Slog
News & ArtsThursday, July 12, 2012
Crime / Sports JoePa Failed to Protect the Kids, Investigation Finds
Posted by Goldy on Thu, Jul 12, 2012 at 8:05 AM
An independent investigation of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal blames top Penn State University officials—including legendary football coach Joe Paterno—for failing to protect the victims:
“Our most saddening and sobering finding is the total disregard for the safety and welfare of Sandusky’s child victims,” said Louis J. Freeh, the former federal judge and director of the F.B.I. who oversaw the investigation. “The most powerful men at Penn State failed to take any steps for 14 years to protect the children who Sandusky victimized.”
... The investigation’s findings doubtless will have significant ramifications — for Paterno’s legacy, for the university’s legal liability as it seeks to compensate Sandusky’s victims, and perhaps for the wider world of major college athletics.
Sad thing is, back in Happy Valley, it's Paterno's legacy that many will view as the most tragic victim here.
1
A Penn State core value:
The reputation of the institution is more important than preventing children from being raped on campus.
The reputation of the institution is more important than preventing children from being raped on campus.
3
UW athletics would have done the same thing, and has in the past. Every football program in America would have done the same thing. Many of them surely are -- if not child rape then rape or worse by athletes.
4
Fuck you, JoePa
Has anyone asked if JoePa showered with the young'uns, too?
JoePa the GroPah (enabler).
Has anyone asked if JoePa showered with the young'uns, too?
JoePa the GroPah (enabler).
5
"Further, they exposed this child to additional harm by alerting Sandusky, who was the only one who knew the child’s identity, of what McQueary saw in the shower on the night of February 9, 2001."
-- http://www.balloon-juice.com/2012/07/12/…
-- http://www.balloon-juice.com/2012/07/12/…
8
Penn State fan my whole life, but fuck Paterno. He was just like all the catholic cardinals that protected Pedophiles. This will be his legacy, a pedophile enabler, the guy could have stopped this, Paterno was more powerful than the governor in PA. He was basically a god in PA. He could have put the cuffs on Sandunsky if he chose to. What an asshole.
9
I can't wait to hear all my friends at Penn State rescind their previous support of Paterno now that these findings have been release.
Too bad that'll never happen.
Too bad that'll never happen.
12
Wonder how many of those students who rioted after Paterno's dismissal are now feeling ashamed of their actions that night? Probably not as many as should, would be my answer... were I to answer my own rhetorical question...
13
"UW athletics would have done the same thing..."
One might think so, but one would be wrong. This is on a scale that staggers belief that ANY institution would EVERY do such things. This is what happened after Sandusky was being investigated by the local DA in 1998 after a boy reported his sexual assault, an investigation that Freeh's report states that Paterno "followed closely":
"The investigation revealed 'a decision by Spanier, Schultz, Paterno and Curley to allow Sandusky to retire in 1999, not as a suspected child predator, but as a valued member of the Penn State football legacy, with future 'visibility' at Penn State and ways 'to continue to work with young people through Penn State,' essentially granting him license to bring boys to campus facilities for grooming as targets for his assaults."
One might think so, but one would be wrong. This is on a scale that staggers belief that ANY institution would EVERY do such things. This is what happened after Sandusky was being investigated by the local DA in 1998 after a boy reported his sexual assault, an investigation that Freeh's report states that Paterno "followed closely":
"The investigation revealed 'a decision by Spanier, Schultz, Paterno and Curley to allow Sandusky to retire in 1999, not as a suspected child predator, but as a valued member of the Penn State football legacy, with future 'visibility' at Penn State and ways 'to continue to work with young people through Penn State,' essentially granting him license to bring boys to campus facilities for grooming as targets for his assaults."
14
Was just down in Beaverton, Oregon at the Nike Headquarters campus. Guess what one of the buildings is called? The Joe Paterno Child Development Center. I shit you not.
15
Fnarf, while I understand (& share!) your contempt for professional collegiate sports, in this case there is something you need to consider: Paterno's winning record. Collegiate sports have a bottom line, called their W-L record. All other considerations are subservient to that. If this had occurred at the UW while Tyrone Willingham was coach, he'd be fired right away. Not based on any moral stance (although that would be championed ad nauseum), but because he wasn't a winning coach.
Paterno was an incredible football coach. He got away with stuff no other staff would. So I don't think this would happen at any university in the nation. Not for any moral or ethical reason, but because situations are always more complex than can be easily described in a post.
Paterno was an incredible football coach. He got away with stuff no other staff would. So I don't think this would happen at any university in the nation. Not for any moral or ethical reason, but because situations are always more complex than can be easily described in a post.
16
After hearing part of the Freeh Report and knowing Sandusky was convicted, I now feel PSU should get the "death penalty" just like SMU in 87':
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Me…
I think one season at least should be forfeited. Seems to me that that crime was so great (in terms of # of victims) and protracted (extended over time w/o any sanction) that the NCAA should punish PSU harshly. It is most unfortunate for Paterno but his legacy is tarnished. No one coach or administrator is above the law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Me…
I think one season at least should be forfeited. Seems to me that that crime was so great (in terms of # of victims) and protracted (extended over time w/o any sanction) that the NCAA should punish PSU harshly. It is most unfortunate for Paterno but his legacy is tarnished. No one coach or administrator is above the law.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
Portland Voters Are Stoopid by Goldy
-
An I-5 Bridge Over the Skagit River Has Collapsed by Paul Constant
-
Why They Break Windows by Unpaid Intern
-
Did You Steal Our Unpaid Intern's Camera? by Goldy
-
Usually When I'm Sent a Photoshopped Image of a Gun Pointed At Me... by Dan Savage
-
The Only Thing More Tragic than a Bridge Collapse Would Be a 10 Cent a Gallon Increase in the Gas Tax by Goldy
-
Tornado Truthers by Dan Savage
-
Star Trek Releases Deleted Scene of Benedict Cumberbatch Showering to Counter Claims of Sexism by Cienna Madrid
-
Boy Scouts Lift Ban on Gay Members by Paul Constant
-
Should I Buy One of These? by Goldy
Stranger Personals
The Stranger
RSSSeattle Art & Performance Quarterly
A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (16) RSS