[graciegirl]

Penn State students flip a news van as a riot erupts.

[tpop1]

Originally Posted by Loveithere

Hope everyone is happy now.

Nothing about this mess has made me happy, especially after reading the Grand Jury report....every word of the disturbing 23 pages.

Joe's no victim here, Spanier's no victim here; the young boys are the ONLY victims here. Read the Grand Jury report!!!!

So many opportunities to stop the creep; but NO ONE stepped up. Adult after adult had a chance but living in such an insular society there on campus, they had no real idea how to go about it.

Not so much bad people, as BAD desisions.

And the bad decisions continued last night with the rioting students turning over a TV truck.

Edmund Burke's quote has never been more applicable..."All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing."

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by tpop1

Nothing about this mess has made me happy, especially after reading the Grand Jury report....every word of the disturbing 23 pages.

Joe's no victim here, Spanier's no victim here; the young boys are the ONLY victims here. Read the Grand Jury report!!!!

So many opportunities to stop the creep; but NO ONE stepped up. Adult after adult had a chance but living in such an insular society there on campus, they had no real idea how to go about it.

Not so much bad people, as BAD desisions.

And the bad decisions continued last night with the rioting students turning over a TV truck.

Edmund Burke's quote has never been more applicable..."All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing."

Excellent post.

Not so much bad people, as BAD decisions, except Jerry Sandusky.

I really admired Joe Pa but this is an unbelievable failure to do the right thing by several people. A scandal that cannot even be measured on the richter scale.

We will have to wait for the trial and see how this plays out in the justice system.

My thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families.

[PennBF]

This appears to be just another case of someone protecting the "Institution" at the expense of a child. How many times is it that an Institution is protected and there is outrage when leaders, etc. are charged with abuse of children as it will have a negative effect on the "Institution". Many raise to the defense of the person who abused the child in order to protect the institution. How many will say they feel sorry for Paterno when in fact they
want to protect the image of the Institution. How many will try to defend the Institution which failed the child as it [Institution] did not ensure the enviorement at the Institution was such as to make sure all knew the penalty and seriousness of any volation. Was Paterno's only notification to the Management of Sports at Penn State was kept quiet so as to protect the Institution and therefore it was not reported to the police?
The child is always more important than any institution.

[Dennis Ga]

How can a Father and Grandfather stand by and let someone abuse young boys and not do anything. Makes me sick to think someone would stand by and let this keep going on to protect a friend or an institution. The protection of the Child should always come first.

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by PennBF

This appears to be just another case of someone protecting the "Institution" at the expense of a child. How many times is it that an Institution is protected and there is outrage when leaders, etc. are charged with abuse of children as it will have a negative effect on the "Institution". Many raise to the defense of the person who abused the child in order to protect the institution. How many will say they feel sorry for Paterno when in fact they
want to protect the image of the Institution. How many will try to defend the Institution which failed the child as it [Institution] did not ensure the enviorement at the Institution was such as to make sure all knew the penalty and seriousness of any volation. Was Paterno's only notification to the Management of Sports at Penn State was kept quiet so as to protect the Institution and therefore it was not reported to the police?
The child is always more important than any institution.

What it really boils down to is that "the Institution" needs MONEY....continuing and perpetual donations....by football-obsessed alumni into athletic budgets....or by parishioners into the collection basket or diocesan campaign fund.

[Virtual Geezer]

Originally Posted by hedoman

Ye who have no sin cast the first stone.

Joe Pa IS Penn State so any conflict that needs headlines will involve him.

Anybody know the heirarchy of University Security? There is protocol and only higher ups may involve outside agencies at their discretion. So some body comes to you and says they saw something happen as it relates to a previous employee. Protocol dictates that I report this to higher authorities in the chain of command, which he did. They investigate it and take control. Follow up? With all the othr responsibilities you think I have time to follow up?

Everybody is treating this as if Joe SAW the event and did nothing.... You make it sound like he did it NOT a former coach years removed. It IS horrific what happened but to tarnish a man for doing what he is instructed to do and follow the chain of command on hearsay, well you all have got it wrong!

Many other horrors were witnessed and not reported in Corporate and in the military ... That'sno excuse but it happens......

I agree 100%. The new chain of command in society today is Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, TMZ, then the old chain of superior on up. Oh yeah if anyone brakes the chain it is your fault regardless.

Joe got a raw deal and should have been allowed to finish out the season.

VG

[PennBF]

Why did Joe Pa not go to the Police? Because his first loyalty is to the Institution and not abused 10 year old children. He should not only be fired
immediately but brought up on charges. He is the poster child for all of those
who care more about their Instutional loyalty or protecting thier Management than 10 year old abused children.

[PennBF]

Is it self righteous to stand up against abuse of children? Is it self righteous to stand up against the torturing of defenselss animals? It is sad that some would rather sweep these terrible acts under the table rather than have the coviction and courage to speak out. If speaking out is self righteous then color me self righteous. I would carry the label with great pride.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by Bill-n-Brillo

And we thought Ohio State was having problems! Pales in comparison to what Penn State is having to deal with.

Bill

Penn State is not the victim here. It appears that Penn State leadership facilitated the crimes by not going to police. The cover-up was institutional, was it not?

The very idea that only higher ups are allowed by policy to notify police of a suspected crime on campus seems wrong-headed. What could possibly motivate such policy but protecting the university at the expense of transparency, integrity and justice.

I realize that many if not most universities have this same policy. If we learn nothing from this tragedy, it should be that those self-serving campus policies are a travesty.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

The latest.......FWIW:

http://www.thepostgame.com/commentar...firing-paterno

Bill

[PennBF]

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by Pturner

Penn State is not the victim here. It appears that Penn State leadership facilitated the crimes by not going to police. The cover-up was institutional, was it not?

The very idea that only higher ups are allowed by policy to notify police of a suspected crime on campus seems wrong-headed. What could possibly motivate such policy but protecting the university at the expense of transparency, integrity and justice.

I realize that many if not most universities have this same policy. If we learn nothing from this tragedy, it should be that those self-serving campus policies are a travesty.

That is not quite the case here. I think that if the graduate assistant had called the police immediately that night it would have been consistent with the school policy. (Assuming it is similar to those I have encountered at several institutions and corporations.) All policies I have seen do not restrict the ability to call the police when a crime is ongoing. But they do require notification of administration when police need to be contacted about something that happened in the past. Since Coach Paterno and subsequently the AD and others were notified of that abuse 24-48 hours later, there was no immediate need for a police presence at the school. The perpetrator and the victim were long gone. Therefore, it fell on the administration to notify the police, per policy, and get an investigation started. Whether they failed in that duty or not will be determined.

There may be a coverup in this case. But if it is determined that a cover-up did occur, I don't believe the policy caused it, rather the failure of people to do their jobs. Obviously, anyone who decided to bury this affair to protect the university's reputation failed miserably when you look at the result.

[2BNTV]

I am posting this article as it is written by a great sports writer.

End Of Paterno

http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/11/1...r_a5&eref=sihp

[PennBF]

It is interesting as to why some feel the need to insult, call names and use that as a defense against supporting those who point out the fact that Joe Paterno was in fact complicit in the abuse of a child. It may be because they have no facts and must rely on calling names and insulting the ones who feel that children should be protected! They should examine themselves in order to be better equipped to disucss issues and avoid the pit falls of name calling.
They should try to better understand the underpinnings of their behavior so they can grow and be a better person. When I read something from a person who uses that approach I am sad as it is clear the person does not think enough of themseleves to try to improve.
I have not and will not call names or use insults to try to shut down discussion as that would make me no better than the one who does.