<p>This is a very good point. After all, according to the Grand Jury’s investigation the 1998 investigation was conducted under the oversight of the university’s legal dept. Penn State legal knew about Sandusky, the complaint and the investigation. </p>
<p>The Grand Jury also made a point of noting that the university’s chief lawyer is also chief lawyer for Sandusky’s charity. The fact that this person didn’t recuse them-self from the situation is, to me, one of the big aspects of this story that’s simply going unreported. </p>
<p>You’re an attorney and have two clients. Client A reports that someone might have a problem and might have done some inappropriate things on Client A’s premises. Client B employs said accused individual and the alleged victim is a child that’s in the professional care of Client B, and the child’s mother has filed a complaint. How is that not a MASSIVE conflict of interests!?!?!?!? That lawyer should be dis-barred.</p>
<p>Character is at the epicenter of all bad decisions or our lack of actions for that matter.IMHO, The rule of thumb is if it was my child, me, or my life what would I do, what would I like someone to do…usually the answer is pretty obvious.</p>
<p>It takes character, moral compass, bravery to do the right thing…Nobody says it is easy or rewarding.Obviously this crew had none of this. And please do not tell me about the Football trophies, the money given etc…It will never make up for the young lives that were altered. :)</p>
<p>I think that this is just one more layer in a very deep problem that is going to be exposed over the coming days. There was not one or two people that screwed up here, there were many people that screwed up. I believe the exposure has just started.</p>
<p>That is such a low standard, especially for an institution that holds itself in such high regard. Paterno himself said “I wish I had done more.”</p>
<p>I would not be surprised if the investigation uncovers others who had some type of insight into Sandusky and his actions…And it wouldn’t surprise me if major donors to the football program have ‘contributed’ to this coverup. ;)</p>
<p>Obviously, what took place at the school is beyond belief, but there is something about the almost unanimous vilification of Paterno by the posters here that make me wonder if there is a rush to judgement by an understandable emotional reaction . Maybe he deserves this opprobrium, but my contrarian instinct makes me feel that when everyone is ready to stick a fork in Paterno before all the facts are fully vetted, it might be worthwhile to withhold judgement until we hear more fully from Paterno and others involved in this sorry mess. </p>
<p>Although the case is different, I remember the McMartin Preschool child abuse case in Ca. in the early 1980’s, when the McMartin family was victimized by a hysterical reaction from the public and the media, which led to a 7 year persecution of this family, even though all the charges were proven to be unfounded. I wonder what the reaction would have been here if this website existed at the outset of that case.</p>
<p>Is there any information that may come up that will change your opinion or have you decided that Paterno has a lack of character just on the existing information?</p>
<p>I wonder how many PSU parents are happy seeing their children rioting at PSU, especially those who can be identified…Must make them real proud parents…For every one coherent student being interviewed there are several who can barely string a sentence together,you know,like, you know what i mean,like…</p>
<p>A column in today’s Miami Herald about a similar sexual abuse incident involving a football player at a local high school discusses how the culture of football has become more important than anything else.</p>
<p>parent57 and tom1944, even Paterno has stated publicly that he should have done more. He works with kids, and he has an obligation when he does that. And I personally do think that this is just the begining of the information that will be uncovered. As I said previously, there are many people at fault here.</p>
<p>Admitting you wish you had done more once you have found out the total picture of what Sandusky had done is not the same thing. I am sure everyone who ever met Sandusky wishes they had done more. Paterno may deserve the harshest critiscm but can we at least wait for the entire story.</p>
<p>Have any of you ever know anyone that was falsely accused of something- even something as minor as a transgression at work. If you did you should be willing to wait for the entire story to come out.</p>
<p>There was no “riot”. We have had a couple riots here, and know the difference. Our police department called the few arrests “minor”, there was little property damage, and the students/press corp dispersed when asked to around 2 am. Was there pepper spray and tear gas? Absolutely, that’s how you disperse and control several thousand 18-24yr olds crammed into a narrow street 5 blocks long. Students also assemble for other notable events and nobody is alarmed or surprised by last night. Was there bad behavior? Probably. But I would not characterize it as a violent riot. Drove through this morning on the way to work and there wasn’t any sign of anything unusual having happened. Our pretty victorian lights are all still up, ditto street signs and storefronts. Ask people in LA if that constitutes a riot. </p>
