Pa. Rep. Wants to Require Penn State to Reveal Location of Paterno Statue as a Condition of State Funding

The bronze statue of Joe Paterno stood outside of Beaver Stadium for more than 10 years before it was removed in July 2012. File photo

Ten years after the removal of the Joe Paterno statue, state Rep. Aaron Bernstine is seeking answers from Penn State.

Bernstine, a 2006 Penn State graduate and Lawrence County Republican who represents the 10th District, introduced an amendment to a Senate bill that would require Penn State to provide the location and condition of the Paterno statue in order to receive its annual general support appropriation from the state, which currently totals more than $242 million.

He also sent a letter to President Neeli Bendapudi asking for the information before the General Assembly votes on the bill, which is a part of the state budget process each June.

“The statue symbolized Coach Paterno’s many outstanding contributions to Penn State on and off the gridiron,” Bernstine said in a press release. “His legacy should remain alive for people to view and reflect…”The university is sending a mixed message by treating Paterno as a hero at the campus library where a plaque is displayed due to the millions of dollars he donated, but a villain at the stadium where he coached the Nittany Lions to two national collegiate championships and five undefeated seasons.”

If the amendment is ratified, it would require Penn State to submit a report of the statue’s location, condition, and method of storage to the House and Senate Education committees. The university would also be required to publish the report on its website for the general public to see in order to receive its annual funding from Senate Bill 1283, which provides funding for Penn State, Pitt, Temple, and Lincoln.

The bronze sculpture of Paterno was unveiled in November 2001, along with signage that read “Joseph Vincent Paterno: Educator, Coach, Humanitarian” and images of football players. The statue was removed in July 2012, six months after the longtime Nittany Lion football coach died, in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Its location has remained a mystery as Penn State has only stated that the statue is in secure storage.

Geoff Rushton contributed to this report.