Paterno, Penn State, and child molesters (updated)

welch · Post by **welch** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:44 am

See:

http://deadspin.com/5858111/joe-paterno ... er-is-over

So much moral corruption, simple evil, so many directions...what can we say that expresses all of it?

Perhaps take the image in mind: a football coach rapes a child; other team staff notice and...stop the rape? No. They report the "incident" to a Penn State administrator.

And we know, surely, that mere child abuse should not "tarnish" the great name of a powerful "program". All hail the program.

welch · Post by **welch** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:45 am

...and this reports, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/sport ... ml?_r=1&hp

indicates that many that Penn State students believe that Paterno should be protected.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — After top Penn State officials announced they had fired Joe Paterno on Wednesday night, thousands of students stormed the downtown area to display their anger and frustration, chanting the former coach’s name, tearing down light poles and overturning a television news van parked along College Avenue.

The demonstrators congregated outside Penn State’s administration building before stampeding into the tight grid of downtown streets. They turned their ire on a news van, a symbolic gesture that expressed a view held by many that the media exaggerated Mr. Paterno’s role in the Jerry Sandusky pedophilia scandal.

“I think the point people are trying to make is the media is responsible for Joe Pa going down,” said freshman Mike Clark, 18, adding that he believed Mr. Paterno met both his legal and moral responsibility by telling university authorities about Mr. Sandusky’s alleged 2002 assault on a boy in a school shower.

Demonstrators tore down two lampposts, one falling into a crowd of students. They also threw rocks and fireworks at police, who responded with pepper spray. The crowd undulated like an accordion, with the students crowding the police and the officers pushing them back.

“We got rowdy and we got maced,” Jeff Heim, 19, said rubbing his red, teary eyes. “But make no mistake, the board started this riot by firing our coach. They tarnished a legend.”

An orderly crowd first filled the lawn in front of Old Main when news of Mr. Paterno’s firing came via students’ cell phones. When the crowd took to the downtown streets, it’s anger and intensity swelled. Students shouted “We are Penn State.”

To repeat: "Mr. Paterno met both his legal and moral responsibility by telling university authorities about Mr. Sandusky’s alleged 2002 assault on a boy in a school shower." .

“We are Penn State.”

Indeed.

vwoodzpusha · Post by **vwoodzpusha** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:56 am

They tarnished a legend.”

The board did not tarnish Joe Paterno. He tarnished himself. I understand he met his "legal" obligation. But morally I am not sure how you can hear that a man raped a 10 year old in the shower and not do more than just tell the AD. Then to continue to see this man around campus and holding children’s camps knowing what he did and STILL not contact authorities. Paterno announcing he would retire at the end of the season so the board didn’t have to waste their time with it, was the last ditch effort of a selfish man trying to hold onto a job that is his life.

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:41 am

The last time I checked, the media does not have any duty to protect a man who let children get assaulted right under his nose. Those kids are dazed and confused to think that Paterno is some untouchable God who has done no wrong. The overall situation is unfortunate for all, but accountability is accountability. Sexual assault on a child is the most heinous crime a person can commit and with Paterno knowing and doing practically nothing of said acts, to me, he is a cosigner of said atrocities.

The one positive that comes out of this situation is that the public is more aware of such actions and it fosters discussions on how we all have a duty to protect children from sexual predators.

tribeofjudah · Post by **tribeofjudah** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:41 am

Penn State scandal: ALL educators, coaches are MANDATED REPORTERS - it's an oath and obligation to report when kids are in in danger...!!!

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:58 pm

I agree with the board of trustees decision - Paterno should go but also the whole football program and staff here needs to be looked at very closely also

Sandusky has only been charged with 40 counts by reportedly 9 people ... so far

This sicko had an office on the campus until recently even though he was not a part of the team since 2000

Why did the board not let McQueery go as well?

Why did McQueery not do anything verbally or physically in 2002, when he was 28, and he saw Sandusky sexually molesting a 10 year old child

This is not good at all - this is not about sports - this is about violating children

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:30 pm

SkinsJock wrote:This is not good at all - this is not about sports - this is about violating children

Not good?

It's getting down right sickening

welch · Post by **welch** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 4:16 pm

...and this opinion:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-n ... tate-riots

welch · Post by **welch** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 11:10 pm

(1) Saw the ESPN report this weekend as Penn State removed the Paterno statue from the football stadium. The reporter kept shaking his head as he spoke, a body-language indication, I think, that he believes the statue should stand. Interviewed several students. None said "child molesting". Referred to "the events". Insisted that Paterno was OK because he had not stood trial and been found guilty. Reporter emphasized that Paterno gave money to the college library.

