‘Rally for Resignations’ Draws Crowd of a Few Hundred on Game Day

In a crowd of a few hundred Penn Staters demanding the resignations of the Board of Trustees and university President Rodney Erickson, one woman stood out from the crowd. 

Lisa Brown, Associate Director of the Penn State Center for sustainability, held a sign that read, ‘Proud to support President Erickson.’ She, like most individuals at the rally, was dressed in Penn State gear, though she promoted a different message.

‘I’m here to show appreciation for (President Erickson’s) steadfast leadership,’ Brown said. ‘I disagree that President Erickson should resign. That’s why I’m here, to show that I appreciate his leadership and his selflessness and his wisdom.’ 

A few hundred other people at the rally, however, want Erickson to step down immediately, along with each member of the Penn State Board of Trustees who sat on the board when the allegations of Jerry Sandusky’s child sexual abuse came to light in November. 

Former Penn State tailback and steadfast Joe Paterno supporter Franco Harris led ‘We Are … Penn State!’ cheers and talked about his belief that the board failed in its leadership. 

Trustee Anthony Lubrano spoke at the rally, one member of the board who isn’t being urged to resign, as he was just voted on to the board in the last election. 

‘The board just wants is to move forward … we cannot move forward by leaving behind the people who made us who we are,’ Lubrano said.