A week ago, the news broke that more than a decade of sexual abuse was perpetrated by a former, though still very closely associated, football coach at the university, Jerry Sandusky, primarily through an organization he founded for young people named The Second Mile. Although it's not clear exactly when the abuse began, it may stretch back as far as the mid-1970's, when the foundation was originally established.
The first known inappropriate interaction allegedly took place in the 1990's, although according to a timeline in the New York Times, nothing was reported until 1998. At that time, the university reviewed and declined to take it further, and the District Attorney, Ray Gricar, refused to press criminal charges. (Gricar vanished in April 2005, his car abandoned, his laptop found in a river without the hard drive. His daughter eventually had him declared dead.)
Sandusky retired in early 1999 from his position at the university. According to reports at the time, the reason given was that he wanted to focus full time on his foundation, although it was clear by that time he was considered a liability as a staff member. He retained most of his former privileges, including office, facility keys, access to the locker rooms, and most importantly, the staff and administration at Penn State University. If that isn't a signal of approval from an administration that was confused about exactly who was the injured party here, I don't know what is.
Sandusky continued to use the Penn State facilities, and brought kids participating in his foundation programs to the school regularly. An incident, personally witnessed by then Penn State graduate assistant Mike McQuery, was finally reported to Head Coach Joe Paterno back in March of 2002, when McQuery observed Sandusky assaulting a child in the shower in the university locker room.
Stunningly, his revelation, "investigated" by university officials Paterno, Athletic Director Tim Curley, and Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz, was never reported to authorities, and just faded away. The only consequence from their investigation appears to be a restriction on Sandusky bringing kids to the Penn State facilities, a restriction which he routinely ignored.
Way to keep your eye on the ball, Penn State. "As long as nothing happens on campus, it's all good, right? Not our problem." I can just hear them self-justifying in the AD's office.
Not until 2009 was a serious investigation begun into the abuse allegations by then PA State Attorney General, (now governor,) Tom Corbett, prompted by complaints from a high school aged victim. Barred from a high school setting for the second time due to allegations of sexual abuse, Sandusky's inexcusably ignored behavior was finally reported to authorities by the high school district administration, prompting a criminal investigation. [More than ten years too late, but better late than never, I guess.]
That investigation finally culminated in Sandusky being charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse against a minor on November 5, 2011. Curley and Schultz have been charged with perjury and failure to report as mandatory reporters under state law. Joe Paterno, their revered head coach, has been fired along with university president Graham Spanier.
Head Coach Paterno, the man who everyone looked to for guidance and direction, excused his failure to follow up because, well shucks, Sandusky was no longer a staff member. And, after all, he had passed the buck to some other administrators. What's a coach to do?
The rip tide of change is coming furiously now, but too late for his victims. Nearly 20 of them have come forward so far, with more expected, adults who suffered childhood abuse at the hands of a man who should have been stopped years ago.
I AM APPALLED. Is this really the best we can do for our vulnerable children? They are victims, not only of Jerry Sandusky, but Penn State as well. And that is unforgivable.
The obvious, really only, explanation for this stunning display of moral turpitude, allowing a man to prey on young boys unhindered by anyone in authority despite direct eyewitness evidence for over 15 years, is that he was a former football coach and still a quasi staff member at a Division I University, and they did not want the bad press that would have come along with the exposure. [No pun intended.] How totally inadequate.
I don't care how many people get fired today over this travesty, it will never restore the lost childhoods and innocence of the now nearly 20 people who have come forward who were reportedly assaulted by Sandusky over the 15 plus years he was allowed to conduct his reign of terror without a single meaningful consequence. What kind of abyss do we inhabit, where innocent children are sacrificed on the altar of college sports? We react in horror at the idea of the Mayans sacrificing virgins for their gods, but how is this any different? At least they were worshipping what they believed to be a higher power, a god who could deliver them from evil. And the martyrs were feted and honored, and believed to have a special place in heaven. Penn State was worshipping a pigskin god that delivered them lots of cash, and there was no honor for anyone in this whole debacle.
But the shocking lack of moral imperative does not stop there. Upon learning that the administration belatedly recognized their duty to protect vulnerable human beings from predators, and hold those in charge who could have stopped it accountable by firing the people who looked the other way, students and fans rioted in anger. Not, mind you, because of the abuse that was perpetrated within the walls of their institution. No, they had a temper tantrum because their extra special coach had lost his job. [Never mind that their entire administration had lost their way to moral relevance. There are games to win, you know.]
What a proud moment for Penn State. The actions of those young people confirm that they have, in fact, gotten precisely the message Penn State has been sending for the last 15 years, and their priorities are right in line with their misbegotten education. Sports is the cash cow that keeps them afloat, and nothing, absolutely nothing, is going to stand in the way of the boosters and their sky suites.
As people who know me well can attest, I am not a sports fan. (Other than the Minnesota Twins, who I do follow, although they always seem to lead me into the wilderness.) I have no tolerance for the shenanigans of the stars of the sports world, who seem to think there is a different set of rules for them than for the rest of us. (And sadly, they are proven right more often than not.) But this is shocking even to me, and my bar is set pretty low where athletes and their behavior are concerned.
Surely, you are saying, even those who revere the gods of field and court understand just how depraved these actions are? Surely no civilized person could allow this tacit acceptance of child sexual abuse to go unpunished? I am sorry to say, you would be wrong. Corbett has been publicly castigated for his fiery vote, as if, by holding people accountable, he is the one in the wrong. I am astonished that this is even possible in a world where we consider ourselves to be enlightened.
