At this point, everyone should be aware of the scandal in State College, Pennsylvania.
Former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested last Saturday for allegedly sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year period while coaching at Penn State University.
Here's why it's a scandal: Sandusky had retired in 1999, but still used the football facilities for working with young boys. Apparently that went beyond just football. In 2002, then graduate assistant Mike McQueary says he witnessed Sandusky having anal sex with a young boy in the shower room of the football building. McQueary reported to Head Coach Joe Paterno what he saw. Paterno says that McQueary told him he saw Sandusky "doing something disturbing that was perhaps sexual in nature." Something tells me McQueary didn't phrase it that way, but the fact remains he told Paterno. Instead of reporting this to the police, Paterno reported what McQueary told him to Athletic Director Tim Curley. From what I understand, Sandusky was banned from using the facilities. Curley did not report anything to the police.
In addition to Sandusky's arrest, two top university officials - Curley and Gary Schultz, the senior vice president for finance and business - have been charged with perjury and failing to report to authorities what they knew of the allegations. Now, as of a few hours ago, Paterno and University President Graham Spanier have been fired.
Paterno is a legend at Penn State; he is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA football history, he's coached at Penn State for 46 years as the head coach (though he's been involved with the program for 62 years), and he is the contributor of a $10 Million library on Penn State's campus. Spanier was a president popular among students and the community, helped to raise the academic prestige at Penn State during his tenure, and was actually one of the longest-serving and highest-paid presidents of a university in the nation.
John Surma Jr., the vice chairman of the board, said, "We thought that because of the difficulties that engulfed our university, and they are grave, that it is necessary to make a change in the leadership to set a course for a new direction." Before taking questions in the press conference that announced the firing of Paterno and Spanier he continued, "I'd like to remind you that we do not yet know all of the facts in this matter."
And THAT'S where I have my issue.
Let me start by saying, that what Sandusky allegedly did was arguably one of the worst, most despicable, inhumane things you can do to another human being - especially a child. If convicted, he is a serial pedophile and should have the book thrown at him... and then some. I say "allegedly" and "if" because he hasn't been convicted yet, and as horrible of a thing as he's accused of doing, he's still an American citizen. In America, ALL citizens have the right to a trial and due process - they are innocent until proven guilty. Having said that, since there are witnesses and victims coming forward, it's safe to say that he will be convicted.
Now, McQueary witnessed the sexual assault, so Paterno told him to report it. It is reported that Paterno also notified the proper hierarchy as well. Should he have notified the police? Maybe. Probably. But the fact remains he was NOT silent and did NOT hide what he knew. He told his superiors and directed McQueary to those same superiors. Could Paterno have done more to make sure more action was taken? Maybe. Probably. Should he have? Absolutely. But, again, he was not silent.
In the wake of the allegations, Paterno announced that he would retire at the end of the season, as this seemed to have been coming for a long time now anyway, but would finish the season, including the game against Nebraska this Saturday, November 12. However, the Board of Trustees fired Paterno on Wednesday, November 9. From my understanding, this was done via a phone call and they are euphemistically saying he was "relieved of his duties." Apparently, a legendary coach who has given so much to Penn State through the football program, through his donations and through his time and wisdom - AND was NOT silent about what he knew - doesn't deserve the courtesy of being fired face-to-face. Now assistant coach McQueary, who WITNESSED the actual events and ALSO did not report anything to police, still retains his job.
Now let me be clear, I do think some kind of action needed to be taken by the University and the Board of Trustees. My issue is that the Board, admittedly, does not know all the facts and has not completed an investigation to get those facts. To flat-out fire Paterno is wrong. He should have been suspended until the investigation was complete. Same goes for President Spanier. To fire them both before having all the facts is, in my opinion, presumptive accusatory. I understand that the University and the Board of Trustees are under scrutiny and pressure to act, but PROPER and FAIR actions must be taken. Let's remember, it's not like Paterno was the one arrested for committing the acts. He knew about them - no... he knew SOMETHING about them, and he DID report them. Everybody seems to act like they know EXACTLY what Paterno knew, EXACTLY what he reported, and EXACTLY what he was told would happen based on what he reported as if they were in the room when everything happened. We don't know exactly what Paterno knew or to what extent he knew it.
We just. Don't. Know.
Look, I'm not saying Paterno should be let off the hook. If he knew more and didn't report it, or if he reported it and he allowed Curley to brush it off with a slap on the wrist for Sandusky, then yes, he should have taken it to someone else who would listen and take action. Sexual assault is a serious issue, especially in the case of an adult taking advantage of young boys. You might even argue that it's worse than murder because the victims have to live with the atrocity that was forced upon them and without the innocence that was stolen from them. Regardless, that's not what I'm arguing here.
I'm arguing that the Board of Trustees has acted inappropriately by firing a legendary coach and person who did take (some) action because they are under pressure. I'm arguing that the Board of Trustees should have given Paterno the decency and the courtesy of telling him he was being fired in-person. I'm arguing that we are treating Paterno like he did nothing about what he knew.
It's heartbreaking. Everything about this is heartbreaking. The fact that those children were victimized the way they were; the fact that Paterno's legacy is now forever tarnished; the fact that SEVERAL people failed to take further action to seek justice. I'm not a Penn State fan. I've never been a fan of Joe Paterno. But I've always admired what he's done for Penn State, both academically and athletically. It's sad that his legacy will now be about this horrible tragedy instead of all the incredible things he's done for others in his life.
We'll all know the truth soon enough. And I can only hope that when we do, Paterno's name is cleared as much as it can be. In the meantime, we need to realize that this matter is bigger than a coach, a football season, or a program. It's about the sexual assault that 8 boys suffered at the hands of a pedophile... and bringing them some sense of justice and closure.
