I believe Penn State President Rodney Erickson cannot credibly preside over the 2013 commencement exercises, because he does not enjoy the trust, respect or confidence of the Penn State community.
He took down the statue of former head football coach Joe Paterno over the weekend when no one was there.
He also acquiesced to the NCAA’s sanctions that I believe are illegitimate, which Gov. Tom Corbett is correct to challenge in court through a federal lawsuit.
This is not to downplay the governor’s own role in damaging Penn State’s reputation, but — unlike the Board of Trustees — he has chosen to do the right thing. There is also the still open question as to whether Erickson or NCAA Representative Ed Ray told the truth about the death penalty threat. Penn State should therefore maintain the credibility and dignity of this year’s commencement exercises by asking one of its retired presidents, Joab Thomas or Bryce Jordan, to preside.
William Levinson
Class of 1978