What does this say about us as a country? What have we taught our children? What will future generations do to us, if we are unwilling to protect them when they are most vulnerable today? The horses are already out of the barn, and closing the doors now may be pointless. But surely we at least have to try to round them up and get them locked up properly again.
The United State of America should stand for a safe haven, not only for the rich, the powerful and the well connected, but also for the vulnerable. If we fail in this, we have no moral platform from which to speak at all.
The Catholic Church has been roundly, and rightly, criticized for it's disinterest in getting criminally sexually abusive priests out of their parishes and into the prisons where they deserve to be. A person in a position of such power should never, EVER be allowed to abuse a child, and the consequences for doing so should be harsh and immediate. Religion should never be the excuse for a get out of jail free card. Not even when your god is a ball and your savior is named Joe Paterno.
Not until 2009 was a serious investigation begun into the abuse allegations by then PA State Attorney General, (now governor,) Tom Corbett, prompted by complaints from a high school aged victim. Barred from a high school setting for the second time due to allegations of sexual abuse, Sandusky's inexcusably ignored behavior was finally reported to authorities by the high school district administration, prompting a criminal investigation. [More than ten years too late, but better late than never, I guess.]
That investigation finally culminated in Sandusky being charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse against a minor on November 5, 2011. Curley and Schultz have been charged with perjury and failure to report as mandatory reporters under state law. Joe Paterno, their revered head coach, has been fired along with university president Graham Spanier.
Head Coach Paterno, the man who everyone looked to for guidance and direction, excused his failure to follow up because, well shucks, Sandusky was no longer a staff member. And, after all, he had passed the buck to some other administrators. What's a coach to do?
The rip tide of change is coming furiously now, but too late for his victims. Nearly 20 of them have come forward so far, with more expected, adults who suffered childhood abuse at the hands of a man who should have been stopped years ago.
I AM APPALLED. Is this really the best we can do for our vulnerable children? They are victims, not only of Jerry Sandusky, but Penn State as well. And that is unforgivable.
The obvious, really only, explanation for this stunning display of moral turpitude, allowing a man to prey on young boys unhindered by anyone in authority despite direct eyewitness evidence for over 15 years, is that he was a former football coach and still a quasi staff member at a Division I University, and they did not want the bad press that would have come along with the exposure. [No pun intended.] How totally inadequate.
I don't care how many people get fired today over this travesty, it will never restore the lost childhoods and innocence of the now nearly 20 people who have come forward who were reportedly assaulted by Sandusky over the 15 plus years he was allowed to conduct his reign of terror without a single meaningful consequence. What kind of abyss do we inhabit, where innocent children are sacrificed on the altar of college sports? We react in horror at the idea of the Mayans sacrificing virgins for their gods, but how is this any different? At least they were worshipping what they believed to be a higher power, a god who could deliver them from evil. And the martyrs were feted and honored, and believed to have a special place in heaven. Penn State was worshipping a pigskin god that delivered them lots of cash, and there was no honor for anyone in this whole debacle.
But the shocking lack of moral imperative does not stop there. Upon learning that the administration belatedly recognized their duty to protect vulnerable human beings from predators, and hold those in charge who could have stopped it accountable by firing the people who looked the other way, students and fans rioted in anger. Not, mind you, because of the abuse that was perpetrated within the walls of their institution. No, they had a temper tantrum because their extra special coach had lost his job. [Never mind that their entire administration had lost their way to moral relevance. There are games to win, you know.]
What a proud moment for Penn State. The actions of those young people confirm that they have, in fact, gotten precisely the message Penn State has been sending for the last 15 years, and their priorities are right in line with their misbegotten education. Sports is the cash cow that keeps them afloat, and nothing, absolutely nothing, is going to stand in the way of the boosters and their sky suites.
As people who know me well can attest, I am not a sports fan. (Other than the Minnesota Twins, who I do follow, although they always seem to lead me into the wilderness.) I have no tolerance for the shenanigans of the stars of the sports world, who seem to think there is a different set of rules for them than for the rest of us. (And sadly, they are proven right more often than not.) But this is shocking even to me, and my bar is set pretty low where athletes and their behavior are concerned.
Surely, you are saying, even those who revere the gods of field and court understand just how depraved these actions are? Surely no civilized person could allow this tacit acceptance of child sexual abuse to go unpunished? I am sorry to say, you would be wrong. Corbett has been publicly castigated for his fiery vote, as if, by holding people accountable, he is the one in the wrong. I am astonished that this is even possible in a world where we consider ourselves to be enlightened.
What does this say about us as a country? What have we taught our children? What will future generations do to us, if we are unwilling to protect them when they are most vulnerable today? The horses are already out of the barn, and closing the doors now may be pointless. But surely we at least have to try to round them up and get them locked up properly again.
The United State of America should stand for a safe haven, not only for the rich, the powerful and the well connected, but also for the vulnerable. If we fail in this, we have no moral platform from which to speak at all.
The Catholic Church has been roundly, and rightly, criticized for it's disinterest in getting criminally sexually abusive priests out of their parishes and into the prisons where they deserve to be. A person in a position of such power should never, EVER be allowed to abuse a child, and the consequences for doing so should be harsh and immediate. Religion should never be the excuse for a get out of jail free card. Not even when your god is a ball and your savior is named Joe Paterno.
