In an 80-page memorandum filed in Centre County Court Wednesday, Penn State indicated it will continue to protect the identities of hundreds of university employees interviewed during the Freeh investigation.
The university reaffirmed its commitment to confidentiality in response to a group of alumni-elected trustees that wants to review source materials.
Seven alumni-elected trustees — Ted Brown, Barbara Doran, Robert Jubelirer, Anthony Lubrano, Ryan McCombie, William Oldsey, and Alice Pope — are attempting to obtain documents used in the Freeh Report. They requested all Freeh Report-related documents on April 15 in a formal request to board chairman Keith Masser and president Eric Barron, but received a rejection letter from university counsel on April 17.
They followed up by filing a petition in the Centre County court at the end of April in an effort to compel the university to provide the requested documents, including the names of those interviewed.
“Penn State is legitimately concerned that interviewees may become public targets, and its work to encourage the reporting of wrongdoing would be jeopardized,” university spokeswoman Lisa Powers said in a news release. She went on to say the request is a breach of duty, harmful to the university, and not related to the trustees’ fiduciary duties.
The memorandum says the board has previously deliberated and determined it is not in the university’s best interest to re-examine the Freeh Report at this time. Therefore, if the petitioners were to obtain access to these records, it would be for their own agenda — not in order to fulfill their responsibilities as trustees. The full memorandum is attached below.
The news release claims there have been numerous prior violations of confidentiality by certain alumni-elected trustees, citing that as evidence for potential misuse, and as a result the university is not obligated to hand over the requested confidential documents. The university says it is prepared to provide examples of those violations to the court under seal or in private.
“The university makes the point that such access will devastate the university’s efforts to create a culture where the reporting of wrongdoing is encouraged and whistleblowers feel protected against retaliation,” Powers said in the news release.
President Barron announced in November he is conducting an official presidential review of the raw materials that went into the Freeh Report.
Popular Stories:
Residents Fear Development May Contaminate Drinking Water
Students Charged in Fraternity Vandalism Spree
Judge Urges DA, County to Settle Dispute Out of Court
Christopher Lee Wants Evidence Suppressed, Separate Trials
Penn State SBDC Making Economic Impact
Penn State Graphic Design Students Give Jared Box Project a Facelift
Penn State Football: Updates From NFL Rookie Camps As Nittany Lions Turn Heads
Penn State Hockey: 95 Percent Renewal Rate Fuels Third Consecutive Season Ticket Sellout
Penn State Basketball: Nittany Lions To Face Boston College In Big Ten/ACC Challenge
Penn State Football: Smith An Outsider No More On Franklin’s Staff
Penn State Football: Redshirt? An Easier Choice As Talent And Depth Come To Happy Valley
Penn State Football: Franklin, Barbour Balance Scheduling Excitement With Big Picture Goals
