<p>Actually, it shouldn’t be. The sad truth is that pedophiles exist. If we can’t trust our catholic priests, it’s not altogether shocking that we can’t trust Penn State’s former defensive coordinator. Sandusky will get his in court.</p>
<p>What is shocking and what makes this a huge scandal is the fact that Penn State’s leadership, Joe Paterno, the university president, etc. knew about this and did very little. They put football first. And that is what’s shocking and that’s why they are feeling the heat (rightfully so). </p>
<p>If they had just reported this when it first came to their attention and did the necessary things, then, yes, in 2002, the focus would’ve been entirely on Sandusky. But, that’s not the case and that’s why Joe Pa is unemployed (rightfully so).</p>
<p>Yes, this won’t change Penn State’s academics. But, let’s not pretend that football was not an important part of Penn State’s culture. Whether you like football or not, it got Penn State applications that otherwise wouldn’t have come, media attention that otherwise it wouldn’t have received, and donations that otherwise it wouldn’t have received. Penn State itself used football as an application draw. </p>
<p>So, this is big. This will harm Penn State’s reputation massively. This will harm Penn State’s football program massively. People need to wake up and stop saying that everything will be alright.</p>
<p>Don’t tell people they have to “wake up”. Would you like Penn state to shut down completely? If that is what you want, unfortunately you’re not going to get it. Don’t listen to people who imply that you’ll never amount to anything if you go to Penn state because of it’s “new reputation”. The proper measures are being taken and people ARE going to get over it. </p>
<p>Congrats shansull that’s awesome! Don’t let people like this ^ get you down. Going to Penn state will probably be one of the best decisions we ever make!</p>
<p>This went from “Penn State had a severe administration problem” to “Penn State has severe general identity issues” when thousands (and I’m hearing tens of thousands) of students decided to riot in favor of a man who enabled another man to rape multiple children. You’re WVU with better academics. I’m not even sure WVU would have done that. My god, you’re potentially worse than WVU. I don’t even know what to say to that.</p>
<p>SC police reported almost 2,000 students, who all dispersed at 2am when asked. Okay, when the pepper spray came out…Students would say they were protesting not allowing their coach to play one last game when he had already agreed to leave in 3 weeks, hasn’t been charged with a thing, has been commended by the PA AG and the principal criminals still have their jobs and pensions. We might not agree with their opinion but none of them are advocating child abuse, that’s not fair. Additionally, there have been and will be large candlelight vigils held every night at the spiritual center on campus, for the victims, but of course that’s not being covered by the media. (And I’m sure your open-minded attitude is appreciated by the good people at WVU, who apologize for not being good enough to suit the west coast)</p>
<p>It is just really embarrassing, I would be ashamed to be a Penn State alum. The cultish adulation of Paterno is just creepy. Of course, some bad decisions were made, but it was the PSU response that is troubling. Putting the football program before the entire institution and putting the welfare of children in danger. </p>
<p>I also think it bothers people that Paterno has gotten so much credit over the years for being a “moral” presence and when he had the opportunity to really take a stand, he was a coward. I hate the defense that “he’s from a generation where people did not talk about such things.” BS! There is right and wrong and he was clearly and utterly in the wrong.</p>
<p>Any PSU student or alum with any decency should be happy that they are cleaning house and urge the institution to get itself and honest assessment.</p>
<p>willmingtonwave - The alums I have spoken to/emailed love PSU but in no way have a “cultish adulation of Paterno.” Many of them wrote letters/emails to the BOT asking for the immediate removal of Paterno and Spanier. Similarly, my son and his friends are appalled by the situation, embarrassed by the actions of many of the students, hate having the media all over the campus, and just want to get back to their studies without further interruption.</p>
<p>Saturday’s football game is going to be a difficult one for everyone involved - coaches, players, cheerleaders, band members, and fans.</p>
<p>I am an alum and have no “cultish adoration of Paterno” or the PSU football program, for that matter. I am sick over this situation. Like Gcxx3’s son and his friends, my daughter and her friends are devasted and upset and not rioting in the streets. </p>
<p>At least we as adults have some coping mechanisms and the benefit of maturity to deal with this, most college kids do not. They are just trying to understand what the heck just happened to their beloved school.</p>
<p>I’m sure there are many PSU students, alumni, etc. who are appalled, but many are still backing Paterno. Judging by the outcry on twitter, facebook, etc. from PSU students, as well as the media coverage, I am not sure who is in the minority. Unfortunately, the fanatics are always more vocal and the media coverage is doing irreversible damage to the school. Penn State deserves every sanction that comes down on it–hopefully the death penalty for the football program. They need a new identity, because it sure wont’ be “Joe P” or Nittany Lion Football.</p>
