SLIME also RISES -- Segments of the following contain language and descriptions Dr. Gonzo might have used were he still with us. Hunter S Thompson (HST) was a master of descriptive hyperbole for effect. Picture: by Ralph Steadman, HST's artist of record.

PROSECUTORS PLAN NOVEMBER 5 PRESS CONFERENCE TO PERSECUTE PENN STATE

Well ... to hell with writing with reserved respect for the subjects of this essay. These malicious mendicants feeding from the public trough don't deserve polite measured consideration. These are bottom-feeding mutants on steroids, unfit for reason or respect. The Commonwealth has had more than its fair share of slimy creatures dredged up from permanently smoldering underground coal pits and fracking contaminated aquifers, particularly the prosecutors and judges who seem to flourish while committing some of the most heinous crimes in memory, crimes against children -- KIDS FOR CASH. 

CORBETT is a real piece of work. You can contemplate his Lebanon Valley BA and St Mary's Law Degree, as the absolute minimum requirement. His stint as counsel for Waste Management is so odorous that he has wiped it from his bio. As a prosecutor, Corbett is ethically unfit by the standards set forth by the American Bar Association: 

“ The duty of a prosecuting attorney is not to persecute, but to prosecute, and that he should endeavor to protect the innocent as well as to prosecute the guilty. He should always be interested in seeing that the truth and the right shall prevail….”

The muddy, blood-spattered path from prosecutor to higher political office is well worn and often traveled. PA politicians have plumbed the furthest depths of this sewer more often than most. It's an obvious route, where vastly superior resources in staff and wealth are pitted against individuals forced to pay hideous amounts of money to well-connected mouthpieces or suffer the consequences of representation by a court-appointed well meaning dullard of less than equal wit with none of the resources. Prosecutors have all the advantage and, too often, pursue publicity or a high conviction rate at the expense of truth or justice. The current reigning champion example of this being The West Memphis Three

SPRING FORWARD - - TIME TO UNITE AND FIGHT BACK

ANNOUNCING A WEEK OF RENEWED FOCUS and Spring Cleaning of the narrative. 2.5 years into this we renew and refocus our efforts with a breath of clean fresh Spring air. 

The Battle lines are being drawn WE ACCUSE the Prosecution 

Ray Blehar and I will offer a very clear choice for anyone who takes the time to really absorb what we will offer this week. After 2 and a half years of intense study and research with over 450 articles available on this site covering every detail of the case(s) you should be able to get a clear picture. 

Either politically motivated vengeful prosecutors have it right and by their theory you should believe that Joe Paterno, Graham Spanier, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz are the most detestable of men. Men who knew a serial molester and pedophile was using PSU Football as bait to lure his young prey, while they did everything they could to protect him. 
OR 
The current Governor along with John Surma had such contempt for Penn State, Joe Paterno, and Graham Spanier, they would make the case about a very crafty pedophile (who fooled everyone in PA. along with a US President and Senator into believing he was a laudable benefactor to children) into a case claiming notable PSU administrators and head football coach, protected a known pedophile just to avoid some potential bad publicity for their University.  

Response to Joel Mathis' "Let Penn State's Punishment Stand"

Joel Mathis is among many in the media who really don't know the facts about the Sandusky case, but feel compelled to opine about the justness of the NCAA's punishment against PSU.  What Mathis also doesn't know is that his support of the false narrative against PSU keeps PA's children in danger.

By
Ray Blehar

On April 16, 2014, Joel Mathis wrote a blog insisting that the NCAA punishment was just because "something uniquely evil" had developed at Penn State.  Mathis, of course, was rehashing the nonsense that was written in the Freeh Report and then blindly accepted/tweeted the minute it left Freeh's mouth during his grand standing press conference on July 12, 2012.

Mathis then stated that PSU copped a plea and accepted the Consent Decree because:

Why? Because Jerry Sandusky molested young boys. Because important people at Penn State knew about it, eventually. Because they passed the buck out of deference to the football program. And because that allowed Jerry Sandusky to keep molesting young boys. All of which may not violate any particular NCAA rule, but it did undermine the underlying ethos of the NCAA’s enforcement regime: Schools are supposed to have control over their athletics programs, not the other way around. Penn State didn’t. Period.

You could argue that last statement is true to some degree of almost every major college sports program in existence, that the culture of college athletics has grown far beyond its useful boundaries. I wouldn’t dispute that. At Penn State, though, the cancer developed into something uniquely evil. It deserved an equally unique, intense response. Thus the sanctions and the $60 million fine.

After about 75 comments from readers who tended to know a lot more about the case than he did,  Mathis responded with this comment, to which I replied with the hopes of setting the record straight and shifting the focus where it belongs.