The Penn State trustee who said he was “running out of sympathy” for the victims of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky will reportedly not seek a second term on the board of trustees in State College. Al Lord made his decision official while speaking at a forum.
“I’ll continue to work with you guys,” Lord said to his fellow alumni candidates, according to PennLive. “I’m just not sitting through any more of those meetings.”
Lord informed fellow trustee Anthony Lubrano that his decision was not related to his controversial comments to the Chronicle of Higher Education, although the timing of his decision sure seems to suggest it is a coincidence.
''Of course I’m disappointed,’' said Lubrano. ''Al was the most cerebral member of the board. He’ll be missed.’'
Lord was elected to the Penn State Board of Trustees in 2014 on the strength of attacking the university’s handling of the entire Sandusky scandal, with an emphasis on defending former head coach Joe Paterno and former university president Graham Spanier. Spanier was recently convicted of misdemeanor child endangerment and is currently awaiting sentencing. Two other Penn State officials connected to the scandal, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, are also awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to misdemeanor child endangerment.
Sandusky was found guilty on 45 of 48 child-abuse charges in June 2012. He is currently serving a prison sentence of at least 30 years, which is essentially a life sentence at this stage in his life.