Penn State Shame?
Disclaimer
This Hub is going to be a little long and will contain some graphic language about sexual abuse. Proceed with caution.
What happened
In case you have been living under a rock this week, let me fill you in on what’s been happening with Penn State University and, specifically, with former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and the subsequent follow up. On November 5th, 2011, Mr. Sandusky, 67, who began coaching at Penn State University in 1969 as a defensive line coach, posted a $100,000 bond after being arraigned on 40 criminal counts, being accused of serial sex abuse of minor boys. To date, up to nine victims have come forward, with many more suspected, with accusations ranging from molestation to rape. It is unknown when the assaults began but Sandusky did found a group foster home for boys, The Second Mile, back in 1977.
As early as 1996, one boy was taken into the locker room and showers by Sandusky on the Penn State Campus. Despite a confession to two police officers of sexual assault (hugging the victim while the victim was showering) by Sandusky. In 1998, Detective Ronald Schreffler testified that he and State College Police Department Detective Ralph Ralston, with the consent of the mother of unnamed victim number 6, eavesdropped on two conversations the mother had with Mr. Sandusky. Sandusky said he showered with other boys, including unnamed victim number 6 and the mother tried to make Sandusky promise never to shower with a boy again but he refused to do so. At the end of the second conversation Sandusky was told he could not see the victim anymore. Detective Schreffler then testified that Sandusky said to the victim’s mother, "I understand. I was wrong. I wish I could get forgiveness. I know I won't get it from you. I wish I were dead."
District Attorney in charge of the case, Ray Gricar, decided that no criminal charges would be filed and the case was subsequently closed. Interestingly enough, several years later, Gricar turned up missing and his computer was destroyed. He has never been discovered and he is presumed dead.
Sandusky retired as defensive coordinator from Penn State in 1999, at age 55. To retire at the peak of his career from one of the most storied programs in college football history, coupled with subsequent evidence, suggests a cover up of the sex abuse that goes all the way to the university president. Sandusky still holds Emeritus status and has full access to the facilities and to children through his charity.
In the fall of 2000, a janitor named James Calhoun observed Sandusky in the showers of the Lasch Football Building with a young boy who was pinned against the wall and was having oral sex performed on him by Sandusky. Calhoun tells the other janitorial staff immediately and fellow employee, Ronald Petrosky, cleaned the showers and saw Sandusky and the boy. The boy was described as being 11-13 years old. Calhoun then told other employees, including his immediate supervisor, Jay Witherite, what he saw, including Jay Witherite, his immediate supervisor who tells Calhoun to file a report.
No report was ever filed.
On March 1 2002, Graduate assistant (and a current coach at Penn State) Mike McQueary witnessed Sandusky having anal intercourse with a victim whom he describes as ten years old. He immediately tells his father and the next day tells Head football coach Joe Paterno about the incident. Paterno, on March 3rd, called Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley and reported what was reported to him. A meeting is then called, later in the month with Curley and the senior vice president for finance and business. After listening to McQueary’s story, they tell him they will look into it and, at the end of March, they take away Sandusky’s locker room key.
The police are never contacted.
Why did it Happen and what's Next?
So, what do we have here? We have a disgusting pederast who was allowed continued access to children by a university who knew very well what he was up too. This is outrageous! Why wasn’t Sandusky immediately arrested and charged with sexual abuse? Why has it taken over 15 years for any kind of justice to be done?
The answer: Penn State University.
They allowed this to happen. The Janitor witnessed abuse and went not to the police, but to his boss. A graduate assistant witnessed full on child rape and went to his dad and a senile old man, but never the police. The coach, at that time, 75 years old and starting to lose his marbles, went to the athletic director, but not to the police.
It was more important to protect the brand and the program then to protect innocent children, apparently.
Sandusky may have done the deed, but all in this case are culpable and all should be fired. In an impromptu statement made at his home, Paterno referred to the “victims, or whatever they want to call it” and then proceeded to minimize their plight by saying, essentially, “things happen”, let’s pray for them, In his retirement speech the following day (Nov. 9th 2011), Paterno said:
“I am absolutely devastated by the developments in this case. I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief.
I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: To serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today.
That's why I have decided to announce my retirement effective at the end of this season. At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for them as I possibly can. This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.
My goals now are to keep my commitments to my players and staff and finish the season with dignity and determination. And then I will spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to help this University.”
University still comes first, eh Joe? And, you want to set the terms for your retirement? I don’t think so.
Joe, you need to go, and you need to go now. You can't sail off into the sunset on your terms after your negligence allowed further abuses to occur. You want to stand on the sidelines Saturday for Penn State’s biggest game of the season and coach young men and get a standing ovation of the student body.
Have you no shame Joe Pa? How could even want to show your face again? Just retire and spend the year or two you have left on this earth wallowing in the fact that you COULD indeed have done more. Standing by and letting it happen is just as bad, if not worse, then doing the deed yourself. I don't think you're a bad person, but you enabled bad things to happen, and, for that, you MUST face the consequences.
The Penn State football program should be given the death penalty and the school should be sued out of existence. Apparently, at Penn State, it’s okay to rape children as long as the football team is putting up W’s.
Additional info
- Key dates in the Penn State Nittany Lions sex abuse case - ESPN
A chronological look at the case against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, based on a grand jury report in Pennsylvania state court. Some key dates in Penn State football history are included. Sandusky has been charged with 4 - Judge Leslie Dutchcot, Who Let Jerry Sandusky Free on Bail, Found to Be Volunteer for The Second Mil
If you're wondering why Jerry Sandusky was let free into the world without having to pay a dime in bail money, you might have your answer. The judge who made that decision, District Judge Leslie Dutchcot, is a volunteer for The Second Mile, the very - gricardisappearance - gricardisappearance
Update 11/9/11
Paterno has officially been fired. I hope the old man learns from this mistake. He can't take it back but maybe he will learn not to stand by and let evil happen. May God forgive him. Some sources also now say that Mike McQueary didn't walk away from the abuse witnessed by Sandusky as earlier inferred in this article.
Update 1/22/12
Joe Paterno has passed away.
Update 6/22/12
Jerry Sandusky has been convicted on 45 of the 48 charges levied against him and will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.