At Safe Horizon, we help thousands of abused children every year to tell their stories, often detailing horrors that most adults would find unimaginable. And then we work closely with the police and prosecutors to bring those who have harmed them to justice. However, there is another side to this story.
We know from our work that too many child abusers are never held accountable for their crimes. This can happen because the abuse was never reported, because it wasn’t investigated properly, or because there simply wasn’t enough evidence to prove the case. Sometimes it happens because a parent makes the difficult choice to shield an already traumatized child from testifying in court.
And the fact of the matter is, many abused children don’t have the emotional strength to face their abusers until adulthood. But here in New York State, adult survivors are faced with the devastating news that if they are over the age of 23, they cannot file civil or criminal charges against their abusers.
For victims of childhood sexual abuse, the consequences can last a lifetime. So why is there a statute of limitations on holding abusers accountable?
There are many stories that inspire us at Safe Horizon to advocate for the removal of the statute of limitations, but one particularly stands out for me.
During a routine check-up at her doctor’s office, Kathy*, 25 and pregnant with her first child, unexpectedly broke down in tears. After witnessing her breakdown and suspecting Kathy had endured a terrible trauma, Kathy’s doctor referred her to Safe Horizon’s Counseling Center, the only state licensed mental health facility dedicated exclusively to treating trauma resulting from violence and abuse.
It was here that Kathy spoke — for the first time in 13 years — of the childhood sexual abuse she had faced at the hands of her own father. From age seven, Kathy’s father had repeatedly sexually molested her. When Kathy confided in a trusted family member at age 12, she wasn’t believed. Alone and disheartened, Kathy didn’t speak of the abuse again until she arrived at Safe Horizon’s offices.
Kathy’s counselor helped her realize that the trauma of her childhood sexual abuse had resurfaced because she was now bringing her own child into the world. With therapy, Kathy was able to come to terms with the abuse and finally begin to heal.
For many victims, part of the healing process involves speaking out about the abuse and seeking to hold their abusers accountable. For Kathy, it was heartbreaking to learn that it was too late to bring her father to justice. Worst of all, she was tormented by the possibility he might still be preying on children.
Many states have already adjusted the time limits for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse who seek justice. New York is one of only five states that have not yet extended their statute of limitations for survivors of these crimes. That’s why the Child Victims Act is so important.
The Child Victims Act is a bill to reform the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse and enable justice for more victims of this heinous crime. Child predators should not be able to simply run out the clock. We are grateful to the champions in this effort, including New York State Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman, and dozens of their colleagues in the New York State Legislature who are sponsoring the Child Victims Act. Safe Horizon is also a proud advocate of the bill.
What will this legislation do? It will eliminate the statute of limitations for felony-level sex crimes against children and it will create a one-year window for adult survivors like Kathy to seek civil damages against their offenders.
Please join us in standing up for justice by signing our petition in support of the Child Victims Act.
Most victims of childhood sexual abuse continue to struggle with the impact of the abuse they experienced long after the abuse ends. The Child Victims Act will allow victims to move on with their lives knowing that justice has been served. Just as crucial, it will protect additional children from suffering abuse at the hands of serial offenders by getting these abusers off our streets. Please sign our petition supporting the Child Victims Act now.
*Name has been changed to protect the victim’s identity.
http://sol-reform.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hamilton-Logo.jpg00SOL Reformhttp://sol-reform.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hamilton-Logo.jpgSOL Reform2015-04-23 03:52:362015-04-23 03:52:36Ariel Zwang, Child Abusers Shouldn't Be Able to Run Out the Clock, Huffington Post
A group of advocates who work to fight child sex abuse is asking New York state lawmakers to eliminate the statute of limitations on certain sex crimes committed against minors. Legislation that would eliminate the time restraints on the reporting of child sex abuse is pending in the state’s Legislature. Advocates plan to gather at the Capitol on Wednesday to meet with lawmakers and speak out in favor of the change. Under the state’s current law, for charges to be brought a victim typically must report the allegations before they turn 23. Critics of that law say it must be changed to allow more victims to get justice and to recognize the seriousness of child sexual abuse.