Sick. Reporter and Penn State.

(2) Does Penn State exist to support a semi-pro football team, or is it a university? I remember when a professor was fired from Tennessee for failing to give passing grades to no-show football players. Something fundamentally wrong here.

(3) Maybe that's why I prefer the NFL to college sports...at least the NFL teams are honest about being in business to make money. They even pay their players openly.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 9:09 am

Children are off limits. ANYONE who crosses that line should be tortured for life and not killed.

Paterno- Use to be "that guy is a hell of a coach", now he's "the guy that didn't call the police on his coach that molested boys and did even more behind the doors".

Piece of ;furious;

cowboykillerzRGiii · Post by **cowboykillerzRGiii** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 10:56 pm

BUT should the team that got "punished" also be punished more for these @*&#s?

ATX_Skins · Post by **ATX_Skins** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 11:03 am

cowboykillerzRED wrote:BUT should the team that got "punished" also be punished more for these @*&#s?

Yes.

In fact, they should have lost their program for 5-10 years. They got off easy.

cowboykillerzRGiii · Post by **cowboykillerzRGiii** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 2:50 pm

Huh.. so the rapists victim is at fault?
I don't comprehend that logic one bit. Scholarships for young adults should be stripped away due to the old pieces of $hiz that are no longer part of the program?
I disagree sir.

ATX_Skins · Post by **ATX_Skins** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 4:02 pm

cowboykillerzRED wrote:Huh.. so the rapists victim is at fault?
I don't comprehend that logic one bit. Scholarships for young adults should be stripped away due to the old pieces of $hiz that are no longer part of the program?
I disagree sir.

So then we should just turn a blind eye to a program that covered up raping young boys for about a decade?

What do you think the punishment should be?

Look, if you are the owner of a bar and they allow underage patrons in and they get caught, you get in trouble. Doesn't matter if it's fair.

Penn State had a choice to make. Either be ethical and expose it when they found out, or cover it up for a top program at the time. They chose to cover up one of the most disgusting things a human being can do, FOR YEARS!

cowboykillerzRGiii · Post by **cowboykillerzRGiii** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 4:14 pm

So punish the bar owners not the patrons.. or venders. The unethical should be tar and feathered, not their kids right? Should the family of that joker wannabe mass murderer be persecuted for sharing his last name?

It's not the kids that are at fault.. take the heads of every coach and anyone on the board, but punish the opportunity for hs grads to make a future either in the sport or with a full ride obtaining a degree is not only ludicrous, but double jeopardy. They have suffered enough, for far to long.

ATX_Skins · Post by **ATX_Skins** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 4:44 pm

cowboykillerzRED wrote:So punish the bar owners not the patrons.. or venders. The unethical should be tar and feathered, not their kids right? Should the family of that joker wannabe mass murderer be persecuted for sharing his last name?

It's not the kids that are at fault.. take the heads of every coach and anyone on the board, but punish the opportunity for hs grads to make a future either in the sport or with a full ride obtaining a degree is not only ludicrous, but double jeopardy. They have suffered enough, for far to long.

You know that Joe Pa is dead right? How do you suppose they punish him further?

BTW, Penn St can still play football, to me that should be a blessing.

cowboykillerzRGiii · Post by **cowboykillerzRGiii** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 7:11 pm

What are you talking about? I'm talking about the people in the system that didn't do anything but had known about it.. I'm talking about the questionable people being punished not a dead man.. and certainly not the football team as far as players and the ability to play and compete in a bowl game. I know they didn't get the extinction or execution or what ever term they used, but to punish people who were not involved is bogus man. Isn't that what we have been talking about?

welch · Post by **welch** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 2:39 pm

(1) Let the "student athletes" go someplace else, or even finish college at Penn State without playing football. Just going to class.

(2) Yes, eliminate Penn State football for about ten years. Maybe five, but I like ten.

(3) The athletic department and the university administration conspired to cover the rape of children. A criminal conspiracy. Shut them down.

ATX_Skins · Post by **ATX_Skins** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 2:54 pm

welch wrote:(1) Let the "student athletes" go someplace else, or even finish college at Penn State without playing football. Just going to class.

(2) Yes, eliminate Penn State football for about ten years. Maybe five, but I like ten.

(3) The athletic department and the university administration conspired to cover the rape of children. A criminal conspiracy. Shut them down.

Exactly. Raping children should not be taken lightly, ever!