Members of the Public Not Happy With Board of Trustee Response
By: Mallory Lane
Updated: September 14, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, STATE COLLEGE - Penn State's Board of Trustees held its first meeting with a period for public comment Friday. Folks who spoke aren't happy with the board's answers and say, in fact, some of their questions weren't answered at all.
It was a packed house Friday at the Nittany Lion Inn as folks spilled into the room to hear how the Penn State Board of Trustees would answer questions coming from members of the public
This was the first time in the board's history that folks were allowed to speak directly to the board during a public comment period. Seven people signed up and weren't afraid to speak their minds.
"It's not these students bringing shame to the University, it's all of you [board members] except for the new board members," one speaker said.
Deborah Bidel traveled all the way from Orlando, Florida to ask the board her question, but says the trip wasn't really worth it.
"It was clear that they had the answer prepared ahead of time and the answer did not even address my question," she said.
That was the same response most of the people who spoke at the meeting Friday had.
"I'm not happy at all because they're continuing to do what they always do, which is sort of gloss over things," Bidel said.
Ceil Masella asked about University President Rodney Erickson's decision to comply with the NCAA sanctions. She says the board's response said it all.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers and Nittany Lions running back Franco Harris was also at the meeting. He did not previously sign up to speak and was immediately told he could not.
"It's just very disappointing that for those six years they have not stood up for Penn State. It's very disturbing," Harris said.
Harris will be a key speaker Saturday morning at the "Rally for Resignations." A group of people is planning to attend that event starting tomorrow at 10 A-M on the Old Main Lawn. They plan to demand that Penn State President Rodney Erickson, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and several members of the Penn State Board of Trustees step down.
It was a packed house Friday at the Nittany Lion Inn as folks spilled into the room to hear how the Penn State Board of Trustees would answer questions coming from members of the public
This was the first time in the board's history that folks were allowed to speak directly to the board during a public comment period. Seven people signed up and weren't afraid to speak their minds.
"It's not these students bringing shame to the University, it's all of you [board members] except for the new board members," one speaker said.
Deborah Bidel traveled all the way from Orlando, Florida to ask the board her question, but says the trip wasn't really worth it.
"It was clear that they had the answer prepared ahead of time and the answer did not even address my question," she said.
That was the same response most of the people who spoke at the meeting Friday had.
"I'm not happy at all because they're continuing to do what they always do, which is sort of gloss over things," Bidel said.
Ceil Masella asked about University President Rodney Erickson's decision to comply with the NCAA sanctions. She says the board's response said it all.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers and Nittany Lions running back Franco Harris was also at the meeting. He did not previously sign up to speak and was immediately told he could not.
"It's just very disappointing that for those six years they have not stood up for Penn State. It's very disturbing," Harris said.
Harris will be a key speaker Saturday morning at the "Rally for Resignations." A group of people is planning to attend that event starting tomorrow at 10 A-M on the Old Main Lawn. They plan to demand that Penn State President Rodney Erickson, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and several members of the Penn State Board of Trustees step down.