http://sol-reform.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hamilton-Logo.jpg00SOL Reformhttp://sol-reform.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hamilton-Logo.jpgSOL Reform2015-04-23 03:50:502015-04-23 03:50:50NY Bill Would Nix Statutes of Limitations on Sex Abuse, CBS News
Vanessa DeRosa and Tino Flores want change, and it’s something the two alleged victims of child sexual abuse believe will only come with a new state law.
“It’s very frustrating, and I’m sure not just for myself. I’m sure it’s frustrating for a lot of people,” said DeRosa. “There’s countless reasons why people don’t come forward in the time frame allowed by the law.”
“People are afraid, they don’t want to say anything,” explained Flores. “Especially kids, they think ‘who’s going to believe me?'”
Earlier this year, DeRosa and Flores shared their stories in the hopes of helping other victims. DeRosa said she was abused by a Catholic School teacher when she was 13. Flores said a priest started abusing him at age 10.
Under current laws, the statute of limitations ran out when they turned 23. On Wednesday, Flores will head to Albany in hopes of convincing state lawmakers to pass the Child Victims Act which would extend that window.
“The hope is that with this legislation passed, a one-year window would be created for victims of child sexual abuse to be able to actually bring a claim against their accusers,” explained William Lorenz Jr., attorney.
The bill would also remove the statute of limitations for victims younger than 18.
The proposed legislation stalled in both houses last year.
Full article here: http://www.twcnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2015/04/21/child-victims-act.html
http://sol-reform.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hamilton-Logo.jpg00SOL Reformhttp://sol-reform.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hamilton-Logo.jpgSOL Reform2015-04-23 03:48:382015-04-23 03:48:38Meg Rossman, Two Alleged Victims of Child Abuse Taking Their Fight to Albany, TWC News
Andy Gabel had represented the United States in three Olympics and won a silver medal in the 5,000-meter short track relay at the 1994 Lillehammer Games when he moved to Saratoga Springs to train for the 1998 Olympic trials. Gabel, then 33, was already an icon in the sport – especially to a local high school kid who hoped to compete against the world’s very best.
Bridie Farrell was 15 years old and a promising junior skater when Gabel moved to her hometown, and she admits she was “starstruck” by Gabel, especially after he took an interest in her budding career.
Gabel drove her to the practice rink at 5 a.m. every morning, taught her how to properly sharpen and align her skates and even gave her tips on technique, Farrell says. Gabel also repeatedly molested Farrell over the course of several months in 1997 and 1998 she adds a secret she kept for years. Gabel later acknowledged he had an “inappropriate relationship with a female teammate.”
“I didn’t think anybody would believe me if I came forward,” Farrell says. “He was getting ready for his fourth Olympics and I was a nobody and that was my mindset. It is a lot for a kid to carry.”
Farrell is unable to pursue criminal prosecution or a civil lawsuit against Gabel because New York statute of limitations on sex abuse cases bars victims from bringing charges after their 23rd birthday. That is why she will join other sexual abuse survivors and their advocates in Albany on Wednesday to lobby state lawmakers to approve the Child Victims Act.
The bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Margaret Markey (D-Queens) calls for the elimination of criminal and civil statutes of limitations for future child abuse victims; it would also open up a one-year window for victims of past crimes to pursue criminal and civil cases. Markey has asked Pope Francis to meet with survivors of childhood sexual abuse when he visits New York in September. She’s also asked the pope to persuade the New York Catholic Conference of Bishops to drop its opposition to her bill.
“There is no limit on what is a lifetime of suffering and anguish for so many victims of child sexual abuse,” Markey says. “That is why there should be no limit on the ability of victims and society to prosecute abusers.”