But for now, we do not yet know all of the facts in this matter.
Former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested last Saturday for allegedly sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year period while coaching at Penn State University.
Here's why it's a scandal: Sandusky had retired in 1999, but still used the football facilities for working with young boys. Apparently that went beyond just football. In 2002, then graduate assistant Mike McQueary says he witnessed Sandusky having anal sex with a young boy in the shower room of the football building. McQueary reported to Head Coach Joe Paterno what he saw. Paterno says that McQueary told him he saw Sandusky "doing something disturbing that was perhaps sexual in nature." Something tells me McQueary didn't phrase it that way, but the fact remains he told Paterno. Instead of reporting this to the police, Paterno reported what McQueary told him to Athletic Director Tim Curley. From what I understand, Sandusky was banned from using the facilities. Curley did not report anything to the police.
In addition to Sandusky's arrest, two top university officials - Curley and Gary Schultz, the senior vice president for finance and business - have been charged with perjury and failing to report to authorities what they knew of the allegations. Now, as of a few hours ago, Paterno and University President Graham Spanier have been fired.
Paterno is a legend at Penn State; he is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA football history, he's coached at Penn State for 46 years as the head coach (though he's been involved with the program for 62 years), and he is the contributor of a $10 Million library on Penn State's campus. Spanier was a president popular among students and the community, helped to raise the academic prestige at Penn State during his tenure, and was actually one of the longest-serving and highest-paid presidents of a university in the nation.
John Surma Jr., the vice chairman of the board, said, "We thought that because of the difficulties that engulfed our university, and they are grave, that it is necessary to make a change in the leadership to set a course for a new direction." Before taking questions in the press conference that announced the firing of Paterno and Spanier he continued, "I'd like to remind you that we do not yet know all of the facts in this matter."
And THAT'S where I have my issue.
Let me start by saying, that what Sandusky allegedly did was arguably one of the worst, most despicable, inhumane things you can do to another human being - especially a child. If convicted, he is a serial pedophile and should have the book thrown at him... and then some. I say "allegedly" and "if" because he hasn't been convicted yet, and as horrible of a thing as he's accused of doing, he's still an American citizen. In America, ALL citizens have the right to a trial and due process - they are innocent until proven guilty. Having said that, since there are witnesses and victims coming forward, it's safe to say that he will be convicted.
Now, McQueary witnessed the sexual assault, so Paterno told him to report it. It is reported that Paterno also notified the proper hierarchy as well. Should he have notified the police? Maybe. Probably. But the fact remains he was NOT silent and did NOT hide what he knew. He told his superiors and directed McQueary to those same superiors. Could Paterno have done more to make sure more action was taken? Maybe. Probably. Should he have? Absolutely. But, again, he was not silent.
In the wake of the allegations, Paterno announced that he would retire at the end of the season, as this seemed to have been coming for a long time now anyway, but would finish the season, including the game against Nebraska this Saturday, November 12. However, the Board of Trustees fired Paterno on Wednesday, November 9. From my understanding, this was done via a phone call and they are euphemistically saying he was "relieved of his duties." Apparently, a legendary coach who has given so much to Penn State through the football program, through his donations and through his time and wisdom - AND was NOT silent about what he knew - doesn't deserve the courtesy of being fired face-to-face. Now assistant coach McQueary, who WITNESSED the actual events and ALSO did not report anything to police, still retains his job.
Now let me be clear, I do think some kind of action needed to be taken by the University and the Board of Trustees. My issue is that the Board, admittedly, does not know all the facts and has not completed an investigation to get those facts. To flat-out fire Paterno is wrong. He should have been suspended until the investigation was complete. Same goes for President Spanier. To fire them both before having all the facts is, in my opinion, presumptive accusatory. I understand that the University and the Board of Trustees are under scrutiny and pressure to act, but PROPER and FAIR actions must be taken. Let's remember, it's not like Paterno was the one arrested for committing the acts. He knew about them - no... he knew SOMETHING about them, and he DID report them. Everybody seems to act like they know EXACTLY what Paterno knew, EXACTLY what he reported, and EXACTLY what he was told would happen based on what he reported as if they were in the room when everything happened. We don't know exactly what Paterno knew or to what extent he knew it.
We just. Don't. Know.
Look, I'm not saying Paterno should be let off the hook. If he knew more and didn't report it, or if he reported it and he allowed Curley to brush it off with a slap on the wrist for Sandusky, then yes, he should have taken it to someone else who would listen and take action. Sexual assault is a serious issue, especially in the case of an adult taking advantage of young boys. You might even argue that it's worse than murder because the victims have to live with the atrocity that was forced upon them and without the innocence that was stolen from them. Regardless, that's not what I'm arguing here.
I'm arguing that the Board of Trustees has acted inappropriately by firing a legendary coach and person who did take (some) action because they are under pressure. I'm arguing that the Board of Trustees should have given Paterno the decency and the courtesy of telling him he was being fired in-person. I'm arguing that we are treating Paterno like he did nothing about what he knew.
It's heartbreaking. Everything about this is heartbreaking. The fact that those children were victimized the way they were; the fact that Paterno's legacy is now forever tarnished; the fact that SEVERAL people failed to take further action to seek justice. I'm not a Penn State fan. I've never been a fan of Joe Paterno. But I've always admired what he's done for Penn State, both academically and athletically. It's sad that his legacy will now be about this horrible tragedy instead of all the incredible things he's done for others in his life.
We'll all know the truth soon enough. And I can only hope that when we do, Paterno's name is cleared as much as it can be. In the meantime, we need to realize that this matter is bigger than a coach, a football season, or a program. It's about the sexual assault that 8 boys suffered at the hands of a pedophile... and bringing them some sense of justice and closure.
But for now, we do not yet know all of the facts in this matter.
