Penn State Scandal: Pension Payments to Sandusky and Schultz Will Haunt School

It's been more than a week since news broke about the allegations of sexual abuse by former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky. As the dust continues to settle, more frustrating details are beginning to emerge.

For example, Sandusky and Gary Schultz, who is also involved in the scandal due to his lack of action, are still going to receive their pension payments despite their alleged actions (via Penn Live).

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When he retired, Sandusky opted to take a lump-sum pension payment of $148,271 from the State Employees’ Retirement System. The rest of his pension is being paid out monthly and is $58,898 annually.

Schultz could be far more richly paid. He elected to receive a $421,847 lump-sum payment at the time of his retirement in 2009, after nearly 39 years of service. He also receives a monthly pension payment of $27,558–nearly the cost of tuition for two in-state freshmen at State College. That comes to nearly $331,000 a year.

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Although the process to end those payments is likely complicated and will need to await a verdict, every time the college issues a check to those individuals, it will be like a punch to the gut. Not to mention a constant reminder of an event the college is desperately trying to overcome.

The healing process, which began with Saturday's football game and Sunday's church service, is going to take years and the last thing anybody involved with the university wants is a lasting memory of Penn State's darkest moment.

A committee was formed to look over everything involved with the scandal and decide the best course of action moving forward. Hopefully pension alternatives are discussed.

Penn State needs to wipe its hands clean of all things Sandusky as quickly as possible, that's why Joe Paterno was let go so swiftly, even after attempting to save his job until season's end.

The school needs to show zero tolerance for anybody involved to prove to outsiders it is serious about reform. Even if the decision is unpopular among current students.

Everybody who has been charged still has a day in court, which is important to remember, but the sooner Penn State can discover a way to get Sandusky and Schultz off its payroll, the more accelerated the recovery process can occur.