Attorney Kevin Mulhearn, who has represented victims from Poly Prep, Horace Mann, St. Francis Prep and Yeshiva University, says New York’s statute of limitations encourages institutions to cover up sexual abuse.
“The law gives incentives to administrators to not report sexual abuse and hope the problem goes away,” says Mulhearn, who will join Farrell in Albany to lobby for the bill. “You might as well call it the ‘sex-abuse cover-up success statute’ because that is how it works.”
Farrell and Gabel both say they did not have sexual intercourse, but Farrell says the veteran athlete inappropriate kissed and touched her. He penetrated her with his fingers, she said, and placed his hands on his genitals. He always told her not to tell anybody about the abuse.
“Almost two decades ago I displayed poor judgment in a brief, inappropriate relationship with a female teammate,” Gabel acknowledged in 2013 in a statement to the Chicago Tribune. “It did not include sex, however I know what happened was wrong, and I make no excuses for my behavior. I apologize to her, and I am sorry for bringing negative attention to the sport that I love.”
Young athletes – especially elite athletes – are especially vulnerable to sexual predators, Farrell says. They devote hundreds of hours practicing and preparing for competition. Their families spend big bucks on coaching, equipment and travel. Farrell feared she would be booted from U.S. Speedskating’s junior team if she reported the abuse.
Farrell continued to compete long after the abuse stopped, but she was dogged by depression for years. She tried to block it out by focusing on her skating, and later on her studies at Cornell University.
“A lot of it was keeping so busy I didn’t have time to think about it,” she says. “I tried to numb myself out.”
Farrell found that she could run from the memories, but she could not hide. A professor at Cornell encouraged Farrell to seek therapy after she wrote a paper about her abuse for a human development class.
“I realized it was life-changing, and being molested by this guy was really hard,” Farrell says.
Farrell went public with her story in 2013 with a reporter from NPR’s WUWM affiliate in Milwaukee. She told her story, she says, because she wants to raise awareness of sexual abuse in sports, not because she wanted to lash out at Gabel.
Another skater, two-time Olympian Nikki Meyer, came forward after Farrell went public to say she had been raped and abused by Gabel in the early 1990s.
“There are a lot of positive points to this person, and coming forward was hard for me because it hurt Andy Gabel’s reputation,” she says. “But in my mind, these are non-negotiable acts.”
Full article here: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/farrell-join-sex-abuse-victims-albany-article-1.2192258
http://sol-reform.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hamilton-Logo.jpg00SOL Reformhttp://sol-reform.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hamilton-Logo.jpgSOL Reform2015-04-22 04:10:552015-04-22 04:10:55Michael O'Keeffe, Sex abuse victims, including former speedskater Bridie Farrell, to call on Albany to eliminate statutes of limitations for future cases , Daily News
Below is the link to the Child Victims Act petition we will be presenting at the CVA lobby day, Wednesday April 22. Please take 30 seconds to complete the petition. We are at 499 signatures!
We will be printing out the list tomorrow afternoon.
Another internal battle is brewing on Pennsylvania State University’s board of trustees, and this time it could lead to legal action.
Seven alumni-elected trustees on the 32-member board have reiterated their demand to have access to materials used in preparation for the blistering investigative report by former FBI director Louis Freeh that said former university leaders conspired to cover up child sex-abuse allegations against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
This time, the alumni trustees gave the university 48 hours to respond to their demand or, they said, they would “commence with action,” according to university officials. The 48-hour period expired last week.
At issue is the question of confidentiality granted to faculty, staff, and others before they were interviewed for the Freeh report in the Sandusky investigation. The university contends that turning over the report materials will violate those agreements unless the alumni trustees themselves sign confidentiality agreements – which they have refused to do.
Reached Sunday night, alumni-elected trustee Anthony Lubrano declined to comment on any action the alumni trustees may be contemplating, but it’s clear from university communications that the group of alumni trustees has retained a lawyer. Lubrano, a Glenmoore businessman, promised more information in coming days.
