I'd forgotten the university and I've been hearing about the story for weeks. And nobody would know about it at all if they hadn't been fired. So I think the reputational concerns are way overblown.
I think regionally this story is still a big deal, especially in a more blue-collar sales role.
Yeah, people perceive and retain things much differently if its happening in the local area or if its somewhere else, regardless of how much they look into the story.