State Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne/Carbon/Monroe) today released the following statement regarding the Senate's unanimous vote to confirm Kathleen L. Casey to the Penn State University Board of Trustees.

"While I have no reservations on today's vote to confirm a very highly-qualified nominee in Kathleen L. Casey to the Penn State University Board of Trustees, I strongly believe that the vote should have taken place after the General Assembly addresses the many issues with board governance at all of our state-related institutions.""We need to make certain that the nature and size of our University governing boards do not again foster an environment that can lead to the tragic outcomes that the world witnessed at Penn State.""The Penn State Board of Trustees has recently taken baby steps to change its structure of board governance - but they fall well short of the reforms that are necessary to improve the overall transparency and effectiveness of board governance. The shortcomings of the Board's action following the grand jury presentment against Jerry Sandusky, the release of the Freeh report, and the blind acceptance of unprecedented NCAA sanctions demand a full-throated response; yet, what we have heard from the Board in its recent approval of minor reforms amounts to no more than a whisper.""The General Assembly must demand more answers from the Board on how they will address the shortcoming of the Freeh report; more answers on its cost to the University; and more answers on the broad implications of the harsh NCAA sanctions.""Only the full acceptance of necessary governance reform will move Penn State University forward, and I urge the Board of Trustees to recognize the will of its alumni base and embrace meaningful reform."