University president Eric Barron and board chairman Keith Masser issued a joint statement Sunday night, condemning and rejecting the alumni trustees’ demand.
“In the last three years, Penn State University has worked incredibly hard to encourage members of our community to report wrongdoing, without fear of retaliation or criticism,” they said. “This demand and the continuing efforts of these trustees will undo that progress.”
The university is prepared to make millions of “non-privileged” documents available to the alumni trustees if they sign the confidentiality agreements, university lawyer Joseph F. O’Dea Jr. wrote in a letter to lawyer Daniel T. Brier, who is representing alumni trustees.
But the university intends to protect faculty and other employees who gave information, believing that it would remain confidential, O’Dea wrote.
“The very fact that you have publicly demanded to review this information is harmful to the university,” O’Dea wrote.
Other alumni trustees who made the demand are: Ted Brown, Barbara Doran, Robert Jubelirer, Ryan McCombie, Bill Oldsey, and Alice Pope, the university said.
The same trustees this month voted against a payout to one or more Sandusky victims, saying Sandusky acted alone and the university was being unfairly targeted and blamed.
Masser and Barron noted the confidentiality of the Freeh report interviews.
“As we have stated in receiving past requests, the university intends to honor the promises of confidentiality made to the faculty, staff and others who were interviewed as part of the Freeh investigation,” they said in the statement. “Additionally, we have seen public statements on social media vilifying individuals who have voiced different opinions on what happened, with some even calling for businesses to be boycotted. No one should be exposed to such abuse.”
Freeh released his report in July 2012, less than a year after Sandusky was indicted for abusing boys on and off Penn State’s campus. The report accused former Penn State president Graham B. Spanier, late head football coach Joe Paterno, and two other Penn State administrators of failing to act on allegations of Sandusky’s misconduct. The alumni trustees repeatedly have blasted the Freeh report and its conclusions and have fought to have the board repudiate it
Full article here: http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20150420_Seven_PSU_trustees_threaten_legal_action_over_Freeh_report_materials.html
http://sol-reform.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hamilton-Logo.jpg00SOL Reformhttp://sol-reform.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hamilton-Logo.jpgSOL Reform2015-04-21 03:24:252015-04-21 03:24:25Susan Snyder, Seven PSU trustees threaten legal action over Freeh report materials, The Inquirer
Ariel Zwang, Child Abusers Shouldn’t Be Able to Run Out the Clock, Huffington Post
/in Uncategorized /by SOL ReformAt Safe Horizon, we help thousands of abused children every year to tell their stories, often detailing horrors that most adults would find unimaginable. And then we work closely with the police and prosecutors to bring those who have harmed them to justice. However, there is another side to this story.
We know from our work that too many child abusers are never held accountable for their crimes. This can happen because the abuse was never reported, because it wasn’t investigated properly, or because there simply wasn’t enough evidence to prove the case. Sometimes it happens because a parent makes the difficult choice to shield an already traumatized child from testifying in court.
And the fact of the matter is, many abused children don’t have the emotional strength to face their abusers until adulthood. But here in New York State, adult survivors are faced with the devastating news that if they are over the age of 23, they cannot file civil or criminal charges against their abusers.
For victims of childhood sexual abuse, the consequences can last a lifetime. So why is there a statute of limitations on holding abusers accountable?
There are many stories that inspire us at Safe Horizon to advocate for the removal of the statute of limitations, but one particularly stands out for me.
During a routine check-up at her doctor’s office, Kathy*, 25 and pregnant with her first child, unexpectedly broke down in tears. After witnessing her breakdown and suspecting Kathy had endured a terrible trauma, Kathy’s doctor referred her to Safe Horizon’s Counseling Center, the only state licensed mental health facility dedicated exclusively to treating trauma resulting from violence and abuse.
