<p>That is an excellent article! I wish everyone in America would read that article, and then go march on Bristol.</p>
<p>missscarlett: That was the highest he could go? He could not call the local police, he could not follow up on the case? He just does the bare legal minimum, and allows Sandusky to keep having sleepovers at Penn State with minor? How many more victims were there because of this.</p>
<p>The trustees fired him after he literally told them they had no business dealing with his employment anymore. If anything showed that it was time for him to go this arrogance was it. The trustees actually acted in the interests of the whole university, not just the football program. Right now the most criticism is that the trustee took this long to reign Paterno in. When he had people fired that crossed him, as in the case of Vicky Triponey, he just showed that it was the football program that took precedence at PSU, not the college. Paterno is the one who owes the apology for allowing the scandal to continue after 2002, and for elevated the football program to a semi religion. </p>
<p>And how has the charge that he did not do enough to report the crime been proven “completely false”? Did he follow up on the one report he made to Curley? </p>
<p>Paterno’s reputation is gone because he did not live up to his own words. "You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That’s the mark of a true professional.</p>
<p>One report of a crime against a child, with no follow up is not the mark of the true professional, and he did not preform at the higher level. Especially when you allow a predator to continue to operate on your campus</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Incredible. Penn State community’s insularity blows my mind. They completely lost a perspective and the ability to see what’s going on in their community from the vintage point of the rest of the country. They really don’t get it. It’s almost like a parallel universe where everything is a mirror image.</p>
<p>If anything this explains to me why and how it was possible that Sandusky was able to do what he did for so many years when many people, it appears, had an inkling what’s going on. More than anything, this article convinces me that Sandusky incident is not a case of awful individual and a few people who looked the other way when they had a chance to intervene. More than anything else, it proves to me that indeed PSU became an academic institution attached to the main program - the football religion. This article gave me a very clear idea now that the problem is totally systemic, not just a few people, not just a football program. It’s embedded in PSU’s heart and soul. Very sad.</p>
<p>I hope you are treated, in life, as you treat others. I certainly question YOUR heart and soul. Very sad.</p>
<p><<bye, i="" will="" leave="" you="" all="" to="" talk="" amongst="" yourselves="" inside="" your="" bubble.="">></bye,></p>
<p>Morning everyone!</p>
<p>performersmom - Why are we in a “bubble?”</p>
<p>As far as I can see - all of us are horrified by the abuse these young boys suffered, disgusted with the actions/behaviors/attitudes of the people in charge, embarrassed by the minority of students who rioted, trusting that those who are responsible will be held accountable, supportive of “cleaning house” for the entire football staff, and hopeful that the young victims will eventually find peace. </p>
<p>I would also say that we are also confident that the students of PSU will rebound from this sad situation and will be stronger, more aware, more savvy, and maybe a little more skeptical of authority figures (and that can be a good thing). Finally, I believe we are all proud that the students and alumni are focusing their energy on doing something positive by raising money and awareness for victims of child abuse. </p>
<p>The main point of disagreement is football - the importance of the team to PSU and the status of future football seasons. </p>
<p>You, and others, think that PSU is ALL about football. I, and others, feel that while football is certainly an important part of PSU (as it is at most big state universities), it is not THE most important thing. Sure, there’s a statue of Paterno on campus. Big deal - there are statues of other well-known football coaches on other college campuses. As I said earlier - Penn State’s team is okay, but hardly a powerhouse. Been to Alabama lately???</p>
<p>Finally, you (and others) think that the ONLY solution is to place a “death penalty” verdict on the football program. Others, me included, feel that such a move would do more harm than good, for a variety of reasons.</p>
<p>It’s really very simple. We disagree.</p>
<p>There is so much more to being a Penn State student/alum than cheering for the PSU football team. If you, and others, can’t understand that, perhaps YOU are the one inside a bubble.</p>
<p>It’s reprehensible that ESPN didn’t go to police with the Fine audio tape when they first got it 10 years ago. I haven’t been following this story as closely, but I haven’t heard that the Syracuse administration was aware of the allegations, which is what makes it different than the Penn State situation. But ESPN has a great deal to answer for, IMO.</p>
<p><<but i=“” haven’t=“” heard=“” that=“” the=“” syracuse=“” administration=“” was=“” aware=“” of=“” allegations,=“”>></but></p>
<p>According to this, they were. Both the police and the university.</p>
<p>[A</a> timeline of the Syracuse sexual abuse scandal - CNN.com](<a href=“http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/29/justice/syracuse-coach-timeline/index.html]A”>http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/29/justice/syracuse-coach-timeline/index.html)</p>
<p><<this article="" gave="" me="" a="" very="" clear="" idea="" now="" that="" the="" problem="" is="" totally="" systemic,="" not="" just="" few="" people,="" football="" program.="" it’s="" embedded="" in="" psu’s="" heart="" and="" soul.="" sad.="">></this></p>
<p>Science Fiction - Because of this article above, you’re condemning an entire school? Did we all write this article together? It seems to me this is probably just authored by one person - not the whole school! As other’s have stated, there’s much that we agree on. I just don’t agree that PSU is just about football - especially when you compare it to other football “powerhouse” schools and I believe change can be made without suspending football.</p>
