<p>I specifically said I agreed with his opinion that it is shocking that there has not been more support from the Penn State community for removal of the statue. I do not condone violence or destruction of any kind, especially today in light of the events in Colorado.</p>
<p>It is being reported that the statue will be removed this weekend. If this is true, I commend the trustees for making this decision. It is necessary for Penn State to move forward and demonstrate they get it.</p>
<p>I’m sorry LizzyB. Where does LakeCloud say that he/she is shocked about the lack of support from the Penn State community …, specifically. Is it on another thread? I just see below. Thanks. BTW, you’re exactly right about the horrific events in Colorado and not condoning violence/destruction.</p>
<p>LakeCloud #33 states " To me it’s shocking that students and others don’t riot and tear down the statue as was done with Sadam Husseins. The fact that this hasn’t happen speaks volumes about the PSU culture.</p>
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<p>@pilot2012 - comparing a mass murder with students rising up to remove a statute is pretty sick. The tragedy in Colorado should not be used a diversion or shield for what happened at PSU. Why is the statute even there in the first place - because the guy won a few ball games? How can you defend keeping a statute of someone who condoned child rape in the middle of a campus?</p>
<p>Excuse me, LakeClouds. If you’ll read my post, I was agreeing with LizzyB about not condoning violence or destruction in any shape or fashion in conjunction with the statue. I did not compare the horrific events of Colorado; you made that leap. </p>
<p>Yet you said: " To me it’s shocking that students and others don’t riot and tear down the statue as was done with Sadam Husseins. The fact that this hasn’t happen speaks volumes about the PSU culture. </p>
<p>Why not elaborate LakeClouds: What will rioting and destruction of property gain the Penn State students? Does the idea of an altercation between campus police and students satisfy you? How about the possibility of someone being hurt? Do you like that too? Why not take a little look at more recent history (instead of old TJ) to see what happens when things spiral out of control in this day and age? </p>
<p>Be a responsible advocate.</p>
<p>The question someone asked was, what if that kid in the shower had been Curley’s child, or Spanier’s or Paterno’s grandchiild? Would they have reacted differently? Absolutely, But, they took the utilitarian approach of acting for the greater good (in their minds) no matter the consequences for the victims. They were acting in what they perceived to be the best interests of Penn State, not just Penn State football but Penn State. Make no mistake, Penn State is Penn State football and those affiliated with the school are defending it to their dying breath playing the victim themselves ( “what about the players who did nothing wrong) when the only victims had numbers in court and the guilty ones are those in power who let it happen. What’s the expression, " all it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing”. When they close their eyes, they are no longer good men. Where are the voices at Penn State calling for them to clean house, of the trustees who knew and didn’t act, of an administration that won’t revoke a faculty emeritus status on a convicted pedophile? Sso you’ve never done it before (revoking a status) and don’t know how. It’s simple, you revoke it and let him fight it. It’s called moral courage and standing up for what it is right, even if unpopular. Faculty Senates have traditionally stood up for unpopular causes and have taken the moral high ground. Where is the voice of conscience at Penn State. Don’t tell me that they are still investigating because that’s a cop out. A vote or statement from the faculty would go far to determining whether this is a football team that runs a school or a school that happens to have a well known football team.</p>
<p>Amen janjdad. In the distant past, I have had a few opportunities to stand up for victims in minor incidents and to call a spade a spade. I’ve caught nice people cheating, lying & they were fired. It’s awful. When I was 12, I took it on the chin for a victim and that person told me 20+ years later that it made a difference.</p>
<p>We must teach our kids to have a backbone & stand up to the bully, the culture, the cheat, the molester. I feel for the people that were all on the sidelines watching this slow train wreck. Their guilt must be enormous. It’s not easy being the dragon slayer (go Chris Christie w/ NJ corrupt nonsense btw).</p>
<p>Today’s NJ Star Ledger’s cover story “The Woman Who Stood Up to Paterno” “Now at College of NJ Vicky Triponey endured phone threats & internet smear campaigns at PSU for butting heads with longtime coach.” Read it.</p>
<p>Sorry Joe- you were a good man who lost his way 15 years ago & became culpable. Why?</p>
<p>here’s an update on the status of the decision on the fate of the statue [Trustee:</a> Penn State president Erickson to decide on Paterno statue](<a href=“http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12202/1248090-454.stm]Trustee:”>http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12202/1248090-454.stm)</p>
<p>Well yay. It seems they have come to their senses and followed my suggestion 
They are putting the statue in storage.</p>
<p><a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/penn-state-president-orders-paterno-statue-removal-111940000--spt.html[/url]”>http://news.yahoo.com/penn-state-president-orders-paterno-statue-removal-111940000--spt.html</a></p>
<p>more info … [Joe</a> Paterno statue to be removed at Penn State University with crew on site - ESPN](<a href=“http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8188530/joe-paterno-statue-removed-penn-state-university-crew-site]Joe”>Joe Paterno statue removed from outside Penn State University's Beaver Stadium - ESPN)</p>
<p>Finally some sense from PSU trustees. Hopefully they will melt it down and create something useful out of it - maybe a memorial for victims of child abuse that could go where the original statute was.</p>