Berkey Creamery staff members are keeping their lips sealed about the absence of the Sandusky Blitz ice cream flavor in Food Science Building freezers after the recent indictment of its namesake, former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.
Sandusky was indicted Nov. 4 by a grand jury on sexual abuse charges including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a minor less than 16 years old, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault of a minor less than 13 years old and endangering the welfare of a child.
The ice cream flavor, previously described by the Creamery website as “banana flavored ice cream with chocolate covered peanuts and caramel swirl,” was nowhere to be found on Creamery shelves and menus on Monday.
The description and ingredients were also removed from the Creamery website, though Creamery office staff declined to comment on the removal.
Staff Assistant Naomi Minarchick said she could not confirm the removal of the flavor or the reasons behind the discontinuation.
She also declined comment about a potential replacement flavor or speculation over customer reaction to the removal of the flavor.
Additionally, she said she could not explain the process behind Sandusky having his name given to a flavor. But, the Creamery website says that some flavors are named to “pay tribute to Penn State faculty who have made outstanding contributions to higher education.”
Minarchick said all questions and queries were to be referred to University Relations.
Penn State students, including Brittany Manski (sophomore-finance) and Paul McAndrew, expressed approval for the Creamery’s decision to discontinue sales of the flavor and many said that they would not purchase the flavor if it were still available.
Some Penn State alumni, like Barbara Brown, also said that they would not buy a flavor of ice cream that was adorned with Sandusky’s name.
“At this point I wouldn’t buy it. I’m shocked and terribly disappointed by these [allegations], especially by someone who was very instrumental in our football program,” Brown, Class of 1962, said.
McAndrew (sophomore-energy business and finance) said even though Joe Paterno has been connected to the ongoing situation, he would not be opposed to the continued production of the Peachy Paterno flavor for now.
“I’d keep the flavor because [Paterno] did what he was supposed to, even though it might have been the bare minimum. He acted the way he should’ve,” McAndrew said.
Brown agreed with McAndrew.
“Until I know more about Paterno’s involvement, I would not take Peachy Paterno away because he’s given so much back to the university and he might not deserve to have his reputation sullied like this,” Brown said.