<p>I think the ones (students, alums, supporters) backing Paterno are the minority group. But, as you stated, they are the ones getting attention from the media because they “make news.” The students supporting the BOT aren’t going to make headlines. Another reason I have little respect for the media.</p>
<p>And, while not a Paterno fan, I certainly hope this is NOT the death of the football program. There are many students - far beyond the football team - who participate in those games. It would be a shame to have their activities and contribution to the school cancelled, diminished, or tarnished because of the actions of a bunch of irresponsible adults.</p>
<p>I was supposed to go visit my friend at PSU (leaving tonight) with my other friend. Do you guys think we shouldn’t go now cuz of the riots and stuff? We really wanna go, especially my friend because she hasn’t seen it and thinks it’s for her.</p>
<p>PSU and the students are in morning. They need time to heal. I would not visit this weekend. This weekend and what is happening now, does not fairly represent the university.</p>
<p>It would be my second visit; I already know that that is not usually how the campus is run and etc. I just want to see my friend, but I’m not sure if we should go.</p>
<p>I cannot fully describe or defend what happened in the streets of State College last night, but I will, at least try, to explain the reasoning behind them. </p>
<p>What brought us together was a deep and profound sense of outrage. A sense that led 40 people, after seeing the firing, to silently look at each other, nod, quietly ask “outside?”, and leave together into the cold. For a week we’ve been forced to watch 24/7 media coverage that told us, in order of culpability, it ranked; 1. Joseph Paterno 2. Graham Spanier and 3. Jerry Sandusky- that alone should speak for itself. Then, we had to emotionally watch as our icon stated an intent to resign at the end of the season. 46 years, no NOT ONLY AS A FOOTBALL COACH, but as the greatest thing that has ever happened to the university. He took a small agricultural school and built it into a national brand- when we study, we go to the PATERNO library, the premier liberal arts program is the PATERNO fellowship. More than any other, Joseph Paterno built this school and its Success with Honor brand and now his time was quickly ending.</p>
<p>But then, it happened. The Board of Trustees decided it could not afford JoePa even that courtesy to leave, tainted, but under his own terms. Rather they saw it fit to remove him despite the fact he followed proper protocols, was not indicted by extensive grand jury investigation, and reported the situation to the man with oversight for the university police (Schultz). They saw it fit to retain McQueary, the man who had direct, even physical, control over what happened. They saw it fit to keep an indicted Curley on the payroll. But they didn’t see it fit to allow someone who deserved it most, who is the most responsible for where the university is at now, the dignity to leave of his own accord. In one of their own quotes, "We don’t know all the facts yet."Our Board of Trustees succumbed to the trial of public opinion rather than the court of law or reason and here they failed. They failed to uphold any sense of honor and dignity that the university, that Joseph Paterno had built through our history.</p>
<p>That is what brought us together. That common, united sense of outrage. That hurt and developed anger as a result of an intense injustice. That is why We, still, are Penn State.</p>
<p>As someone who does not know a lot about your school, I would like to let you know that, after the demonstrations last night, I would not encourage my son or daughter to attend Penn State. Its not easy to get thousands of American college students into the streets, but firing the football coach is what will do it? What about income inequality, war, poverty, corruption? Student debt? What about the rape of children?</p>
<p>My sense is that there is something very wrong about the culture at this institution. A series of officials who took only the most limited and minimal actions when confronted with the alleged evil of one of their close associates. A cult around an 84 year old man who produces winning football teams. And students who riot over the firing of a coach when they should be demonstrating their collective outrage that sexual abuse of minors has been tolerated within their institution.</p>
<p>Yes, your school will suffer from this. Admissions, donations, prestige, all of it. But it appears to this outsider, at least, that the school is ready for a bit of soul searching.</p>
<p>As for everyone else, please please please don’t comment on the “riots” unless you were there or know someone who was or want to respectfully respond someone who was. As a student, I have a hard time watching people assume I’m some sort of thug that doesn’t understand what’s going on. If you’re getting your information from ESPN, NYT, etc., you don’t have it right.</p>
<p>I just have ask the question: Where is the outrage over the rape of a 10 year old in a shower that the reponsible adults did nothing about. From the outside looking in to this situation this sickens parents. Joe Paterno looks like for all the good he did, was, along with the other responsible adults, were enablers of a serial pedophile. </p>
<p>The sad part of this is that we are probably not privy to the entire story yet. </p>
<p>Sorry to say, but his reactions of the last day or so indicated that Paterno does not fully understand the gravity and horror of the situation</p>