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Report: Penn State President Spanier Will Resign Or Be Forced Out

EASTON, Pa. (CBS/AP) -- Online petitions surfaced almost immediately after news broke of the sex abuse scandal at Penn State, calling for the resignation of PSU President Graham Spanier's. Today, reports indicate, his tenure could be coming to an end.

One newspaper is reporting that Penn State President Graham Spanier's term in office is nearly at an end.

According to an Associated Press report which cites The Express-Times of Easton, a person close to the university board of trustees said Spanier will either resign or be voted out by trustees by the end of the day.

VIEW: Complete Coverage Of The Penn State Sex Abuse Scandal

Citing the unidentified person, it reported that an interim president, most likely Rodney Erickson, the university's executive vice president and provost, would be appointed and a search for a permanent replacement would begin.

This latest development comes just hours after head football coach Joe Paterno announced he would retire after this season.

The calls for both to be removed from their positions stem from an ongoing child sexual abuse scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, 67.

Sandusky is accused of sexually assaulting several children while on Penn State's campus.

In addition, athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz are facing perjury charges for statements made during the grand jury investigation.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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