The University has not made a decision about the future of the Joe Paterno '50 Award in the week since Paterno was fired from Pennsylvania State University in light of a sex scandal involving his former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
Marisa Quinn, vice president for public affairs and University relations, wrote in an email to The Herald that the situation at Penn State was "new and unsettled." The University will track the developments at Penn State before taking any action related to the award, which has been presented to an outstanding first-year male athlete since 1991, she wrote.
The Big Ten Conference, of which Penn State is a member, decided to remove Paterno's name from its championship trophy Monday. The trophy, formerly called the Stagg-Paterno Championship Trophy, will now be called the Stagg Championship Trophy.
Chancellor Emeritus Artemis Joukowsky '55 P'87, chairman of the Brown Sports Foundation, said last week he did not want the University to "abandon" Paterno, according to the Associated Press.
Joukowsky was unavailable for comment.
