<p>tom, that may be, but I find it telling that no one at Penn State has denied the incident happened.</p>
<p>Paterno may have done the bare minimum but we do not know that yet. He may have followed up with questions and been lied to by Curley and Schultz. Many of you already have decided they are liars why is it not possible they lied to Paterno? Paterno may also be as sinister as mini alludes. No one knows yet. Let the facts come out and then we can make an honest assessment.</p>
<p>LasMa- how can anyone deny the rape happened they would not know. They deny McQuery told them it happened. Earlier in the thread I believe that JHS posted that the charge for Victim #2 against Sandusky will never go forward unless they can produce Victim #2. So in that regard only 3 people in the world will really ever know if the rape happened.</p>
<p>DonnaL, I apologize for the analogy which adds to the hurt. Is there a better way to characterize the hysterical mob shouting for the maximum penalty before a proper trial or investigation? I honestly will change my usage.</p>
<p>McQueary has zero motive to make up his report. Part of the reason why the harsh condemnation of him concerns me is that he, in fact, was the whistleblower. He actually had some guts when others above him appeared not to. He did not do enough, but he did something. If he is scapegoated, then what will future whistleblowers think when faced with similar moments of truth - duck and cover? When there is this much smoke against Sandusky, there almost certainly has to be fire. </p>
<p>The innocent until proven guilty bromide applies to criminal law. Under criminal law, factually guilty parties can avoid conviction for a failure of prove or prosecutorial misconduct. “Not guilty” is not innocent.</p>
<p>However, media frenzies are dangerous. Look-alikes have been assaulted because vigilantes believe guilty media reports that guilty persons are acquitted. One of the most powerful scenes in “Huckleberry Finn” is the showdown between the southern gentleman and the mob who want to lynch him for shooting a man who slandered him, after the same mob convinced the slanderer not to leave. Live mobs and media mobs are fickle, though latter poses less physical danger.</p>
<p>Certainly, people have a right to express opinions based on the details they know. Acting on those opinions, without all of the facts and without official sanction is the danger. Inflammatory rhetoric can inflame the mob - see also Mark Anthony’s speech in “Julius Caesar.” I think that we occasionally see flickers of that here on CC when the speech becomes personal and animated.</p>
<p>I have a question why are people who say we should wait for all the facts to come out considered apologists for Joe Paterno?</p>
<p>Tom 1944:</p>
<p>There are two versions of what McQueary told Paterno, and neither version leaves Paterno looking good, not even his own. There is clearly enough information to question whether Paterno lived up to his own standards for the football program, Paterno’s own statements suffice for that. Just how reprehensible Paterno’s conduct might have been is not yet fully known.</p>
<p>“I would bet if he had asked for an update/status he was told it was “being investigated by the university police” since that seems to be with Second Mile was told.”</p>
<p>Jym, but McQueary was the eyewitness. If no policeman asked him any questions between 2002 and 2009, he HAD to know it was not being investigated. This a serious crime we are talking about. He had to know if it were to be properly investigated police would be questioning him. </p>
<p>Also, all those involved at PSU who had knowledge and who work with young people, as coaches, teachers or administrators have an even higher responsibility than the general public to report any such knowledge or suspicion of abuse to Child Protective Services by law. So all these analogies of what would I do, are not quite the same, unless you work with children as well. And in that case, you would be aware of your responsibility by law.</p>
<p>I worked with adolescents years ago and everyone on staff was well aware of our legal responsibility</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Doesn’t matter. Even if he only knew what he admits he knew, he knew enough to keep him from holding football camps on campus. He knew enough to not allow him to use his name to make a training video with young boys. Bottom line - he knew enough.</p>
<p>I am confused, Bogney.
On the one hand, you support due process in favor of jumping to conclusions.
Yet, as you said, you also speculate wildly.
And you talk of “moral” responsibilities, i.e. the right to judge.
???
Anyway, I am trying to stick to the legal aspects of the case, as well, in an effort to fan these flames a bit.</p>
<p>( I do agree with trying not to quash future whistle blowers, but I realize that they do have protections, as it is. But I am overall more concerned with how the reporting process failed so many times in this case…)</p>
<p>tom, apologists would be those who on one hand saying we should wait for all the facts, and on other breaths, Paterno totally is being unfairly vilified. While you can say that Paterno basically could have been lied to and do not know the extent (which in it by itself has no factual basis), cartera45 above should be able to say that Paterno knew enough to at least follow up and make sure that the worst was not the case. </p>
<p>The looking away and sweep everything under rug is the main problem here, not the legalistic technicality.</p>
<p>Agree with DonnaL Post #1829, as well as cartera45, 1849 above.</p>
<p>Reading the law from 2002" it says anyone working with children or minorsnshouldnreport. Palento worked with minors. All his coaching staff did.</p>
<p>^That is correct. All those working with minors have a higher responsibility to report than the general public. Although, if any one of the general public witnessed a rape I hope they would report. It is very rare to have an eyewitness to a rape, making this all the more tragic. An eyewitness, what a case they would have had and how many children saved from the abuse if it had been reported to police.</p>
<p>Is any one denying the Penn state staff worked with minors. As they did and in fact advertised that fact seems to me even in 2002 they would be by law required to report</p>
<p>The only thing amusing about this thread is how many different ways we can spell Paterno. He now appears to be similar to tasty Italian cornmeal.</p>
<p>Performer’s Mom:</p>
<p>I thought that you were asking how McQueary could have believed the situation had been handled despite having witnessed Sandusky rape a child. I answered with a hypothetical as to how McQueary could have thought that the situation had been handled even though Sandhusky had not been punished, which is why I do not think that there are enough facts to condemn McQueary for “not doing enough in the intervening years,” at least not yet. I speculated to answer your question. I did not speculate to condemn one of the actors in this unfolding drama. I see the latter as a problem, not the former.</p>
<p>I oppose jumping to extreme conclusions without a factual basis. No one is entitled to “due process” on this thread since this thread is not a court of law. In the court of public opinion, however, everyone should be entitled to reasonable assessment of their conduct, though that is often not afforded to those in the spot light. Venting might be more fun, but it is less fair.</p>
<p>Seahorserock, I think the law stated something like that a staff is required to report, and reporting to superiors is enough. This is why Paterno and McQ are in the clear at this time and the other administrators are in big trouble.</p>
<p>“The only thing amusing about this thread is how many different ways we can spell Paterno. He now appears to be similar to tasty Italian cornmeal.” </p>
<p>Isn’t there another coach Petarno at another University? (He’s found himself dragged into this thread.)</p>
<p>There was actually a pretty amusing post way upthread. Forget now what it was.</p>
<p>ttparent, if that’s the way the PA law reads I think it will soon be changed.</p>
<p>One of our local sports announcers is named Gerry Sandusky. He tweeted, “A great, big thank you to my late mom for choosing to spell my first name with a ‘G’.”</p>