Wyatt Massey

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Penn State University

Wyatt Massey

Investigative Reporter

Email:: wmassey@spotlightpa.org
Twitter:: @News4Mass

Focus: Penn State University

Massey investigates how Penn State University operates, including its influence in the region and state. The university receives more than $300 million in funding from the state but evades most transparency measures under Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law. Massey scrutinizes the main University Park campus as well as the university’s 19 additional branch campuses.

A native of rural Wisconsin, Massey previously covered faith and religion for the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Southeast Tennessee.

Stories by Wyatt Massey

The HUB-Robeson Center on Penn State's University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania.

Penn State’s accrediting agency requests documents on student life, treatment of student-athletes

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

May 25, 2023

In private conversations, trustees balked at Penn State leadership’s initial budget proposal last year, which included a $245 million budget deficit.

Penn State’s budget proposal shifted after private meeting of trustees, university leadership

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

May 19, 2023

The lawn in front of Pattee Library and several liberal arts buildings on Penn State's University Park campus.

Penn State president’s special adviser accuses students of spreading misinformation

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

May 6, 2023

Old Main is pictured on the Penn State University campus in State College, Pa., on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

Penn State estimates that about 50 full-time, non-contract employees will lose their jobs this year

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

May 4, 2023

Old Main on Penn State's University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania.

Affordability remains top issue for Pa.’s state-related universities during budget process

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

April 24, 2023

Penn State head football coach James Franklin is presented with the Rose Bowl trophy as President Bendapudi looks on.

A private jet flew Penn State’s president to the Rose Bowl. Who paid for it?

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

April 6, 2023

Old Main on Penn State's University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania.

Penn State president says cuts will be deeper than anticipated as leaders finalize layoff plans

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

March 16, 2023

The Nittany Lion statute on Penn State's University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania.

Can the public know if outside groups are paying Penn State salaries?

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA

March 10, 2023

The Beta Theta Pi fraternity house on Penn State's University Park campus, where Timothy Piazza died in 2017.

Six years after hazing death, Penn State plans to drop the Greek life oversight it championed

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

March 2, 2023

The lawn in front of Pattee Library and several liberal arts buildings on Penn State's University Park campus.

Penn State English teaching faculty say they aren’t paid a living wage

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Feb. 27, 2023

Penn State University students participate in THON in February 2022 at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania.

What the public can and can’t know about Four Diamonds, beneficiary of Penn State THON’s fundraising

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA

Feb. 16, 2023

Old Main on Penn State's University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania.

Penn State’s Lion Ambassadors were accused of hazing. Why isn’t it on the hazing report?

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Feb. 2, 2023

Pennsylvania State Police on horseback try to control a crowd on Penn State's campus.

Penn State University has not reimbursed Pa. State Police for security at Proud Boys event

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Jan. 27, 2023

Transparency Tracker

University police responded to 2020 protests for greater racial justice by pledging to be more transparent with arrest and use of force data. But where is it?

What happened to the arrest, use of force data Penn State police promised to release?

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Jan. 10, 2023

Pattee Library and surrounding buildings on Penn State's University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania.

Penn State distances itself from past diversity proposals while launching similar efforts

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Dec. 16, 2022

Old Main on Penn State's University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania.

Penn State trustees heard university’s diversity plan in secret 2021 gathering

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Dec. 15, 2022

How often are Penn State’s private planes flying during a budget crunch?

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Dec. 6, 2022

Old Main on Penn State's University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania.

Hundreds of Penn State faculty are publicly and privately questioning university leadership

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Nov. 11, 2022

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi has often referenced the “glass cliff” that she and other leaders faced. The risk of failure is high. The edges of the cliff are transparent and could be anywhere.

Penn State’s new president led a Kentucky university through crises. This is the story of her high-wire act.

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Nov. 1, 2022

“I have determined that enhancing support for current efforts by people who know Penn State best will be more impactful than investing in a new venture, and so we will not pursue efforts to launch a Center for Racial Justice,” Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said Wednesday.

Penn State cancels its Center for Racial Justice after faculty push for funding decision

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Oct. 28, 2022

Faculty leading a search for the center’s director were told last month that Penn State had not allocated funding for the racial justice initiative, once deemed “just the beginning.”

Penn State wavers on funding for Center for Racial Justice, a key commitment following 2020 protests

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Oct. 12, 2022

Transparency Tracker

Penn State’s head football coach makes a guaranteed $7 million a year, but he doesn’t appear on the university’s required list of top 25 highest-salaried employees.

Why doesn’t James Franklin show up on Penn State’s list of highest-paid employees?

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Oct. 10, 2022

Bloomsburg University

Where governor candidates Mastriano, Shapiro stand on college funding, transparency, and debt forgiveness

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Oct. 6, 2022

Penn State, like many universities, does not disclose the financial values of its students’ NIL contracts.

Schools like Penn State self-police student-athlete endorsement deals

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Sept. 28, 2022

While it’s common for boards to cover the cost of doing business, details of the spending come as the university raises tuition and slashes spending to overcome a $127 million budget deficit.

Amid budget crunch, Penn State trustees spent nearly $318,000 on meals, lodging, and more for meetings

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Sept. 23, 2022

Penn State’s Board of Trustees claims a legal exception allows some of its most influential leaders to meet regularly in private. Media law lawyers say the practice might violate Pennsylvania law.

Regular private meetings among top Penn State trustees may be violating Pa.’s transparency law

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Sept. 15, 2022

Transparency Tracker

Just days after announcing a hiring freeze, Penn State created a new office and hired a new vice president. Here’s what the university has to say about that decision.

Why did Penn State create a new VP position during a hiring freeze?

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Sept. 12, 2022

People walk across Old Main lawn on the Penn State campus on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.

Penn State won’t answer key questions about its handling of sexual extortion involving student athletes

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Aug. 2, 2022

Wyatt Massey

Meet Wyatt Massey, Penn State investigative reporter for Spotlight PA State College

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

July 6, 2022