<p>Performermom - Just because we don’t agree with you, we live in a bubble? I don’t live in PA, besides a few coworkers here or there I don’t know anyone personally who went to PSU until my son did last year. I have no longterm relationship with the school. I simply have seen the amazing education and oppotunities my son has received since attending the school. I’ve seen firsthand that this school is about more than football. That’s just MY opinion (one that’s based on factual information and observation) - not an opinion I formed because I “live in a bubble”.</p>
<p>Kumitedad—</p>
<p>I did not write that editorial. I noted that at the bottom. I said I found it to be an interesting point of view and perspective.</p>
<p>In my opinion condemnation of the entire Penn State community really doesn’t do much to help the victims.</p>
<p>Respectful discussion, sharing of ideas and different opinions, working together to change the law that will encourage more children to feel protected in coming forward, changing the legal reporting requirements of adults and contributing to funds helping these children are all things than can affect positive change</p>
<p>I think it’s clear that no agreement will be reached in this thread. There are two opposing points of view, 1 by people inside the Penn State bubble and 1 by people who are on the outside. The outsiders want the football program to be temporarily suspended so that the necessary changes can be made to ensure that this never happens again. The bubble people are worried about the effects on band members and cheerleaders and why the media isn’t making a bigger deal out of the Syracuse scandal to deflect attention from Penn St. Who’s to say which point of view is right?</p>
<p>Grcxx3: You said there are a “Variety of reasons” not to get rid of or at least the suspension of the football program. What are these reasons?</p>
<p>After being at the center of the most horrific scandals in US Sports history, a lot of people question why a one-year suspension is not in order. To recoil from suggestions like that indicate that Div I football is far too important on campus. That something like this could go on for decades, and that the program was too big and important to the school for anyone to question anything about it indicates a structural problem at the least. </p>
<p>It it not just the individuals involved that caused this scandal, but the mindset regarding the exalted status on campus of the program. A one year hiatus on the football where a considered examination of the relationship between the athletic programs and the campus would be the healthiest thing for all concerned</p>
<p>kumitedad - the “variety of reasons” have been mentioned numerous times on this thread (and the one in the Parents Forum), and then summarily dismissed as “unfortunate consequences” by those in favor of a suspension. I’m not going to go through them again.</p>
<hr>
<p><<the mindset="" regarding="" the="" exalted="" status="" on="" campus="" of="" program="">></the></p>
<p>That is your opinion. Others disagree about that “exalted status.”</p>
<p>norcalguy - the very tone and word choice used in your post makes clear which point of view you think is right.</p>
<p>FYI - I don’t want the Syracuse to deflect from Penn State. But if you’re going to nail PSU, then nail Syracuse, too. Otherwise, it looks like a personal attack on PSU.</p>
<hr>
<p><<the outsiders="" want="" the="" football="" program="" to="" be="" temporarily="" suspended="" so="" that="" necessary="" changes="" can="" made="" ensure="" this="" never="" happens="" again.="">></the></p>
<p>Why does the football program have to be suspended for this to happen? Who needs to be punished - the adults or the students? Seems to me removing the entire football coaching staff (assistants, trainers, etc) is sufficient. The program is already going to suffer tremendously. They will be starting from scratch anyway. Top recruits will take Penn State off their list until they see how the new coaching staff works out. Why add to the struggle? What purpose does that serve?</p>
<p>The football program was complicit in the crimes, as was the University. They allowed a predator not only the opportunity to commit more crimes, but provided one of the venues where he could prey on vulnerable children. Dont forget that PSU football players were volunteered for the charity that appears to have been founded to provide that predator with ample victims. </p>
<p>And what purpose that it serve. It will serve the purpose of showing that PSU is serious about changing this environment, that it is serious about atoning for this scandal. That it is truly sorry about what happened on its campus and the complicity it had in it. After what happened to these young children, complaining about giving up football for a year seems inappropriate at best.</p>
<p><<after what="" happened="" to="" these="" young="" children,="" complaining="" about="" giving="" up="" football="" for="" a="" year="" seems="" inappropriate="" at="" best.="">></after></p>
<p>No one is disagreeing that what happened to these innocent children is horrific.<br>
I just don’t see how suspending the football program for a year makes any difference. But if that’s what ends up happening - fine. No worries from me, but I will still think it’s stupid.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Then you’re right – Syracuse should be receiving all of the same criticisms. I guess it’s their good luck that the Penn State situation came to light first.</p>
<p>LasMa, There hasn’t been a grand jury report, there wasn’t a witness, and there is no evidence yet that the head coach there knew anything of the crimes being commited. This will probably change over time, but it has nothing to do with luck. Penn State was not the victim of timing.</p>
<p>LasMa - I am not living in some sort of “bubble” where I believe that Penn State is some sort of utopia. It’s not - no school is. There have definitely been some incredibly serious problems at PSU - that is obvious. But it’s also obvious that there are problems just as serious other places (the Citadel, Syracuse) . So, the lack of comment/criticism on the other schools just leaves me to wonder about the motivation of those blasting Penn State.</p>
<p><<there is="" no="" evidence="" yet="" that="" the="" head="" coach="" there="" knew="" anything="" of="" crimes="" being="" commited.="">></there></p>
<p>You don’t think that the university discusses this with the head coach during their investigation in 2005?</p>