News Release
For Immediate Release: November 9, 2011
Contact: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
AFA of PA Statement on the Firing of Graham Spanier and Joe Paterno
(Harrisburg) — Tonight the Penn State Board of Trustees did the right thing in unanimously voting to fire President Graham Spanier and Coach Joe Paterno. But at least three questions remain: 1.) What will the Board do about Athletic Director Tim Curley who is on administrative leave? 2.) Will the school continue paying the legal fees for Curley and Gary Schultz, whose job description included oversight of the campus police? 3.) In their search for a new president, will the board heed warnings such as those that were registered with them in 1995 as they were on the verge of hiring Graham Spanier?
American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) President Diane Gramley issued the following statement: “This week has exposed the atmosphere produced at Penn State under the leadership of Graham Spanier. On Monday the AFA of PA, among others, called for the Board of Trustees to fire Graham Spanier. The chorus of voices calling for that action has only increased since that time. Tonight Spanier is gone. As the Pennsylvania Police Commissioner acknowledged Joe Paterno had fulfilled his legal obligation when he reported the incident to Tim Curley, but questioned whether he had fulfilled his moral responsibility to do more. Joe Paterno is also gone, ending his 46 year head coaching career with a terrible blemish. The lives of at least eight young boys have been destroyed because of the actions of a homosexual predator and the inaction of those in authority at Penn State. Spanier has done much damage to the image of Penn State and the board’s responsibility is to find someone who is not just a good fundraiser or lobbyist in Harrisburg, but someone who understands the dangers of permitting such an ‘anything goes’ attitude on campus. The Board has an opportunity to get Penn State back on track — will they take it?”
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