At Least 25% of PSU Fine Will Stay in State
The NCAA has tapped a task force to figure out how to administer the endowment fund to be created with a record $60-million dollar fine levied against Penn State in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The NCAA sanctions called for that money to be used to fund programs that help to prevent child sexual abuse and treat its victims.
The NCAA indicates that at least 25% will be reserved for Pennsylvania organizations. It’s a good start, according to state House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny), but not good enough.
Frank Dermody
“We have issues in Pennsylvania. We’ve had budget cuts for programs that work with victims of child abuse and we should keep that money,” Rep. Dermody tells Radio PA. “That money should stay in Pennsylvania to help fund those programs.”
Penn State forwarded the NCAA the input it received regarding the endowment. “The NCAA has determined that at least one quarter of the annual disbursements from the endowment will be reserved for Pennsylvania organizations. However, recognizing that child sexual abuse is a national issue, the NCAA has determined that grants from the endowment will be available in other states as well,” PSU President Rodney Erickson said in a statement.
The ten member NCAA task force includes two Pennsylvanians: Nan Crouter of Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development, and Craig Hillemeier of the Penn State College of Medicine. It will be chaired by the chancellor of the University of California, Riverside.
While Dermody doesn’t know much about the non-Pennsylvania task force members, he believes they are highly qualified. “So I hope they see that it’s the right thing to do to make sure that Pennsylvania’s children are taken care of.”
