Thursday, November 10, 2011 michigandaily com Ann Arbor, Michigan BIG TEN FOOTBALL Paterno fired amid scandal after 46 years at Penn State Football coach and Penn State president dismissed from positions last night By STEPHEN J. NESBITT Daily Sports Editor The Penn State Board of Trustees fired legendary foot- ball coach Joe Paterno and Penn State University President Gra- ham Spanier amid a sex abuse scandal. At 10:14 p.m. yesterday, the Board of Trustees announced in an unanimous decision the immediate dismissal of Spanier and Paterno. "Joe Paterno is no longer the head coach, effective immediate- ly," said Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees John P. Surma. The 84-year-old Paterno had led the Nittany Lions since 1966 - he was both the longest-ten- ured and winningest coach in college football history. The announcement came in the wake of a sex abuse scan- dal that has centered around an ongoing investigation into for- mer Penn State defensive coor- dinator Jerry Sandusky's alleged abuse of young boys in his Sec- ond Mile nonprofit organization. Paterno was reportedly was made aware of a situation involv- ing Sandusky and a young boy in the showers at the Penn State football facility nine years ago. A graduate assistant notified Pater- no, and Paterno gave the report to Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley, saying the gradu- ate assistant had seen Sandusky "fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to the boy." Sandusky was told not to bring any more children from the Sec- ond Mile to campus. That was the only action taken. "I am absolutely devastated by the developments in this case," Paterno said in a statement released Wednesday. "I grieve for the children and their fami- lies, and I pray for their comfort and relief. "This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more." The Board of Trustee's deci- sion came 12 hours after Paterno released a statement stating his intentions to retire after the sea- son, which would allow him to See PATERNO, Page SA Republican presidential candidates former Penn. Sen. Rick Santorum, left, Rep. Michele Bachmann, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Mans. Gnv. Mitt Romney, businessman Herman Cain, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Rep. Ron Paul and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, before a debate at Oakland University last night. GOP hopefuls discuss, economy, student debt Presidential candidates debate at Oakland University By HALEY GLATTHORN Daily StaffReporter ROCHESTER, Mich. - Slated to focus on economic issues, the Republican presidential primary debate last night encompassed a wide range of topics including international affairs, health care and the federal student loan pro- gram. The debate, held at Oakland University, featured GOP candi- dates former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R- Minn.), former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Herman Cain, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.). When answering the debate's opening question, all the can- didates hesitated to promote financial support for Europe's struggling economy. Cain and Romney expressed a desire to focus on supporting the domestic economy over offering interna- tional economic aid. Romney dis- cussed his seemingly two-sided record offavoringabailoutforthe Detroit auto industry in2008 and then later retracting his support. "I care about this state and about auto industrylike - Iguess like no one else on this stage," Romney said. "My view with regards to the bailout was that whether it wasby President Bush or by President Obama, it was the wrong way to go. I said from the very beginning they should go through a managed bankruptcy See DEBATE, Page 5A GRADUATE STUDIES Students serve on nonprofit *boards Board Fellowship allows students to apply skills to real world experience By PAIGE PEARCY Daily StaffReporter As a board member for the Salvation Army's Eastern Mich- igan Division, University alum Tammie Jones has the oppor- tunity to contribute to strategic company decisions. Jones attends meetings, works on projects and offers her views on issues for the regional branch of the national organi- zation. However, unlike many of the other board members, Jones earned her first position on the board as a Board Fellow while pursuing her MBA at the " University. Jones served with a group of fellow graduate stu- dents who participated in the competitive Board Fellowship See NONPROFITS, Page 5A GOL GAPPA GAME FACE STATE LEGISLATION Anti-bullying bill causes contention House is rewriting bill to remove controversial clause By ANDREW SCHULMAN Daily StaffReporter State Rep. Rick Jones (R- Grand Ledge) is familiar with the troubles of bullied youth. His son, he said, was "pushed around" and tormented by bul- lies during his middle and high school years, and the grand- daughter of one of his close former colleagues commit- ted suicide after being bullied throughout high school. Jones said those experiences inspired him to sponsor an anti- bullying bill, which has raised controversy after a state caucus attorney added a provision to the bill prohibiting schools from giving punishments as a result of bullying in the form of "a state- ment of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction of a school employee, school volun- teer, pupil or a pupil's parent or guardian." The clause, some legislators say, condones and even authoriz- See BILL, Page 5A Students participate in an eating contest during Gol Gappa Night sponsored by the Punjabi Student Organization in Mason Hall yesterday. UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY 'U' begins project to improve cell phone service in buildings Increased coverage expected to be complete in 2013 By KATIE BURKE Daily StaffReporter Campus community mem- bers may become more closely connected due to a new Univer- sity effort to improve cell phone service. Over the next two years, University Information and Technology Services will work with cell phone providers like Verizon to improve cell phone reception in University build- ings, Michigan Stadium and the University Hospital. After a successful trial in five buildings on North Campus, permanent installation of cellular tech- nology started this month and is expected to be completed in 2013. Andrew Palms, executive director of Communications Systems and Data Centers at the University, said the change is due to complaints about poor cell phone coverage on campus. "A couple of years ago, it became clear we had a number of places that did not have good coverage ..." Palms said. "We decided it was time to do some- thing about it." The project aims to provide service in more buildings and increase the number of mobile devices the service area can handle, according to Palms. "In (Michigan) Stadium on a Monday, there's great cover- age," Palms said. "The problem is capacity. If you have 10 peo- ple in the stadium it's fine, but 100,000 is a problem." According to Paul Killey, executive director of informa- tion technology at the College of Engineering, the college is highly interested in the project and volunteered to be part of the trial. "The College of Engineering, See CELL PHONE, Page 2A Albk I WEATHER HI: 45 TOMORROW 3 GOT A NEWS TIP? NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail Robinson talks performance after loss at Iowa news@michigandaily.com and let us know. MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/THE GAME INDEX AP NEWS....................3A CLASSIFIEDS...............6A VoL CXXIl, No. 46 OPINION.....................4A SPORTS ...... ..........7A @201 The Michigan Daily N E W S..... . ........ . 5A THE B S IDE.. ..........1B michigondoily.com