PSU-should he still go there?

[mini]

<p>SO…</p>

<p>I have heard repeatedly over the past two years that major parts of the university benefit substantially financially from the football program, and that getting rid of the football program would majorly affect the other operations of the university.</p>

<p>In other words, one way or the other, the academic integrity and character of PSU is intimately bound up in the football operations. Shouldn’t be - but that’s what we’ve been told. And the academic integrity of the university, one way or the other, is certainly reflected in its leaders, who set the tone. Down to the coach - who built the reputation of PSU with the football team by demonstrating that one could win “with integrity” - and that was to be the ethos of the institution. And that without the football program, the academic character of the university would change.</p>

<p>I don’t know whether this is true or not. But an awful lot of PSU people seem to think it is so.</p>

[Snowdog]

<p>

Paterno is the most important figure in Penn State’s transformation from a regional agricultural school into a nationally recognized research institution. The football team’s emergence during his nearly 46 years at the helm drove fundraising efforts and provided the school’s identity. The program and the university’s image are linked.</p>

<p>The fire that both fueled Penn State’s rise and ultimately led to destroying its image is still burning.

</p>

<p>From a column published today in the Washington Post.</p>

<p>

The academic integrity and standards at PSU are not in question.

</p>

<p>Everything is in question. The criminal coverup went all the way to the President of the university.</p>

[mini]

<p>How much money has the university made and spent on non-football-related expenses in the past 14 years? (That’s not meant as a rhetorical question: I’d really like to know. PSU folks have said it is vast, but I’ve never seen any numbers - or if I have, I’ve forgotten. ;))</p>

[eireann]

<p>

It IS so much more than football-so much so that it went all the way to the top as they denied and enabled what happened. Why would anyone pay money to a school that thought it was ok from the top down? While the non-sports departments had nothing to do with what happened, it’s become rather clear that those in charge of the WHOLE SCHOOL were just fine with Sandusky. And look at how many students turned out in support of Joe Paterno, even knowing that he knew. </p>

<p>There have GOT to be other schools more deserving of our kid’s time and our money. None of my kids would be going there.

</p>

<p>Those were my thoughts. When my school does something that bothers me, the amount of money that my family has given it increases the annoyance. Ethically, I wouldn’t want to give this university my money. I wouldn’t want to support the administration or affiliate myself with the school.</p>

<p>That said, it should probably be up to your son as to how much it bothers him and he feels about it, especially since he’s due to matriculate there in about a month and a half. Does he have alternatives? Is he personally bothered by the scandal?</p>

[coase]

<p>

How much money has the university made and spent on non-football-related expenses in the past 14 years?

</p>

<p>Here is one estimate for 2011: Revenue = $70,208,584; Expenses = $19,780,939; Profit = $50,427,645. Only Texas and Georgia made more. [Which Football and Basketball Programs Produce the Largest Profits?](<a href=“http://businessofcollegesports.com/2011/06/20/which-football-and-basketball-programs-produce-the-largest-profits/”>http://businessofcollegesports.com/2011/06/20/which-football-and-basketball-programs-produce-the-largest-profits/&lt;/a&gt;)</p>

[Naturally]

<p>

The academic integrity and standards at PSU are not in question.

</p>

<p>I don’t know about that. One of those emails revealed they were considering making an assistant football coach (not Sandusky, a different one) the dean of their College of Science. Even without the Sandusky scandal, it sounds like they have a “good old boys club” problem.</p>

[mini]

<p>The President of the University (Spanier) (or the surrogate President - in this case, Paterno) sets the standard for integrity and standards at the institution.</p>

[mini]

<p>It should be noted that PSU may lose ALL federal aid under Title IX. If you are receiving any federal aid - subsidized loans, Pell Grants, etc. - through the university, they could disappear while the student is there.</p>

<p><a href=“Penn State could pay $100 million in civil damages to Sandusky's victims and lose public funding”>Penn State could pay $100 million in civil damages to Sandusky's victims and lose public funding;

<p>(The university has such academic integrity and high standards that Spanier is still a full professor in, get this, the College of Health and Human Development.) (his wife is a professor as well)</p>

[nysmile]

<p>If your son has his heart set on Penn St., send him. On the other hand, it wouldn’t be the worst decision to suggest a deferral for a year and send out applications to other schools.
In his new applications, he could write an essay on why he feels strongly about not being associated with a college that knowingly allowed a pedophile to use their name and campus to sexually assault young boys.</p>