<p>“One thing I haven’t seen discussed here or in the media – if the GA saw the assault, was he ever asked to provide a description of the child – something that could lead CPS or the police to leads on finding the victim? Did the investigation ever even get THAT far?”</p>
<p>There was no investigation at the time. If there had been one between 2002 and 2009, it would have been mentioned in the Grand Jury report. The problem just went away because it stayed within the circle, as far as the powers that be were concerned. The problem obviously did not go away for the victims.</p>
<p>There is one quote in that article that really says it all.</p>
<p>“It took a quarter-century of people not speaking out, or looking the other way, or rationalizing that led to Portland having complete belief in her dictatorial power.”</p>
<p>Sounds like Penn State has a systemic problem here.</p>
<p>this is really a massive tragedy. I just read the post about how many of the past football players have been convicted of criminal behavior. Why was this Paterno characater considred to be so “honorable?” I can’t figure it out.</p>
<p>I mean, this is the first I’ve heard of him, and as I hear his history, other than winning football games, I’m trying to figure out why he was considered to have integrity? I have no idea.</p>
<p>I do wonder whether the witnesses involved gave the matter that much thought. I suspect that their thought process was simply ‘I told X about it and if I go around X to report this outside, then I’m finished at this program. And I really want (or need) this job’.</p>
<p>I witnessed some spineless behavior, years ago, from boss-bullied people who literally could have walked down the street and gotten another job. It was very depressing, and it makes me very pessimistic about our moral strength in a lousy job market.</p>
<p>I think what we are seeing here are the lucky ones who had dream jobs in a strong athletic program who weren’t willing to stick out their necks and risk losing them. What they should have realized is that the moment they witnessed illegal or immoral behavior, their luck ran out, whether they chose to report the incidents, or wait until they came to light otherwise.</p>
<p>Yes, like that scene in a well-written play or novel where you recognize that a character’s life has changed forever and they don’t quite know it yet.</p>
<p>There are people in my life that are current students of PSU and alumni who can’t seem to deal with this in rational terms , further reinforcing my feelings that PSU is a cult more than a university
They cannot seperate their education from their experiences as football fans who idolized Paterno
Cannot for the life of me wrap my brain around the misguided loyalty to a man who brought pride to the football program while simultaneously ignoring criminal activity within his ranks and also players
I believe this is my 6th post on this subject for those who are counting :D</p>
<p>lje62: Those folks are having a hard time adjusting going from the cleanest program in college sports, to the most horrific scandal in the history of all sports in this country. When one idols have feel of clay it can be shocking. Espeically if you take particular pride in identifying yourself with them.</p>
<p>It might be more than ignoring. If he took affirmative steps to cover up the crimes, such as arranging for Sandusky’s resignation rather than reporting sexual assaults, Paterno could end up as an accessory.</p>
<p>It’s no accident he’s hired a criminal defense attorney. Next one to be hired will be a public relations guy.</p>
<p>Agree that this mess at PSU is like an oozing would-- it just keeps getting worse and worse. Sad that all other news is page 2 at this point.</p>
<p>And apologies for going momentarily OT again, but to clarify for you Ohiomom, my posts were deleted because they were responses to your deleted posts, IIRC. Other posts are gone to. Its all for the better, IMO.</p>
<p>As others have volunteered about themselves, I have been faced with even more dangerous situations and, yes, I intervened. A naked 60 year old in a shower? Please. I would not even have to get my courage up to face that or think “I hope I live through this.” And, no, it’s not bragging on my part, it’s simply factual.</p>
<p>Every soldier knows that you do what you’ve been trained to do under stress. So, I truly wonder about people who rush in to say, “No one knows what they would do.” Are you trying to excuse yourself pre-event? Shake off guilt post-event? </p>
<p>I cannot imagine living with myself if I really doubted what I’d do if I had witnessed this or if I’d failed to act when I have in the past.</p>
<p>To the OP, the PSU issues are even in our HI newspaper, tho only on the day that JoePa was fired. Not much else has been reported here. It does sound like only the beginning of a LOT of sordidness that was covered up and/or ignored. ICK! So many young lives traumatized by the culture of silence and protection–very troubling.</p>