<p>"Every generation or so, a scandal emerges that not only exposes the flaws of an institution but shakes entire industries to their foundations. For higher education, that scandal should be Penn State.</p>
<p>The unfolding events of the Penn State sports scandal show a major university that has been more interested in protecting itself than in educating students or serving the public. The institutional reckoning must begin and end with the governing board. It is responsible for the actions of university leaders, and its members owe taxpayers and students accountability and transparency.</p>
<p>The alleged sins of omission of football coach Joe Paterno, President Graham Spanier and others when it comes to Penn State’s sports program are grave. And the board must address these tragic claims of child sexual abuse as a first priority.</p>
<p>But a larger question must be asked about governing boards generally: Are they fulfilling their responsibility to the students, families and taxpayers in a broader sense? Can the trustees guarantee that they are adhering to their educational purpose? The clear answer is no."</p>
<p>and…</p>
<p>“When the most highly paid employee is the football coach, not the president, it’s clear something is awry. When football tickets and fancy student centers are the currency of the day, rather than affordable and quality education, clearly something is awry. When most classes are scheduled only between Tuesday and Thursday and the institutional answer is to build more buildings to accommodate the demand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—as Penn State is doing—something is awry.”</p>
<p>The first lawsuit by a victim has been filed against Sandusky. In it, the victim alleges that Sandusky threatened harm to him and his family if he spoke out.</p>
<p>Actually, the fact that Penn State seems to shifting to an institution with three days for classes and four days for football shows how skewed the environment has become on Penn State. Thanks Coureur</p>
<p>Gotta tell my son about this “fact.” Silly boy - he’s obviously been scheduling his classes wrong - since he’s had 8 am MWF classes and also MWF classes that go until 3 pm …for the past 2 semesters.</p>
<p>What’s the alternative? Everyone forget about it and soon it will be as if nothing ever happened? That seems to be what an awful lot of people associated with PSU are hoping for. </p>
<p>There seems to be a lack of contriteness on the part PSU, a rush to cloak everything in “let’s not punish so many because of the actions of a few”. I understand how horrible this must be for the current students, alumni, and parents. But if people are outraged and feel the need to discuss it, ad nauseum, they shouldn’t be made to feel they are doing something wrong. Sheesh. Talk about misplaced blame.</p>
<p>MWF classes have been declining throughout the country. Many intro classes are still MWF but upper division classes are more often T/Th. Universities are having a hard time finding faculty willing to teach MWF. It is written into some contracts that they will not, mostly in high demand areas…business, engineering, and some sciences. I volunteered to move one of my classes to MWF. I make sure exams are scheduled for Fridays.</p>
<p>Haystack - While I don’t think Monday classes are declining so much, I have heard of several schools going for a M-Th week, leaving Friday open for students to work, head home, or whatever. </p>
<p>Shoot, would have LOVED to have had a focus on T, W, Th classes for DS last spring. Sure would have made his monthly trips to drum corps camp less complicated. As it was, had to schedule his flights out AFTER his 2pm Friday class and had to have him back in time for his 8 am Monday class.</p>
<p>First Civil lawsuit filed today against Jerry Sandusky:the now-29-year-old man says he was sexually abused over 100 times between 1992 and 1996. This is a brand new victim who was not in the GJ report.</p>
<p>They replaced the original judge, Leslie Dutchcot, over her conflict of interest by a senior [i.e., retired] judge, Robert Scott, who may change the Dec. 7 date for the next hearing. I wonder if he can change the bail.</p>
<p>Murrysville senior district judge will hear Sandusky case - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review</p>
<p>chocoholic, not surprising. I think I said several thousand posts ago that it wouldn’t surprise me if when all is said and done, there are hundreds of victims. Predators don’t start their activities in middle-age; it’s a life-long pattern. Especially when they grow complacent, with the growing conviction that they can operate with impunity. The sad thing is, he was right.</p>
<p>kumitedad - can you explain where your “four days for football” comment came from? Did you read that somewhere? Can you provide a link? Or is it just based on the WSJ’s opinion piece? </p>
<p>I have no idea if there is a decrease in MWF classes (certainly no evidence from my son’s ENGR schedule), but as Haystack commented - this is not uncommon in many schools and I have heard of others that have gone strictly to a M-Th schedule. But suggesting the compressed the school week is to allow 4 days for football makes absolutely NO sense. </p>
<p>From a quick count - there were 17 weeks of school in the fall of 2010 and 2011. Of those weeks, there were 7 home games in 2010 and 7 home games in 2011. The spring semesters have about 16 weeks, and there is 1 weekend with a (free) football scrimmage.</p>
<p>So, if the longer weekends are “for football shows” - what is happening the other 10 weeks of the fall semester and almost the entire spring semester?</p>
<p>A retired PSU professor commented on the WSJ article that the call for Tues -Thurs classes actually came from the faculty. </p>
<p>Of course, I don’t anyone that wouldn’t love a 4 day weekend, so I dont blame them!</p>
<p>And I guess my child is in the wrong major at PSU. Her classes have always been heavily weighted toward MWF, with Fridays generally being her most hectic day. And the only time she’s ever had a day with no classes, its been a Thursday. Shes a senior, and BTW, rarely attends football games–maybe 2 a year at most.</p>
<p>Well, my kid went to the other Penn, and I don’t think he ever had a Friday class. Weekends started on Thursday. I assure you it had nothing to do with football! He had a paralegal job, so he worked on Friday (and other days) and really loaded up his Tues/Thursdays.</p>
<p>^^ Sure sounds like it. I’d be more convinced of their sincere remorse if they released that PSU police report. Or if they committed to donating ALL postseason revenue, rather than capping it.</p>