It was here that Kathy spoke — for the first time in 13 years — of the childhood sexual abuse she had faced at the hands of her own father. From age seven, Kathy’s father had repeatedly sexually molested her. When Kathy confided in a trusted family member at age 12, she wasn’t believed. Alone and disheartened, Kathy didn’t speak of the abuse again until she arrived at Safe Horizon’s offices.
Kathy’s counselor helped her realize that the trauma of her childhood sexual abuse had resurfaced because she was now bringing her own child into the world. With therapy, Kathy was able to come to terms with the abuse and finally begin to heal.
For many victims, part of the healing process involves speaking out about the abuse and seeking to hold their abusers accountable. For Kathy, it was heartbreaking to learn that it was too late to bring her father to justice. Worst of all, she was tormented by the possibility he might still be preying on children.
Many states have already adjusted the time limits for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse who seek justice. New York is one of only five states that have not yet extended their statute of limitations for survivors of these crimes. That’s why the Child Victims Act is so important.
The Child Victims Act is a bill to reform the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse and enable justice for more victims of this heinous crime. Child predators should not be able to simply run out the clock. We are grateful to the champions in this effort, including New York State Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman, and dozens of their colleagues in the New York State Legislature who are sponsoring the Child Victims Act. Safe Horizon is also a proud advocate of the bill.
What will this legislation do? It will eliminate the statute of limitations for felony-level sex crimes against children and it will create a one-year window for adult survivors like Kathy to seek civil damages against their offenders.
Please join us in standing up for justice by signing our petition in support of the Child Victims Act.
Most victims of childhood sexual abuse continue to struggle with the impact of the abuse they experienced long after the abuse ends. The Child Victims Act will allow victims to move on with their lives knowing that justice has been served. Just as crucial, it will protect additional children from suffering abuse at the hands of serial offenders by getting these abusers off our streets.
Please sign our petition supporting the Child Victims Act now.
*Name has been changed to protect the victim’s identity.
Child Abusers Shouldn’t Be Able to Run Out the Clock _ Ariel Zwang
NY Bill Would Nix Statutes of Limitations on Sex Abuse, CBS News
/in New York /by SOL ReformA group of advocates who work to fight child sex abuse is asking New York state lawmakers to eliminate the statute of limitations on certain sex crimes committed against minors. Legislation that would eliminate the time restraints on the reporting of child sex abuse is pending in the state’s Legislature. Advocates plan to gather at the Capitol on Wednesday to meet with lawmakers and speak out in favor of the change. Under the state’s current law, for charges to be brought a victim typically must report the allegations before they turn 23. Critics of that law say it must be changed to allow more victims to get justice and to recognize the seriousness of child sexual abuse.
NY bill would nix statute of limitations on child sex abuse – WRGB CBS6 – Top Stories
Meg Rossman, Two Alleged Victims of Child Abuse Taking Their Fight to Albany, TWC News
/in New York /by SOL ReformVanessa DeRosa and Tino Flores want change, and it’s something the two alleged victims of child sexual abuse believe will only come with a new state law.
“It’s very frustrating, and I’m sure not just for myself. I’m sure it’s frustrating for a lot of people,” said DeRosa. “There’s countless reasons why people don’t come forward in the time frame allowed by the law.”
“People are afraid, they don’t want to say anything,” explained Flores. “Especially kids, they think ‘who’s going to believe me?'”
Earlier this year, DeRosa and Flores shared their stories in the hopes of helping other victims. DeRosa said she was abused by a Catholic School teacher when she was 13. Flores said a priest started abusing him at age 10.
Under current laws, the statute of limitations ran out when they turned 23. On Wednesday, Flores will head to Albany in hopes of convincing state lawmakers to pass the Child Victims Act which would extend that window.
“The hope is that with this legislation passed, a one-year window would be created for victims of child sexual abuse to be able to actually bring a claim against their accusers,” explained William Lorenz Jr., attorney.
The bill would also remove the statute of limitations for victims younger than 18.
