HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Corbett administration on Friday asked a state appellate court to halt the release of hundreds of pages of e-mails sent between former secretary of education Ron Tomalis, Penn State officials and top aides to the governor. The 644 pages of public records in the hands of the Department of Education were … […]

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Penn State will ask a state appellate court Wednesday to stop the Department of Education from releasing about 150 pages of e-mails between former secretary of education Ron Tomalis and investigators working for Louis Freeh. Penn State alumnus Ryan Bagwell sought the information in July 2013 through a Right-to-Know Law request on … […]

A Penn State alumnus has asked a Pennsylvania appellate court to release a series of e-mail exchanges between prosecutors and investigators working for Louis J. Freeh. The appeal, filed by Ryan Bagwell last week in Harrisburg’s Commonwealth Court, seeks to overturn the Attorney General’s finding that 12 e-mail conversations and an undisclosed number of other records … […]

Yesterday, Penn Staters for Responsible Stewardship chose six candidates to vie for its coveted 2014 endorsement. They were chosen from among a pool of 15 applicants which I was not a part of. That’s because I ultimately decided not to seek the endorsement. The reason for my decision was pretty simple. A series of events … […]

State College, Pa. – Penn State university filed papers in two appeals last week to prevent the state Department of Education from releasing university records. In one case, the university wants to conceal about 700 pages of correspondence between the Secretary of Education, trustee Ken Frazier, investigators for Louis J. Freeh and other PSU attorneys. In the other, … […]

Ryan Bagwell, founder of the Penn State Sunshine Fund, provided the following update to contributors yesterday. Bagwell v. Dept. of Education I As you may know, this is the landmark case that re-established our right to obtain records from ex-officio trustees like the Secretary of Education and the Governor of Pennsylvania. After the Commonwealth Court’s … […]

Ryan Bagwell, founder of the Penn State Sunshine Fund, provided the following update to contributors yesterday. Last week, something unexpected happened – Tom Corbett’s office released 88 pages of documents. The records show, among other things, how the Corbett administration tried to shape a key board statement about why it fired Joe Paterno and Graham Spanier. … […]

Ryan Bagwell, founder of the Penn State Sunshine Fund, provided the following update to contributors yesterday. Suit filed against the Philadelphia District Attorney As you may know, the Office of Open Records ordered the Philadelphia District Attorney in November to release correspondence with several individuals associated with the Sandusky investigation. The DA has not released … […]

Madison, Wis. – A Penn State University alumnus has launched a legal fund to help pay for efforts to improve transparency at his alma mater. The Penn State Sunshine Fund will distribute money for legal and lobbying activities with the goal of eliminating the secrecy that persists at Old Main. The initiative was started by … […]

Madison, Wis. – Penn State University filed papers this week to keep records related to its Sandusky investigation from becoming public. Writing that the release of some emails sent to trustees would cause “substantial harm,” univeristy lawyers intervened in an appeal that challenged a decision by the Department of Education to withhold some records under … […]

What: Oral arguments before Pa. Commonwealth Court in Bagwell v. Dept. of Education When: Tomorrow – Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 9:30 a.m. Where: Pennsylvania Judicial Center, 601 Commonwealth Ave., Harrisburg, Pa., 17106 The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court will hear oral arguments tomorrow in a case that will decide whether the public has a right to access … […]

Madison, Wis, Jan. 10 – A Penn State alumnus today called on top Pennsylvania officials to stop blocking his efforts to obtain public records about Penn State. Immediately releasing state and university records would shed significant light on how officials responded to child abuse allegations, said Ryan Bagwell, an alumnus who’s been trying to obtain … […]

Madison, Wis., Feb. 6, 2013 – The Pennsylvania Department of Education filed a  lawsuit last week to block access to contracts it says it doesn’t have. Though Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis swears he doesn’t have any agreements with the law firm of Louis J. Freeh, the Penn State trustee who co-led the oversight of Freeh’s … […]

Middleton, Wis. – A Penn State alumnus this morning filed a lawsuit to stop state officials from keeping public records about the Sandusky scandal secret. Ryan Bagwell, a 2002 graduate, wants the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court to overturn a ruling by the state Office of Open Records that allowed Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis to withhold … […]

Middleton, Wis. – Ryan Bagwell, a former candidate for Penn State trustee, issued the following statement today in response to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s story about a potential candidate for the university’s empty board seat. “Today I was disappointed to read that a group of Penn State activists wants another Wall Street executive to fill a … […]

Madison, Wis. (April 6,2012) – A Board of Trustees candidate today criticized Anthony Lubrano’s decision to endorse a corporate executive and a candidate who lacks a clear plan for reform. In an e-mail sent to candidates yesterday, Lubrano urged a supporter to vote against two other alumni who aren’t part of his officially endorsed slate. “His choices … […]

I am deeply honored to have secured a position on the alumni trustee election ballot. Being among such an enormous group of committed Penn Staters is truly humbling. While all of the candidates boast impressive backgrounds, well-dressed resumes shouldn’t lead alumni to their trustees of choice. We must elect candidates with fresh perspectives and new … […]

Ryan Bagwell, a candidate for Penn State’s Board of Trustees,  released the following statement in response to today’s board meeting. “Today I was disappointed at the election of another Wall Street insider to lead Penn State’s Board of Trustees. Though she was touted by her peers as being devoted to reform, Wall Street executives aren’t … […]

Madison, Wis. – Almost every member of an elite group of Penn State trustees would retain their positions this year under a plan being floated by the board’s president, according to a secret meeting agenda released today. Membership on the trustees’ so-called “Executive Committee” would grow to 10 under President Steve Garban’s plan, and be … […]

Middleton, Wis – A candidate for Penn State’s Board of Trustees today called for limits on the number of terms a board member can serve. Trustees of the 32-member board would serve no more than two consecutive three-year terms under Ryan Bagwell’s plan for ethics and accountability, which he released today. “Without term limits, the … […]

Ryan Bagwell, a candidate for Penn State’s Board of Trustees, released the following statement in response to news reports about university memos obtained by the Associated Press. “Today I was alarmed and saddened by calls from Chairman Garban and Vice Chairman Surma to concentrate even more power among a handful of members of the Board … […]

Middleton, Wisc. – A candidate for Penn State’s Board of Trustees today unveiled plans to open university records to the public, and called on lawmakers to delay legislation that would lessen the competitiveness of some Pennsylvania colleges. Ryan Bagwell’s plan would adopt Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law as an official Penn State policy, with modifications … […]

Madison, Wis., Dec. 26 – A Penn State alumnus announced his campaign for the Board of Trustees today, promising to bring leadership, integrity and transparency to the board. Madison, Wis., resident Ryan Bagwell is making a run for the 32-member group because he disagrees with the board’s handling of the recent child sexual abuse scandal. … […]

Dear friends, The past several weeks have been tragic for members of the Penn State family. The sudden demise of a respected university president, two highly regarded administrators and a legendary coach shook us to our core. We helplessly watched as angry pundits across the country viciously attacked our alma mater and destroyed nearly everything … […]