The Penn State child sex abuse scandal continues to have ramifications beyond Jerry Sandusky. According to USA Today, several university leaders are rejecting the findings in a report by former FBI Director Louis Freeh that officials covered up evidence of Sandusky’s crimes.

Keith Masser, chairman of Penn State’s board of trustees, told USA Today's editorial board that the coverup allegations in the Freeh report against the late head coach Joe Paterno, former university President Graham Spanier, former Athletic Director Tim Curley and former Vice President Gary Schultz was simply “speculation” and nothing more.

Masser also asserted that the university had implemented 115 out of 119 recommendations in the Freeh report, but that he would leave the decision on any coverup to the courts.

Keith Eckel, another university trustee, added that he was "surprised that … Freeh came to conclusions as far as responsibility.''

Eckel expanded on his initial comment in an interview with PennLive. “Comments were made as far as the conclusions Judge Freeh reached as far as the culpability of individuals,” Eckel said. “We didn't, nor did we ever, feel that that was our responsibility. We’re not challenging Judge Freeh’s conclusions. We’re only indicating that those conclusions have no role in our implementation of Freeh’s recommendations.”

As CNN points out, the Penn State board of trustees recently authorized the university to offer monetary settlements to Sandusky's victims.

"Today's action is yet another important step toward the resolution of claims from Sandusky's victims," Penn State President Rodney Erickson said in a statement. "As we have previously said, the university intends to deal with these individuals in a fair and expeditious manner, with due regard to their privacy."

The number of settlements and the amount of money involved has not been announced.

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