In the eyes of some Penn State students, former Penn State President Graham Spanier deserved the charges he received yesterday.
Spanier was charged with perjury, child endangerment, conspiracy and obstruction of justice almost one year after charges of child sexual abuse were filed against Jerry Sandusky, Attorney General Linda Kelly said at a press conference Thursday.
Sandusky was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison in October after being found guilty in June on 45 counts of sexually abusing boys he met through his charity, The Second Mile, as previously reported.
Nicole Miller watched the press conference held by Kelly while sitting in the HUB-Robeson Center, and said it was interesting that Spanier was the last involved to receive charges.
Miller (sophomore-psychology) said it was fair to question him because of his involvement with the case.
According to a copy of the grand jury presentment, Spanier “endorsed the plan of action that involved circumventing any outside agency.”
On Nov. 9, the Board of Trustees removed Spanier as president and replaced him with current President Rodney Erickson, as previously reported.
Jennifer Tato, who was also watching the press conference, said the university would be able to find closure with the charges against Spanier.
“I don’t think he should go unpunished for being a witness and not doing anything about it,” Tato (freshman-veterinary biomedical sciences) said.
Ingrid Kaplan (senior-psychology) also said she believed the charges against Spanier were justifiable.
Kaplan said she believed he contributed to the cover-up of former assistant football coach Sandusky, and said it was not acceptable to hide child rape.
Collegian staff writer Lauren Blum contributed to this report.