The proposed legislation stalled in both houses last year.
Full article here: http://www.twcnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2015/04/21/child-victims-act.html
Michael O’Keeffe, Sex abuse victims, including former speedskater Bridie Farrell, to call on Albany to eliminate statutes of limitations for future cases , Daily News
/in Uncategorized /by SOL ReformAndy Gabel had represented the United States in three Olympics and won a silver medal in the 5,000-meter short track relay at the 1994 Lillehammer Games when he moved to Saratoga Springs to train for the 1998 Olympic trials. Gabel, then 33, was already an icon in the sport – especially to a local high school kid who hoped to compete against the world’s very best.
Bridie Farrell was 15 years old and a promising junior skater when Gabel moved to her hometown, and she admits she was “starstruck” by Gabel, especially after he took an interest in her budding career.
Gabel drove her to the practice rink at 5 a.m. every morning, taught her how to properly sharpen and align her skates and even gave her tips on technique, Farrell says. Gabel also repeatedly molested Farrell over the course of several months in 1997 and 1998 she adds a secret she kept for years. Gabel later acknowledged he had an “inappropriate relationship with a female teammate.”
“I didn’t think anybody would believe me if I came forward,” Farrell says. “He was getting ready for his fourth Olympics and I was a nobody and that was my mindset. It is a lot for a kid to carry.”
Farrell is unable to pursue criminal prosecution or a civil lawsuit against Gabel because New York statute of limitations on sex abuse cases bars victims from bringing charges after their 23rd birthday. That is why she will join other sexual abuse survivors and their advocates in Albany on Wednesday to lobby state lawmakers to approve the Child Victims Act.
The bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Margaret Markey (D-Queens) calls for the elimination of criminal and civil statutes of limitations for future child abuse victims; it would also open up a one-year window for victims of past crimes to pursue criminal and civil cases. Markey has asked Pope Francis to meet with survivors of childhood sexual abuse when he visits New York in September. She’s also asked the pope to persuade the New York Catholic Conference of Bishops to drop its opposition to her bill.
“There is no limit on what is a lifetime of suffering and anguish for so many victims of child sexual abuse,” Markey says. “That is why there should be no limit on the ability of victims and society to prosecute abusers.”
Attorney Kevin Mulhearn, who has represented victims from Poly Prep, Horace Mann, St. Francis Prep and Yeshiva University, says New York’s statute of limitations encourages institutions to cover up sexual abuse.
“The law gives incentives to administrators to not report sexual abuse and hope the problem goes away,” says Mulhearn, who will join Farrell in Albany to lobby for the bill. “You might as well call it the ‘sex-abuse cover-up success statute’ because that is how it works.”
Farrell and Gabel both say they did not have sexual intercourse, but Farrell says the veteran athlete inappropriate kissed and touched her. He penetrated her with his fingers, she said, and placed his hands on his genitals. He always told her not to tell anybody about the abuse.
“Almost two decades ago I displayed poor judgment in a brief, inappropriate relationship with a female teammate,” Gabel acknowledged in 2013 in a statement to the Chicago Tribune. “It did not include sex, however I know what happened was wrong, and I make no excuses for my behavior. I apologize to her, and I am sorry for bringing negative attention to the sport that I love.”
Young athletes – especially elite athletes – are especially vulnerable to sexual predators, Farrell says. They devote hundreds of hours practicing and preparing for competition. Their families spend big bucks on coaching, equipment and travel. Farrell feared she would be booted from U.S. Speedskating’s junior team if she reported the abuse.
Farrell continued to compete long after the abuse stopped, but she was dogged by depression for years. She tried to block it out by focusing on her skating, and later on her studies at Cornell University.
“A lot of it was keeping so busy I didn’t have time to think about it,” she says. “I tried to numb myself out.”
Farrell found that she could run from the memories, but she could not hide. A professor at Cornell encouraged Farrell to seek therapy after she wrote a paper about her abuse for a human development class.
