Category: Penn State Scandal

Will Penn State prompt change in college culture?

Posted by dcrim – November 23, 2011

The Christian Science Monitor, in an editorial, notes that the NCAA will “examine” Penn State’s loss of control over its sports program following the sex and coverup scandal. But it says the NCAA needs a robust solution to break the culture of sports dominance in colleges.

The newspaper concludes:

Individuals who have been charged will be held responsible in a court of law. But Penn State and the NCAA need to break a culture that serves an institution first instead of the values its stands for.

Click here for the editorial.

Making a sad story even sadder, the New York Times reports Victim 1, according to friends and others, was taunted by classmates after it became widely known this month that he had testified against Sandusky as part of a case that ultimately caused Joe Paterno, the longtime football coach at Penn State, to lose his job. Click here for the story.

Politico and The Daily Beast offer analysis of the CNN GOP presidential debate.

Sandusky: ‘I shouldn’t have showered with those kids’

Posted by dcrim – November 15, 2011

This disgusting and revolting story doesn’t get any better. Former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky admitted to showering and horsing around with young boys, but said he is not a pedophile, in an exclusive interview with Bob Costas broadcast Monday night on NBC’s Rock Center. Click here to view the interview.

Memo to Penn State students: This isn’t about football

Posted by dcrim – November 10, 2011

Penn State fired football coach Joe Paterno Wednesday night in the wake of the horrific sexual abuse scandal involving former assistant Jerry Sandusky. The firing of the winningest coach in major college football history sent angry students into the streets where they shouted support for Paterno and tipped over a news van, creating a surreal scene.

Writes Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com: Finally, adults with backbones and courage made a prudent decision at Penn State. Paterno was fired because he failed miserably while making the biggest decision of his life. Click here for the full story.

Notes Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com: It is a sad and stunning end to a 20th-century American success story. An Italian-American kid from Brooklyn grew up to become one of the most influential figures in American sports. He supped with Presidents. He transformed a university. And a career that should be celebrated is sullied instead. Click here for the story.

Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle says Paterno got what he deserved. Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle writes that Paterno failed Penn State more than any coach has failed any school.

The students? Their disturbing actions are detailed here and here. The first questions that pops to mind: Where was their outrage for the eight boys who allegedly were molested? C’mon. Football coach, icon or not, or one of the most disgusting stories of our time? Seems like these future leaders have their priorities out of whack. Maybe they should take the time to read the grand jury report.

On the political front, one question that emerged from Wednesday night’s GOP presidential debate: Is Texas Gov. Rick Perry now officially toast? Click here and here to see what insiders think.

Story of alleged sexual abuse disgusting on every level

Posted by dcrim – November 8, 2011

There is nothing more disgusting than bringing harm of any kind to a child. A close second is doing nothing about it — other than “going through the chain of command,” which is political speak for covering your own butt —  when learning about potential harm.

The story about former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, seen above, is revolting in every way. That university personnel did little once allegations of sexual abuse by Sandusky were made nearly a decade ago is equally insidious. It already has cost two Penn State officials their jobs, and they still face perjury charges.

The Pennsylvania attorney general and the state police commissioner excoriated Penn State officials for failing over 15 years to alert the authorities to possible sexual abuse of young boys by Sandusky. The Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News is calling for school President Graham Spanier and head fooball coach Joe Paterno to resign in this editorial.

Michael Tomasky, writing for the Daily Beast, admits that Paterno has been a great man. He is the winningest big-time college football coach in history, and his name is on the school’s library, not an athletic facility. But his failure to bring a rapist to justice has ruined his reputation for good. Click here for the story.

Meanwhile, Frank Bruni of the New York Times says parents should also remain conscious of an additional lesson suggested by the Penn State story because institutions do an awful job of policing themselves. Click here for the column.

The whole thing makes the 2001 book, “Touched: The Jerry Sandusky Story,” a sad, ironic title. Now it seems like Penn State is laying the groundwork for Paterno’s departure.

BTW, nobody cares about Saturday’s game against Nebraska.