<p>Spanier reacted just as swiftly and decisively in this instance as he did while he was President of the University of Nebraska when Lawrence Phillips played for Tom Osborne. Lawrence Phillips had a long, inglorious record of run-ins with the law including several domestic violence altercations against his girlfriend, and the Husker team as a whole had MULTIPLE legal infractions. Spanier didn’t have the stones to stand up to Osborne, who’s power as the coach at Nebraska is remarkably similar to the empire JoePa built in Happy Valley. A leopard can’t change his spots, even if he changes his locale.</p>
<p>While mini’s characterization of Penn State is about as accurate as Disney’s characterization of Pocahontas, Spanier’s position is indefensible. While there are some issues with his story that need to be resolved, his awareness of the issue seems to be well established in the email train, to the point that he himself acknowledges culpability - claiming ignorance now simply does not track. Given his position and training, there is no reason why the level of concern reflected in the emails should not have translated into turning the matter over to the police and substantial preemptve action taken to limit Sandusky’s ability to harm more kids.</p>
<p>LasMa, Tutu–Spanier did try to explain away both 1998 and 2001 in his New Yorker interview with Jeff Toobin. It’s lengthy and I recommend reading the whole thing. </p>
<p>Some key excerpts:</p>
<p>
Read more [Former</a> Penn State President Graham Spanier Speaks : The New Yorker](<a href=“Former Penn State President Graham Spanier Speaks | The New Yorker”>Former Penn State President Graham Spanier Speaks | The New Yorker)</p>
<p>So that’s Spanier’s effort to explain away his inaction and the emails. I can just imagine what his defence would be if the emails hadn’t been preserved.</p>
<p>On a little bit lighter side, the song “Sweet Caroline” is out and no longer will be played at Penn State football game. It is unclear whether the lyrics has something to do with the decision:</p>
<p>“Those lyrics – “Reachin’ out, touchin’ me, touchin’ you” – could be construed as inappropriate after a jury convicted former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky on 45 counts of child-sex abuse.”</p>
<p>[Penn</a> State Nittany Lions cut ‘Sweet Caroline’ from game days - ESPN](<a href=“http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8308423/penn-state-nittany-lions-cut-sweet-caroline-game-days]Penn”>Penn State Nittany Lions cut 'Sweet Caroline' from game days - ESPN)</p>
<p>And as a result, there will be more opportunities for the band to play. :)</p>
<p>^^ Sounds like another Onion article!</p>
<p>About time! That song belongs to the Red Sox!</p>
<p>^^^ indeed it does :)</p>
<p>The ridiculous dancing around the issue, denying why they are taking it off the playlist, yet unable to name one other song being removed, just makes them look like idiots. For crying out loud, everyone knows what’s happened, why it’s in bad taste to play the song, and pretending like nobody realizes this is just silly. Here’s a thought…just pretend we’re all going to talk about this like grown ups at the PSU athletic department and just be upfront when asked. “Well, considering the events at PSU we have to be very sensitive to what we present to the community, of course we are reviewing everything.” That’s how adults answer that question.</p>
<p>PSU is deep in denial on many levels.</p>
<p>Ohio State fans can get themselves the newest, coolest shirt: It says “I’d rather shower at Penn State than cheer for the Wolverines”. Because it’s never too early to use child abuse as a punchline in football culture. (I would link to where I saw this, but I think it’s a blog. Jezebel? The women’s rights-and-culture site?)</p>
<p>edited to add that apparently LSU, Nebraska, and Iowa have shirts as well with this hilarious text. Although LSU’s has a grammatical error.</p>
<p>I’m a U of M alumnus myself, but I’m sure you will find some with poor judgment at every school, including OSU.</p>
<p>Removing the song “Sweet Caroline” from games just further demonstrates PSUs inability to fully comprehend the events surrounding Sandusky. Reaching out, touching me, touching you, in the context of that song, has absolutely nothing to do with abuse. THIS is what they are going to expend energy on? Really? Good God.</p>
<p>It does indeed seem like misplaced energy & makes you wonder why they even had that song in the 1st place. In any case, hope more efforts are seriously directed to address what allowed this abuse to occur for so long without safeguards for the poor vulnerable kids.</p>
<p>Very unfortunate that tshirts are exploiting abuse. 
Utterly tasteless & furthering poor judgment.</p>
<p>
Yes, Jane. I know Spanier has attempted to explain away his actions or lack of action in 1998 and 2001, but he hasn’t concocted a reason for failing to at least investigate Sandusky after being notified in 2009 that the DA’s office was looking into Sandusky. Spanier did * absolutely nothing* between 2009 and the end of 2011 when the grand jury report went public.</p>
<p>Spanier knows no one w/ an IQ above room temperature believes Curley and Schultz told him that Sandusky’s showering w/ little boys was mere “horseplay”. Spainer’s interviews and attorney’s letters are a not-so-subtle way of reminding Curley and Schultz his defense is the same as theirs and they better stick w/ the lie.</p>
<p>some ex-faulty speak up … [Penn</a> State faculty group disputes NCAA sanctions - ESPN](<a href=“http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8311415/penn-state-faculty-group-disputes-ncaa-sanctions]Penn”>Penn State faculty group disputes NCAA sanctions - ESPN)</p>
<p>[As</a> season opens, how will Penn State handle Paterno’s death? | Detroit Free Press | freep.com](<a href=“http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/57382654?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Michigan%20State%20Spartans|p]As”>http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/57382654?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Michigan%20State%20Spartans|p)</p>
<p>As long as the likes of Spanier have any affiliation with Penn State, the rest of us have every right to wonder if the school still doesn’t truly appreciate the magnitude of what happened there. Penn State is now the most notorious and most watched campus on Earth. Let’s hope school officials start acting like they know it.</p>
<p>This has nothing about Sandusky but should make you VERY worried about a future PSU student.</p>
<p>[Accreditation</a> warning issued to Penn State Nittany Lions - ESPN](<a href=“http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8267436/accreditation-warning-issued-penn-state-nittany-lions]Accreditation”>Accreditation warning issued to Penn State Nittany Lions - ESPN)</p>
<p>AND</p>
<p>[Penn</a> State accreditation in jeopardy over sex abuse scandal - CNN](<a href=“http://articles.cnn.com/2012-08-14/us/us_penn-state-accreditation_1_freeh-report-penn-state-jerry-sandusky]Penn”>http://articles.cnn.com/2012-08-14/us/us_penn-state-accreditation_1_freeh-report-penn-state-jerry-sandusky)</p>
<p>Interesting that while the former faculty blast the Freeh report and the NCAA, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education considers pulling PSU’s accreditation.</p>
<p>@ egelloc80 - A quick search will show you that the CNN article was posted here, and discussed, on 8/14, when the story broke.</p>
<p>I respectfully disagree about the removal of ‘Sweet Caroline’ from the playlist. I think the denial of the athletic department of why it was removed is just plain stupid. Removing it was the right thing to do. The song is recognizable and people know those lyrics. They lyrics are obviously in poor taste when PSU has an elephant in the room named Jerry Sandusky. Are they out of context for the song? Does that matter? PSU can’t move a stapler that someone isn’t looking for the meaning in it and picking it apart. We have 8,340 posts here, most of it on substantial stuff, but some just picking. We are watching. Should they be looking at the bigger picture? You bet, but if they miss the small things they will be crucified nonetheless.</p>