Editorial: Board of Trustees Members Call for Uncensored Review of Freeh Report

The debate over the Freeh Report is heating up, just weeks after Penn State President Eric Barron promised to conduct a thorough review of those findings.

Three members of the Penn State Board of Trustees, Anthony Lubrano, Albert Lord and William Oldsey — all of them elected by the alumni — are now challenging Barron’s plan to withhold the names of people interviewed during the Freeh investigation.

All nine of the alumni-elected board members have been given permission to see documents from the Freeh probe. However, at least some of them are taking issue with the university’s effort to protect the identities of people who spoke with investigators.

In an editorial released Dec. 19, Barron said “I want Penn State employees to know the university will protect individual anonymity of the people interviewed by the Freeh team “to the maximum extent possible” under the law.”

In response, the three trustees released their own editorial early on Dec. 25. The trustees call for complete access to all information, saying, “We too are sensitive to the subject, but believe that getting to the complete truth outweighs the importance of individual confidentiality. … For anyone to conduct a credible, in-depth review of Mr. Freeh’s findings, unfettered and uncensored access to all the materials Freeh used is necessary. The very reputation of our university is on the line.”

Penn State spokesperson Lisa Powers tells StateCollege.com that Barron’s original message stands on its own and there is no need for additional comment.

The full text of the trustees’ editorial can be read below.

The board hired former FBI Director Louis Freeh in 2011 to conduct a no-holds barred investigation into the university’s handling of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. On July 12, 2012, Freeh released a scathing indictment, accusing university administrators of trying to cover-up the scandal.

The NCAA, armed with the Freeh Report, reportedly threatened to impose the death penalty against Penn State’s football program, an allegation the NCAA has denied. Former university president Rodney Erickson later signed the controversial consent decree, paving the way for the NCAA to hit Penn State with harsh penalties. Those sanctions included the vacation of 112 football victories, a ban on bowl game appearances, loss of scholarships and a $60 million fine. Some of those sanctions have since been lifted. In fact, Penn State will play in a bowl game on Saturday.

Critics have attacked the NCAA’s actions, claiming the Freeh Report was an incomplete rush to judgement.

Former Penn State President Graham Spanier, former Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley and former Senior Vice President for Finance Gary Schultz face a number of charges in connection with the Sandusky scandal. Those charges include perjury, failing to report child endangerment and conspiracy. All three men say they are not guilty and promise to fight the charges in court. A trial date has not been set.

In 2012, a jury convicted Sandusky on 45 counts of sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period. Sandusky, a former Penn State football coach, is serving 30 to 60 years in state prison.

Freeh Review Op Ed

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