Penn State President Rodney Erickson has laudably taken visible steps to move the institution past the horror that was inflicted on it by monster Jerry Sandusky. But there is a blind spot in the continuing association with disgraced former president and titan, Graham Spanier.

Despite the likelihood of criminal charges being filed against him, Spanier was permitted to “resign,” then to become an inactive, tenured faculty member. Even now, as he faces felony charges, he is classified as being “on leave” — still a faculty member!

Spanier’s status is confounding, given that former coach Mike McQueary, one of the few individuals who took some step to do the right thing by reporting Sandusky’s actions, was “rewarded” through his contract not being renewed.

And McQueary alleges that the school paid for the legal defense of accused felons Curley and Schultz while letting him fend for himself.

Why has Erickson not been willing to permanently end the association with Spanier, the man who took the university to the cleaners on his way to becoming fabulously wealthy? He should not continue to derive any benefit or prestige through a continuing relationship with the university.

How could this pariah ever return to a position of academic stature and, without regard to the final disposition of the grave criminal charges, how could the school ever allow him to return?

Oren Spiegler

Upper St. Clair