“I realized it was life-changing, and being molested by this guy was really hard,” Farrell says.
Farrell went public with her story in 2013 with a reporter from NPR’s WUWM affiliate in Milwaukee. She told her story, she says, because she wants to raise awareness of sexual abuse in sports, not because she wanted to lash out at Gabel.
Another skater, two-time Olympian Nikki Meyer, came forward after Farrell went public to say she had been raped and abused by Gabel in the early 1990s.
“There are a lot of positive points to this person, and coming forward was hard for me because it hurt Andy Gabel’s reputation,” she says. “But in my mind, these are non-negotiable acts.”
Full article here: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/farrell-join-sex-abuse-victims-albany-article-1.2192258
Action Alert
/in New York /by SOL ReformSusan Snyder, Seven PSU trustees threaten legal action over Freeh report materials, The Inquirer
/in Pennsylvania /by SOL ReformAnother internal battle is brewing on Pennsylvania State University’s board of trustees, and this time it could lead to legal action.
Seven alumni-elected trustees on the 32-member board have reiterated their demand to have access to materials used in preparation for the blistering investigative report by former FBI director Louis Freeh that said former university leaders conspired to cover up child sex-abuse allegations against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
This time, the alumni trustees gave the university 48 hours to respond to their demand or, they said, they would “commence with action,” according to university officials. The 48-hour period expired last week.
At issue is the question of confidentiality granted to faculty, staff, and others before they were interviewed for the Freeh report in the Sandusky investigation. The university contends that turning over the report materials will violate those agreements unless the alumni trustees themselves sign confidentiality agreements – which they have refused to do.
Reached Sunday night, alumni-elected trustee Anthony Lubrano declined to comment on any action the alumni trustees may be contemplating, but it’s clear from university communications that the group of alumni trustees has retained a lawyer. Lubrano, a Glenmoore businessman, promised more information in coming days.
University president Eric Barron and board chairman Keith Masser issued a joint statement Sunday night, condemning and rejecting the alumni trustees’ demand.
“In the last three years, Penn State University has worked incredibly hard to encourage members of our community to report wrongdoing, without fear of retaliation or criticism,” they said. “This demand and the continuing efforts of these trustees will undo that progress.”
The university is prepared to make millions of “non-privileged” documents available to the alumni trustees if they sign the confidentiality agreements, university lawyer Joseph F. O’Dea Jr. wrote in a letter to lawyer Daniel T. Brier, who is representing alumni trustees.
But the university intends to protect faculty and other employees who gave information, believing that it would remain confidential, O’Dea wrote.
“The very fact that you have publicly demanded to review this information is harmful to the university,” O’Dea wrote.
Other alumni trustees who made the demand are: Ted Brown, Barbara Doran, Robert Jubelirer, Ryan McCombie, Bill Oldsey, and Alice Pope, the university said.
The same trustees this month voted against a payout to one or more Sandusky victims, saying Sandusky acted alone and the university was being unfairly targeted and blamed.
Masser and Barron noted the confidentiality of the Freeh report interviews.
“As we have stated in receiving past requests, the university intends to honor the promises of confidentiality made to the faculty, staff and others who were interviewed as part of the Freeh investigation,” they said in the statement. “Additionally, we have seen public statements on social media vilifying individuals who have voiced different opinions on what happened, with some even calling for businesses to be boycotted. No one should be exposed to such abuse.”
Freeh released his report in July 2012, less than a year after Sandusky was indicted for abusing boys on and off Penn State’s campus. The report accused former Penn State president Graham B. Spanier, late head football coach Joe Paterno, and two other Penn State administrators of failing to act on allegations of Sandusky’s misconduct. The alumni trustees repeatedly have blasted the Freeh report and its conclusions and have fought to have the board repudiate it
Full article here: http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20150420_Seven_PSU_trustees_threaten_legal_action_over_Freeh_report_materials.html