DONOR DAMAGE CONTROL
“align our messages” and that he had received positive feedback after two network television interviews.
“This is another indication that we are taking control of the narrative of our story,” Erickson wrote.
The scandal led to the ouster of Graham Spanier, Erickson’s predecessor, and the firing of venerable football coach Joe Paterno, a decision by the trustees that triggered rioting in downtown State College and produced dozens of criminal charges.
A Nov. 18 note from Erickson also included an attachment with “talking points” for donors, including that the school had not changed its policy that gifts are not returned.
“The overwhelming majority of our leading donors have made public state- ments affirming their faith in the university and its future,” according to the university’s talking points. The document named a couple who gave $88 million to launch an NCAA ice hockey program, and another who endowed the position of head football coach.
Both the number of donors and number of gifts to Penn State increased in November, compared with the same month a year earlier. Total donations to Penn State were $3.1 million in November, compared to $1.1 million in November 2010, according to the university.
Another positive sign for Penn State was last month’s announcement of a $10 million gift from an anonymous donor to bridge engineering research projects with other fields of study.
Erickson told the board he had participated in a conference call with a fundraising committee.
“Our volunteer leaders remain committed to Penn State, and my message was well received,” Erickson told the trustees.
The records were obtained through a public records request filed Nov. 22 with the state Department of Education. Penn State, which receives hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer support annually, is largely exempt from the law and has declined requests for certain information as its internal investigation continues.