Wyatt Massey
@news4mass.bsky.social
Investigative reporter, writer, Wisconsin rube.
Signal: news4mass.25
Email: wyatt.massey@proton.me
Signal: news4mass.25
Email: wyatt.massey@proton.me
Happy to share that @columjournreview.bsky.social mentioned our Penn State Cancer Institute project in its 'Laurels and Darts' newsletter today.
December 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Happy to share that @columjournreview.bsky.social mentioned our Penn State Cancer Institute project in its 'Laurels and Darts' newsletter today.
November 20, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Also! The court said Penn State must unredact this document.
Penn State has argued releasing the information would “create distrust and confusion” or “damage employee morale and retention.”
The court ruled that “such vague jargon and conclusory statements fall woefully short” of proving harm.
Penn State has argued releasing the information would “create distrust and confusion” or “damage employee morale and retention.”
The court ruled that “such vague jargon and conclusory statements fall woefully short” of proving harm.
October 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Also! The court said Penn State must unredact this document.
Penn State has argued releasing the information would “create distrust and confusion” or “damage employee morale and retention.”
The court ruled that “such vague jargon and conclusory statements fall woefully short” of proving harm.
Penn State has argued releasing the information would “create distrust and confusion” or “damage employee morale and retention.”
The court ruled that “such vague jargon and conclusory statements fall woefully short” of proving harm.
The pending acquisition of WPSU by @whyy.org could mean some notable changes to the workforce of State College's public media outlet.
I spoke with WHYY's CEO about them for this week's Talk of the Town newsletter.
I spoke with WHYY's CEO about them for this week's Talk of the Town newsletter.
October 21, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The pending acquisition of WPSU by @whyy.org could mean some notable changes to the workforce of State College's public media outlet.
I spoke with WHYY's CEO about them for this week's Talk of the Town newsletter.
I spoke with WHYY's CEO about them for this week's Talk of the Town newsletter.
Today's Spotlight PA newsletter update: All the things happening with Penn State's board in the next few weeks.
September 2, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Today's Spotlight PA newsletter update: All the things happening with Penn State's board in the next few weeks.
The records include a multi-paragraph rationale for closing each of the seven campuses.
Below is a summary for each location.
Below is a summary for each location.
May 13, 2025 at 8:38 PM
The records include a multi-paragraph rationale for closing each of the seven campuses.
Below is a summary for each location.
Below is a summary for each location.
Penn State trustees discussed campus closures at this morning's executive session. That's all we really know (transcript of the board chair's comments at the public meeting below).
Penn State hasn't yet announced the date of the meeting, nor released any other details. But the decision is coming.
Penn State hasn't yet announced the date of the meeting, nor released any other details. But the decision is coming.
May 9, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Penn State trustees discussed campus closures at this morning's executive session. That's all we really know (transcript of the board chair's comments at the public meeting below).
Penn State hasn't yet announced the date of the meeting, nor released any other details. But the decision is coming.
Penn State hasn't yet announced the date of the meeting, nor released any other details. But the decision is coming.
Penn State's chapter of American Association of University Professors is officially asking the university to reverse its plan to close campuses.
"By neglecting to include faculty in decision making, the Penn State administration is also violating basic principles of shared governance."
"By neglecting to include faculty in decision making, the Penn State administration is also violating basic principles of shared governance."
April 23, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Penn State's chapter of American Association of University Professors is officially asking the university to reverse its plan to close campuses.
"By neglecting to include faculty in decision making, the Penn State administration is also violating basic principles of shared governance."
"By neglecting to include faculty in decision making, the Penn State administration is also violating basic principles of shared governance."
In this week's Talk of the Town newsletter, I wrote about how Penn State is disclosing even less financial information than previous years, what the change means, and the university's explanation for why.
March 6, 2025 at 3:18 PM
In this week's Talk of the Town newsletter, I wrote about how Penn State is disclosing even less financial information than previous years, what the change means, and the university's explanation for why.
Interesting analysis from a Penn State professor in this article.
February 27, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Interesting analysis from a Penn State professor in this article.
Thanks to a legal carve out, Penn State does not have to make public all the salaries of its employees.
But it does publish the salaries of the top 25 highest-paid employees.
You can see how the defensive coordinator's salary compares to the university president, CEO of the health system, etc.
But it does publish the salaries of the top 25 highest-paid employees.
You can see how the defensive coordinator's salary compares to the university president, CEO of the health system, etc.
January 27, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Thanks to a legal carve out, Penn State does not have to make public all the salaries of its employees.
But it does publish the salaries of the top 25 highest-paid employees.
You can see how the defensive coordinator's salary compares to the university president, CEO of the health system, etc.
But it does publish the salaries of the top 25 highest-paid employees.
You can see how the defensive coordinator's salary compares to the university president, CEO of the health system, etc.
Compared to University Park, the statewide system is more racially diverse, with a larger percentage of Asian, Black, and Hispanic students.
Additionally, more than 75% of students enrolled in a commonwealth campus are Pennsylvania residents, compared to just more than half at University Park. 6/
Additionally, more than 75% of students enrolled in a commonwealth campus are Pennsylvania residents, compared to just more than half at University Park. 6/
January 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Compared to University Park, the statewide system is more racially diverse, with a larger percentage of Asian, Black, and Hispanic students.
