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Guilt by Association

Don Maurer

    “Yo! Anyone home?” Assistant Professor Larry Galinski announced his entrance to Professor Greg Johnson’s laboratory. Both men were faculty members in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of The Pennsylvania State University.
    “Should’ve called first Greg. But when I finished the final draft of our paper to Science World’s Special Edition on Global Waste Management, I got so excited. Came charging over here to get any corrections or changes you might like to make before we submit this baby.”
    “You did a great job putting the paper together. And some of your analyses? The older I get, the dumber I become. I’m the one who really benefited from this collaboration.”
    “I don’t know about that Greg. Your name on a paper carries considerable cachet. It was very generous to have me as first author.”
    “We both did a lot work on this project. You on the analyses. Me on the history and scope of the problem.”
    “Greg. This may be off the wall. You should send me to the rubber room. But the process for review and publication got me to thinking. Had to run it by you.” Greg’s attention level increased with Larry’s concerned tone of voice.
    “Last August Auberg and Layton published in Science World.” Greg nodded affirmatively. “We all know the turmoil that rocked the campus last November followed by the July Freeh Report. Even Sports Illustrated (SI) featured it in a special edition.
     “Yes,” Greg ruefully replied. “We were seriously criticized with media coverage There really was little SI could add to the outrage. ... Totally inconceivable that such flagrant, criminal, immoral behavior would occur on this campus or any other one for that matter. The emerging cover up made it even more unbelievable. The victims will never get over the assault on their personages.”
    Greg continued. “The idea that the university leadership was complicit in this matter is beyond my comprehension. But certainly Larry you’ve been aware that a goodly number of faculty have railed against Coach Paterno’s influence on the campus for years. The administration ignored these concerns. Lionized him to the point that he was essentially bullet proof, independent of the President’s and Athletic Director’s (AD) authority.”
    “As faculty members we are a fundamental part of the university. We have no control over the public’s perception of Penn State and their response to faculty, staff and students. We do have control over our personal and collective behavior.”
    “I can’t dismiss the generations of Penn State faculty and staff who have contributed to the welfare and productivity of the state and nation. Nor will I disenfranchise the thousands of students who matriculated through here benefiting from the generous labors of the above faculty and staff.”
    “You’ve provided a strong base to begin university healing Greg. Wish other faculty had the opportunity to hear what you’ve just said. However, this brings me to the reservation I was making earlier.” Greg was once again alerted to Larry’s tone.
    “Auberg and Layton’s paper was published in August before full disclosure of the university’s problem. Do you think the situation at Penn State could effect publishing a paper from our institution?”
    “Larry it never occurred to me to even consider such a question. The paper must be evaluated on its on own merits. Time will tell.”

    “Look what came in the morning’s mail?” Warren said to his colleague Brad.
    “Oh yes. Was expecting an extensive review and major contribution from Penn State’s Greg Johnson to our Special Edition on Global Waste Management.
    “You don’t think the publisher will be concerned?” Warren persisted.
    “Out of the question,” Brad replied. He settled back uncomfortably in his chair guiltily musing over how the publication date of the book Paterno by Joe Posnanski had been moved up after the scandal broke.



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