Gary Schultz’s attorney Thomas Farrell wrote a letter to the Board of Trustees on the issue of the discussing today whether or not to rename the child care center named after the former administrator.
Farrell, from the attorney offices of Farrell & Reisinger, LLC, asked the trustees to “defer consideration of renaming” the child care center until after Schultz’s trial in January because the name removal would “unfairly and precipitously” portray him as guilty.
The Gary Schultz Child Care Center at Hort Woods — located on Penn State’s campus at the corner of Allen Road and Park Avenue — opened in July 2011 and was dedicated to Schultz in September 2011.
Farrell’s letter inflicted emotions about the former Interim Senior Vice President for Finance and Business, stating that he would never cover up a report of sexual abuse.
Schultz is charged with perjury and failure to report child abuse with regard to the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case.
“Deferring your decision for the few short months until the verdict in [Schultz’s] trial will not harm the University or its constituents,” Farrell wrote in the letter.
Jury selection for Schultz’s trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 7, 2013.
Farrell also offered to discuss the matter further with the board.
The board committee on finance, business and capital planning met to discuss the child care center yesterday and will present their findings and discussion at today’s public meeting.
Trustees will gather at the Nittany Lion Inn today to hold their public meeting that will include — for the first time ever — a public comment session.
Penn Staters for Responsible Stewardship spokeswoman Maribeth Schmidt stated in a previous interview that her organization planned to comment on the board’s discussion of the child care center because Schultz hasn’t been to court yet and due process hasn’t occurred.
No trustees could be reached for comment as of press time Thursday.
University spokesman David LaTorre said he had nothing to report regarding the status of the child care center.