Additionally, more than 75% of students enrolled in a commonwealth campus are Pennsylvania residents, compared to just more than half at University Park. 6/
Additionally, more than 75% of students enrolled in a commonwealth campus are Pennsylvania residents, compared to just more than half at University Park. 6/
The full video of the interaction is in our story.
Penn State's communications office also would not give a straightforward answer.
Below is the full text of their response. 4/
Penn State's communications office also would not give a straightforward answer.
Below is the full text of their response. 4/
January 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
The full video of the interaction is in our story.
Penn State's communications office also would not give a straightforward answer.
Below is the full text of their response. 4/
Penn State's communications office also would not give a straightforward answer.
Below is the full text of their response. 4/
At a Penn State Faculty Senate meeting last week, university officials — including President Neeli Bendapudi and Margo DelliCarpini, vice president for commonwealth campuses — did not directly answer employees’ questions about possible campus closures.
Here's a clip from the meeting. 3/
Here's a clip from the meeting. 3/
January 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
At a Penn State Faculty Senate meeting last week, university officials — including President Neeli Bendapudi and Margo DelliCarpini, vice president for commonwealth campuses — did not directly answer employees’ questions about possible campus closures.
Here's a clip from the meeting. 3/
Here's a clip from the meeting. 3/
Uf da, Associated Press.
This is Old Main at Penn State (which is not included in the lawsuit). They probably meant to show Penn (which is).
This is Old Main at Penn State (which is not included in the lawsuit). They probably meant to show Penn (which is).
December 18, 2024 at 9:49 PM
Uf da, Associated Press.
This is Old Main at Penn State (which is not included in the lawsuit). They probably meant to show Penn (which is).
This is Old Main at Penn State (which is not included in the lawsuit). They probably meant to show Penn (which is).
This is the passage that’s stuck with me most.
December 5, 2024 at 1:36 PM
This is the passage that’s stuck with me most.
The other 15% of proposals tended to face limited opposition, even for major decisions like tuition increases and the university’s annual budgets that led to a $150 million deficit in 2022.
That deficit caused a partial hiring freeze, sweeping cuts, and employee buyouts across the state.
That deficit caused a partial hiring freeze, sweeping cuts, and employee buyouts across the state.
December 5, 2024 at 2:06 PM
The other 15% of proposals tended to face limited opposition, even for major decisions like tuition increases and the university’s annual budgets that led to a $150 million deficit in 2022.
That deficit caused a partial hiring freeze, sweeping cuts, and employee buyouts across the state.
That deficit caused a partial hiring freeze, sweeping cuts, and employee buyouts across the state.
Great work by @ryanequinn.bsky.social / @insidehighered.com on Penn State's reunification of its two law schools and all of the unanswered questions.
www.insidehighered.com/news/busines...
www.insidehighered.com/news/busines...
November 25, 2024 at 8:43 PM
Great work by @ryanequinn.bsky.social / @insidehighered.com on Penn State's reunification of its two law schools and all of the unanswered questions.
www.insidehighered.com/news/busines...
www.insidehighered.com/news/busines...
Palate cleanser for the *echo chamber*
November 22, 2024 at 10:33 PM
Palate cleanser for the *echo chamber*
Full respect to anyone taking time and space to get healthy, better, happy, whatever, but releasing this and going silent was truly wild.
November 22, 2024 at 3:50 PM
Full respect to anyone taking time and space to get healthy, better, happy, whatever, but releasing this and going silent was truly wild.
Alan Watts, “The Wisdom of Insecurity”
November 21, 2024 at 6:17 PM
Alan Watts, “The Wisdom of Insecurity”
The methodology for this analysis was detailed in our weekly newsletter, which you can sign up for here: www.spotlightpa.org/newsletters/...
November 21, 2024 at 4:36 PM
The methodology for this analysis was detailed in our weekly newsletter, which you can sign up for here: www.spotlightpa.org/newsletters/...
Our analysis also found that Penn State trustees’ public deliberations have recently been heavily weighted toward two topics: changes to the board’s bylaws and athletics-related proposals, including the stadium renovation, alcohol sales at athletics events, and renovations to a football building. 4/
November 21, 2024 at 3:32 PM
Our analysis also found that Penn State trustees’ public deliberations have recently been heavily weighted toward two topics: changes to the board’s bylaws and athletics-related proposals, including the stadium renovation, alcohol sales at athletics events, and renovations to a football building. 4/
For this analysis, we reviewed recordings of Penn State’s board meetings between 2019-2024 to track the total amount of discussion related to a vote.
Over that time, the full Penn State board met for nearly 49 hours and spent around 3 hours and 43 minutes, or 7.6%, of that time deliberating. 3/
Over that time, the full Penn State board met for nearly 49 hours and spent around 3 hours and 43 minutes, or 7.6%, of that time deliberating. 3/
November 21, 2024 at 3:32 PM
For this analysis, we reviewed recordings of Penn State’s board meetings between 2019-2024 to track the total amount of discussion related to a vote.
Over that time, the full Penn State board met for nearly 49 hours and spent around 3 hours and 43 minutes, or 7.6%, of that time deliberating. 3/
Over that time, the full Penn State board met for nearly 49 hours and spent around 3 hours and 43 minutes, or 7.6%, of that time deliberating. 3/
