Penn State Board of Trustees member and former chair of the board Steve Garban stepped down today, according to a press release issued by chairwoman Karen Peetz.
Garban's recently received some criticism relating to knowledge he had about the 2011 grand jury investigation into former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, as was revealed in the report released by former FBI Director Louis Freeh.
According to Freeh’s report, Garban was copied on numerous emails sent by former Penn State President Graham Spanier with regard to the grand jury investigation that looked into child sexual abuse as it related to Sandusky. Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of child sex abuse in June.
According to Freeh's report, Garban also met with Spanier, Penn State's then-General Counsel Cynthia Baldwin and former Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley to “discuss the Sandusky Grand Jury.”
Following the meeting, Garban co-wrote a press release with Spanier and Baldwin expressing “unconditional support” for former Interim Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz and Curley after they were each charged with perjury and failure to report suspected abuse with regard to the Sandusky case.
Garban was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1998 and served as chairman for two years; he stepped down from his position in January.
Peetz, his successor, was elected minutes after Garban decided not to seek a third consecutive term as chairman.
The Penn State Board of Trustees hired the Freeh Group in November to examine the university's handling of reports involving Sandusky. Freeh's report was released on July 12.
President Rodney Erickson, when asked about Garban's resignation, deferred comment to "board leadership."
Read tomorrow's edition of The Daily Collegian for additional information.
