We Are. Penn State.

I am a Pennsylvania State University alum.  The University absolutely shaped me in to the person that I am today.  The University is bigger than the abuse scandal that has engulfed it’s hallowed grounds this past week.  The University is better than the person who perpetrated the alleged crimes.  The University is shamed by those who were complicit in the apparent cover up of these crimes.

Joe Paterno was integral to the evolution of Penn State over the past 60 years - from a small agricultural college to renowned research university.  Joe Paterno’s principles were the moral compass of the Penn State community.  But Joe Paterno is not Penn State. Former Penn State president Graham Spanier is not Penn State.  A few thousand student “rioters” are not Penn State.  The image of Penn State that ESPN and other media outlets have portrayed is certainly NOT Penn State.

Penn State is THON, the world’s largest student-run philanthropy, which has raised more than $78 million for the Four Diamonds Fund since 1973.  Penn State is a top 10 research and development university.  Penn State is a top 15 research library system.  Penn State is the largest alumni association in the world.  Penn State is a system of alumni that give more and more frequently to their alma mater than any alumni group in the Big 10.  Penn State is Nobel Prize winners, Tony- and Emmy-winning artists, renowned researchers, educators, and the first person to ever ‘see’ the atom.

Penn State is Fisher-Price, Ben & Jerry’s, and the Slinky. Penn State is Paternoville, the tent city of students outside of Beaver Stadium, camping each week to get the best seats in the stadium - all the while raising money for cancer research while they sacrifice their beds for a tent.  Penn State is the Proud to be a Penn Stater grassroots cause that has raised $270,000 (and still climbing) - EDIT: this total now sits at more than $458,000 -  in less than two days for RAINN, an abuse charity network.  Penn State is 96,000 students across 24 campuses in Pennsylvania.  Penn State is more than 500,000 living alumni.  Penn State is Making Life Better.

WE are Penn State.