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发帖数: 14458 | 1 Dear EMS Alumni and Friends,
This is one of the most difficult letters I have ever written. The past
two weeks have been devastating for the Penn State community. The alleged
crimes and their subsequent mismanagement have shocked, angered, and
saddened
all of us, and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their
families
. Surely, no one associated with Penn State, with our longstanding and proud
tradition of honor, would have thought that something like this could
happen
in Happy Valley. Emotions have been raw across the University. The
actions
of a few students (and I mean a "few", or less than 1% of Penn State
students
) who chose to act out in frustration by rioting after the announcement of
Coach Paterno's and President Spanier's dismissals were an anomaly in the
larger Penn State community. I have been proud of the overwhelming
majority
of our students, football players and coaches, faculty, staff,
administrators
, and alumni and friends who have shown remorse, humility, compassion for
the victims, and an abiding pride for all the good in Penn State that
remains
. We will rebuild the right way.
The Board of Trustees' dismissals of both President Spanier and Coach
Paterno
last Wednesday evening were breathtaking to all of us. I know that some
among you take great exception to those dismissals, but I am convinced that
the Board of Trustees, the only Penn State entity in possession of all the
available facts thus far, believed that it was doing what was best for Penn
State. Those dismissals mark the end of an era and the beginning of a
major
transition that will take the university a long time to complete. Our new
president is Rodney A. Erickson, the former Provost and a faculty member
from EMS. He is a good man and was oblivious to any wrongdoing prior to
last week. There could be no better choice than President Erickson to
bring
stability and healing to the University. The task for Penn State is
daunting
. For faculty, staff and students, lessons learned from this awful moment
will be instilled into our everyday lives.
Penn State is first and foremost an academic institution. The daily work
of our students, faculty and staff ?that is, the work of education and
scientific
discovery ? continues. The values that have guided this institution for
more than 150 years will continue to guide us through the certain challenges
that lie ahead. It is my strong belief that there is just too much good
about Penn State to accept that the damage incurred this week is
irreversible
.
For those of you who continue to support Penn State and the College of Earth
and Mineral Sciences with your time, talent and financial resources, thank
you. For those of you who are rethinking your commitments to support Penn
State and the College, I honestly cannot blame you. But know this: the
kids-our students-are the same high quality, morally sound, academically
gifted young people today that they were before these terrible events came
to light. The same applies to our faculty members. Those are the people
who will, in time, restore this great university to its previous
respectability
. They will need your encouragement and support, however you may want to
provide it, now more than at any time in our history.
Thank you for all you do for EMS and Penn State,
Bill
Dr. William E. Easterling, Dean
Professor of Geography and Earth System Science College of Earth and Mineral
Sciences The Pennsylvania State University
116 Deike Building
University Park, PA 16802 |
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