Penn State alumni fear closure unobtainable from Jerry Sandusky trial

by David Foster, lehighvalleylive.com
June 24th 2012 4:55 AM
Even after the 45th guilty count was read to Jerry Sandusky late Friday night -- virtually ensuring the child abuser will be locked up for life -- Penn State alumni continue to grapple with the long-term implications of the case.

Former athletic director Tim Curley and former vice president Gary Schultz, a Nazareth native, are awaiting trial for perjury and failing to report an allegation of sexual assault by Sandusky in a Penn State locker room in 2002.

In addition, a comprehensive investigation conducted by former FBI director Louis Freeh into the child sex abuse allegations against Sandusky will be released in the future.

For a Lehigh Valley attorney who ran an unsuccessful bid earlier this year for the Penn State Board of Trustees, Freeh's report could provide the most damaging blow to Happy Valley.

"I'm afraid that the worst, as far as what's going to actually have an effect long term on Penn State, isn't behind us," said Josh Fulmer, a 2001 Penn State graduate. "If Freeh's report reveals some sort of documented cover up or decision where they knew more than they're telling us, I think there's going to be many more ramifications, even if charges aren't filed."

The football season ticket holder said that as recently as yesterday he's read rumblings about the scandal that were written as early as 2010. Sandusky was indicted in 2011.

"The board came out numerous times and said that they didn't know about the allegations and it struck them all by surprise," Fulmer said. "If there's any documentation or any information that comes out that says that they knew about this ahead of time, I think that's going to be devastating to the university."

Saucon Valley High School head football Coach Matt Evancho played for Sandusky as a Penn State defensive lineman from 1993 to 1997. He didn't want to talk about Sandusky but said the turmoil that started with his indictment might never fully recede.

View full sizeExrpess-Times File Photo

"I don't know if there definitely ever will be any closure because it's an ongoing issue that's affecting children everywhere," said Evancho, who volunteers for Defend a Child, a group of Penn State lettermen raising money and awareness to fight child abuse.

"I don't know personally how to go about ending the issue. Part of it is getting other people educated," he said. "Our group is trying to spread that to others. That's the only way you can take steps forward."

Mike McGivern, who graduated from Penn State in May, had his senior year disturbed almost start-to-finish by the sex-abuse scandal.

"There's definitely a lot of loose ties out there," said McGivern, a Liberty High School graduate, noting the continuing investigation, the likelihood of civil suits and the possibility of more accusers. "… I don't think people are going to forget about this quickly. It's an enormous scandal."

While McGivern said the scandal soured his senior year, it didn't dampen his job opportunities.

McGivern said he was offered a job in November, just as Sandusky was indicted, and he didn't expect graduates' job opportunities to suffer.

"The school's going to bounce back from it," he said.

Fulmer, who pledged transparency during his "Restore the Roar" campaign for trustee, says the university will have to clean house.

"They need to own up to it, acknowledge it and figure out how to make sure it doesn't happen again," Fulmer said.

Fulmer expects a few more big names will drop before the dust settles from the trial of the former Penn State defensive coordinator.

"I wouldn't be surprised at all if one of them is (Gov. Tom) Corbett," Fulmer said. "I think he dropped the ball on the initial investigation when he was the attorney general and he used some political motivations and some partisan motivations to drive Joe (Paterno) out."

Original Page: http://pocket.co/snn4

Shared from Pocket

Victor Cuvo, Attorney at Law

770.582.9904

(sent from new iPad)