<p>Thanks to you both. I just hope everyone who continues to post hear realize that words hurt. And for those students who have spent years working hard to get where they are, please don’t demean them by assuming they only care about football. I teach my son not to judge and not to bully. I really hope that others can do the same.</p>
<p>This is only because you, and others choose to listen to the small minority as opposed to the majority. There were not “too many” - if fact, there were very few. As the saying goes, there are bad apples in every bunch. Many of the students are upset over what happened that night - and are working tirelessly to prove they are better than that - that wasn’t what they’re about or how they want to be known. They are not being the “silent majority”. They are starting grassroot efforts to change laws, raise money, get involved. If you just open your eyes, you’d see that.</p>
<p>When we say, the actions or inactions of just a few people, remember who those people were and why they did what they did. The president, the head football coach, the head of campus police, and the athletic director, at minimum. These are just a few people. They were in charge.</p>
<p>I am sorry some adults are having to deal with the fallout of psu hiding of s pedophile in it’s midst. </p>
<p>But do I feel sorry for this college adultsz. Not really. I feel sorry for soldiers coming home with missing limbs. I feel sorry for people who can’t feed their kidsmor get medical care.</p>
<p>Are Penn state students getting personally bullied? How? Are they called names?</p>
<p><< ljrfrm - I’m sorry. College kids, 18-21yo, are being bullied, teased, and made fun of? By who? This is a legitimate question. >></p>
<p>Read the Internet - everywhere. The jokes, the demeaining comments, etc. You and I may have thick thin, but it’s not easy for everyone. My son made a comment in passing one day, something similar to “everyone hates us now”. Not a good feeling. People are so passionate about their opinions, words, etc. that they don’t stop to realize the impact those words have on others.</p>
<p>Seahorsesrock- Why is it so hard to understand that this is disturbing and hurtful to the majority of the Penn State students? It’s their COLLEGE! They chose it and have been proud of it for many reasons. I completely get it and I feel badly for the students. I really do. I think a lot of the generalizations are hurtful. It will change the environment for the students in many ways. I think there are too many people who have gone beyond shock and outrage about the acts of Sandusky and the administrators who protected his actions and are taking pleasure in slamming an entire university community.</p>
<p>I am not slamming the entire college. I just don’t feel bad for the students. So they are disappointed. They weren’t raped. </p>
<p>This is so not a big deal in their day to day lives. Its college. I have college kids. My girls love their school, but it’s not who they are. It’s where they went to school. Its where they got a great education. But they didn’t have their souls invested in a college. </p>
<p>Sure its gonna be tough, but not as tough as Sanduskys victims had it.</p>
<p>Put in perspective, a little lost pride in a college is nothing compared to the lost innocence of dozens of little kids, not to mention the physical harm.</p>
<p>I just don’t get taking so personally a college into ones heart, mind and being.</p>
<p>Running back Silas Redd, who last year set the record for most rushing yards ever by a Penn State sophomore, announced today he is transferring to USC for next season. This is a huge loss for Penn State football, though not unexpected. Redd was not among the group that had announced they were staying.</p>
<p>Seahorserock–of course what PSU students are going through is in no way comparable to what Sandusky’s victims went though/are still going through. But PSU students weren’t involved in that victimization.</p>
<p>ljrfrm - that was a very heartfelt post. It is easy to desensitize oneself to the feelings of others in situations like this. I don’t think anyone here is intentionally being cruel or callous, but perhaps your post will give some pause. While being bullied may be extreme, I don’t doubt for one second that, for now, going to Penn State has lost quite a bit of its prestige. And for those attending, that has to hurt.</p>
<p>First - my apologizing for taking so long to respond. I have been out of town and away from my computer - and it’s just a PITA to respond with my phone. So I am just trying to catch up on things.</p>
<p>As to your question about THON - yes and no.<br>
He has been involved in general fundraising activities, but he has always missed the big THON weekend because of his drum corps commitments. He usually flew out of State College on Friday afternoons and returned late Sunday evenings on those weekends. Just bad timing. Hoping that this coming year will have better timing.</p>
<p>goingmyway–not anything you said! What this parent is describing happening to her son. We can all have a different opinion. I just think what she described could be experienced as bullying. Being verbally put down, having one’s chosen school bashed. Not the same as being sexually abused, but it sure can hurt.</p>
<p>bc thank you for your well thought out, detailed post (page 511). I appreciate the details you included, it was very helpful. I did not understand the financial implications of the involvement with Second Mile–to my way of thinking you give money/time to a charity, but I understand the board positions being business contacts.</p>
<p>I do understand that by calling the police in 2001, the PSU squeakly clean image might have taken a hit, but I am not sure I agree that it would have been a big hit. Shock, outrage, throw the guy out might have gone a long way in 2001 to limit the impact to the football program, Paterno and most importantly, to PSU. Sandusky was at that time retired, the failure to convict in 1998 would have provided cover (ie–the DA didn’t find any reason to file charges, how were we to know?). Of course, hindsight is always 20/20.</p>