<p>It is easy to paint everything black and white from a distance. In the US, we claim to believe in the judicial system and due process. Paterno clearly demonstrated profoundly flawed judgement in not calling the police, as did EVERYONE else, but he was not charged with anything and the BOT used him as a scapegoat. Where is the outrage directed at Jerry Sandusky? Tim Curley and Schultz STILL HAVE A JOB at PSU but Joe is fired? I will not continue to beat this particular dead horse. Irate posters here can continue to vilify athletics and PSU, but as a local (and not a PSU grad) I will say to you: it might just be a simple as a mistake in judgement. Sure, it’s comforting and exciting and thrilling to imagine A Huge CoverUp because of Evil Athletics winning out over Noble Scholarship ____ (insert your child’s major here). However, I still believe, for Joe and Mike and their staff, it’s as simple as they were wrong. They know it. They own it. It’s appropriate for them to be fired.</p>
<p>Higher up, surely it was institutional culture – present too many places — that was self-serving. Criminal. Evil. Baaaaaad. We get it. We’re tired of the press, tired of the judgements, tired of being reduced to a bunch of drunk hicks who don’t get the sophisticated world of Out There. Before you feel too self-satisfied with all your righteous indignation, remember that these 20+ victims are OUR kids, OUR students, OUR neighbors and friends. These men who let this abuse continue are also our neighbors, our co workers, our coffee shop patrons. We are sick with grief and anger. Next time, God forbid, it might be your university, or your town, so use the moment to examine what your world is doing to prevent this from happening to you.</p>
<p>After the disgusting behavior of administrators, athletic staff, students, and boosters, perhaps they should just shut the place down for a week or so and fumigate it. </p>
<p>Although I would be willing to bet that had the same set of events occurred at any of the other athletic-shrines-masquerading-as-universities, pretty much the same reaction would have occurred.</p>
<p>tom1944, I think that knowing Sandusky was acting inappropriately in a shower with a 10 year old boy, in possibly a sexual nature, is more than enough for Paterno to know to make the appropriate decisions. He did not need more details than that to make sure the accusations were properly investigated.</p>
<p>tom and greenbutton, I agree. Besides, Paterno maintains that he was not made aware of the extent of the physical contact. The grand jury report bears it out. By firing Paterno, the university made the coverup accusation stick to Paterno. How is that fair?</p>
<p>vlines - What would be appropriate action by Paterno? He did contact the other officials to look into. Did Paterno tell them to cover it up? Sandusky was not his man at the time. It is not always clear where one crosses the line. I used to let my kid take a shower with a friend of ours when camping. I should be arrested for endangering my own kid.</p>
<p>The irony at this point is that the most despicable character (Sandusky!) in this case is getting his due process. But none of the others are. </p>
<p>As has been pointed out, few are saying Paterno did anything illegal, it was his lack of action that is offensive. I think he deserves to have the opportunity to defend his actions before he loses his job entirely. In all likelihood, he probably wouldnt have all that good of a case. And the result could very well be the same. But he should have the opportunity to present that case. </p>
<p>In this technological age, the court of public opinion passes judgment very quickly. The boards actions last night are based far more on damage control than anything else. They felt they had to act quickly in an attempt to quell the firestorm.</p>
<p>Greenbutton, I don’t for a second think that the BOT is done with cleaning house. Relieveing Paterno and Spanier of their jobs last night was an initial swift blow to prove to all that they are taking this seriously, and they mean business. There will be more to come as more unfolds. </p>
<p>I dont think Paterno was as much a scapegoat as much as he was a “symbol” to the BOT. Although the difference to some may be semantics in this case.</p>
<p>“And yes, one of my kids was in that long, long, long line of graduates getting their pictures taken with the statute of Joe Paterno on graduation day a few years ago.”</p>
<p>My son was also in that long line three years ago and he totally supports the decision of the trustees and is shaken to the core by the lack of response by one of his former heroes. He is ashamed and embarrassed by the behavior of the current students. The whole situation makes me sick to my stomach and so very sorry for the victims.</p>