Sam Smith: Spanier Had to Go
HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Samuel H. Smith (R-Jefferson County) today released the following statement regarding the Penn State tragedy and removal of university president Graham Spanier:
“There are certain obligations we all share as a society; topping the list is protecting our children.
“If the findings of the grand jury are true, the leadership at Penn State failed in this most basic obligation and in a most egregious way.
“As a father, my heart goes out to the victims and their families – those who have come forward, and those who have not. As Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, I offer the sympathies of each and every member of the House and the hope that the victims can move forward.
“While it may be easy to second-guess the decisions the Penn State Board of Trustees made last night, it was important they take steps to refocus their leadership on the education part of Penn State and away from the ‘business’ of Penn State. Further, they must put in place procedures to ensure nothing like this can happen again.
“As a Penn State alumnus, I am horrified at the apparent lack of action by some of the school’s administrators.
“As a legislator, I have often disagreed or been at odds with Mr. Spanier throughout his tenure. But it was Mr. Spanier’s ‘unconditional support’ of his administrators’ actions after they were charged by the attorney general that made his term at Penn State untenable. By using the word ‘unconditional,’ Mr. Spanier was stating he is backing their side no matter what – even if proven guilty.
“It appears protecting the ‘industry’ of Penn State was more important to Mr. Spanier and others than was protecting the students, the children and the original purpose of the university.
“It is time to bring Penn State back into balance, and removing Graham Spanier was the first step.”
“There are certain obligations we all share as a society; topping the list is protecting our children.
“If the findings of the grand jury are true, the leadership at Penn State failed in this most basic obligation and in a most egregious way.
“As a father, my heart goes out to the victims and their families – those who have come forward, and those who have not. As Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, I offer the sympathies of each and every member of the House and the hope that the victims can move forward.
“While it may be easy to second-guess the decisions the Penn State Board of Trustees made last night, it was important they take steps to refocus their leadership on the education part of Penn State and away from the ‘business’ of Penn State. Further, they must put in place procedures to ensure nothing like this can happen again.
“As a Penn State alumnus, I am horrified at the apparent lack of action by some of the school’s administrators.
“As a legislator, I have often disagreed or been at odds with Mr. Spanier throughout his tenure. But it was Mr. Spanier’s ‘unconditional support’ of his administrators’ actions after they were charged by the attorney general that made his term at Penn State untenable. By using the word ‘unconditional,’ Mr. Spanier was stating he is backing their side no matter what – even if proven guilty.
“It appears protecting the ‘industry’ of Penn State was more important to Mr. Spanier and others than was protecting the students, the children and the original purpose of the university.
“It is time to bring Penn State back into balance, and removing Graham Spanier was the first step.”
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