Family Life

05.04.12 | Bob Price

The election, the first since the board's controversial dismissal of revered head football coach Joe Paterno in the days after his former assistant, Jerry Sandusky, was charged Nov. 5 in a serial child molestation case, drew a record amount of participation from both candidates and alumni.

No fewer than 86 candidates entered the running for board seats, and 37,563 Penn State alums have cast ballots since voting started on April 10. Both numbers are records for Penn State.

Still, voters are likely to find that change is incremental. This year's alumni elections cover just three of the seats on the 32-member board, though some additional new faces may be added through designation of two nominees apiece from the state's business and agricultural communities.

Gov. Tom Corbett also gets to make two appointments this year, but his spokesman said today that Corbett is not ready to make his selections yet.

Sandusky is scheduled to stand trial next month on more than 50 criminal counts. He has maintained his innocence.