Pennsylvania Congressman Charlie Dent (District 15) and Congressman Glen Thompson (District 5) sent a joint letter Monday to the President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association asking him to reinstate the forty scholarships that were taken from Penn State as part of the NCAA sanctions or return money equal to the cost to the university. In the letter, they question how preventing 40 student athletes, who had no connection to the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal, from receiving a quality education from Penn State can be supported by the NCAA’s mission.
Congressman Dent said, “I want to make it clear to the NCAA who they are really hurting with this scholarship reduction. It’s not Jerry Sandusky and it’s not the University. They are hurting young people who are completely innocent of anything relating to the Sandusky situation and who through no fault of their own are being denied a chance to get a great education.”
Sandusky is serving 30 years in prison for abusing boys. Three top Penn State Administrators are also facing trial for allegedly covering up Sandusky’s crime.