Centre Focus: NCAA sanctions and the public price of flu

Video posted March 31, 2013 in News by Centre Focus

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Last summer’s crippling and unprecedented NCAA sanctions against Penn State University continue to impact  everything from area businesses to the economy of entire communities in Central Pennsylvania.

Public affairs reporters re-examine the sanctions, the precedent-setting lawsuit against the NCAA sanctions, and the ongoing impact  on the business economy.

Hosts Chris Chun and Paige Waiselewski, along with Victoria Wain and Jasmine Janifer introduce team coverage of the NCAA sanctions  a well as the financial and personal impact of a perennial public health problem in the area. 

Also in this program, the common flu and another strain called Norovirus have seriously impacted area employers, schools and hospitals most of the winter and spring.  Both viruses have kept some segments of the population at home for days or even weeks and have cost public and private employers thousands in lost productivity.


NCAA SANCTIONS IMPACT BUSINESS ECONOMY AND PENN STATE BRAND

The public and economic damage from the Jerry Sandusky scandal and last summer’s crippling NCAA sanctions, continues to  negatively  impact Penn State and the surrounding region.  That’s what the Centre Focus team learned in the winter and spring of 2013.

Reporter Mike Stehlin along with team members  Lauren O’Malley, Vicoria Wain and Mirella Wells, examine the long term economic impact by talking with area business owners, State Senator Jake Corman and Penn State marketing experts to find out how damaging the NCAA sanctions have been when it comes to the  area’s economy and the Penn State brand.

THE GOVERNOR’S NCAA LAWSUIT AND ITS FATE

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett added a new chapter to the  NCAA sanctions  in January  2013,  when he and the commonwealth announced they would be suing the NCAA.  The reason is the alleged economic damages on Penn State and the entire state.

Reporter Rob Greissiner and team producers Tyler Estright, Nicole Salcito and Chris Chun,  look beyond the initial outrage to see how  a successful and precedent-setting lawsuit might impact the university and citizens of the commonwealth going forward.  Although some veteran Penn Stater’s including historical Lou Prado, generally support the lawsuit, some think it’s being done for selfish reasons.  The team talks with legal experts who believe the suit can be won on certain technicalities.


THE PUBLIC COST OF THE FLU

Flu-like symptoms took on new meaning in the winter and spring of 2013, as two different viruses reeked havoc in Central Pennsylvania and across the much of the nation. 

Centre Focus reporter Paige Wasilewski along with Jessica Davidson, Ami Lighcap and Jasmine Janifer take a close look at both viruses which have  kept thousands of people out of the workforce and school and have proved deadly for some. 

The latest strain of the flu and the Norovirus is part of a nationwide epidemic for much of the winter and spring. 

Health experts at Penn State and at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta explain to the Centre Focus team,  how a new strain of a stomach virus called Nororvirus, has made the problem much worse with no current effective vaccine for that strain. 

About the Contributors

mirellawells's photo

mirellawells

Senior / Broadcast Journalism

Mirella Wells is a senior from Yardley, Pa. majoring in broadcast journalism with minors in both history and English. She is an active member of the ComRadio news team as a reporter, anchor and most recently a producer. She is a hard working student who pays great attention to detail in her writing and work. She worked as an intern for WBCB 1490 in Levittown, PA. After graduation, she aspires to be a reporter for a local radio or television station in the Philadelphia area.

Tyler Estright's photo

Tyler Estright

2013 Graduate / Broadcast Journalism

Tyler Estright is an aspiring broadcaster and media relations specialist with a passion for sports media and background in kinesiology. He’s been involved in many aspects of media including broadcasting, reporting, media relations, editing and producing.

Victoria Wain's photo

Victoria Wain

Senior / Broadcast Journalism

Victoria Wain is a senior from Hershey, Pa. majoring in broadcast journalism with a minor in history. She is an active member of the ComRadio news team as a reporter and anchor. She is a current intern for B94.5 in State College. After graduation, she aspires to be a reporter for a radio or television station.

Lauren O'Malley's photo

Lauren O'Malley

2013 Graduate / Broadcast Journalism

I am a broadcast journalism major graduating in Spring 2013. As a broadcast student, in my future professional field of business, I would be interested in reporting as a field reporter or investigative journalist.​

Jasmine Janifer's photo

Jasmine Janifer

Senior / Broadcast Journalism

I am currently a senior Broadcast Journalism major and Sociology minor at Penn State University. My main career focus is to work in the social media industry. I have taken communication courses at Penn State that have prepared and strengthened my skills in writing as well as broadcasting. I have participated on a showed called “The-U” with the PSU-TV club on campus during my junior year and I have written several fashion articles for an online blog called The Urban Revival.