News stories have now appeared that suggest that the sanctions imposed on Penn State by the NCAA were never presented to the Penn State board of trustees for their review and comment by the new president of Penn State, Rodney Erickson.

Of the oversight deficiencies hilighted by the Freeh report, several touched on the fact that the board of trustees was not kept informed on issues critically important to the university by Graham Spanier and attorney Cynthia Baldwin. Treating the board of trustees as irrelevant continues.

One of the main tasks of the NCAA is to create “a culture of football” at colleges and universities that fall within their domain.

So when they called at Penn State with sanctions, the university reverted back to the behavior that failed miserably before.

If the board of trustees is irrelevant, either in personnel or mission, then change it to a useful, relevant part of the government of the university as the Freeh report recommends.

Decisions, especially important ones, have to be reviewed by the entire university government establishment, not just one or two individuals.

Jim Shoemaker Theodosia, Mo.