What do you think of the Penn State situation?

leothelioness · Nov 13, 2011

What are your thoughts on Paterno's being fired? Do you think he should have been let go? Did he do/not do what was in his power? What about everyone else involved at the university?

I read the Grand Jury indictment and personally I think Paterno and everyone else involved should have been fired. The athletic director should at least do some time in prison for lying in his report about being told of one of the incidents. The saddest and most disgusting thing is Sandusky had been caught numerous times before and nothing was done. Even the university police refused to continue the investigation after the 1998 incident.

This whole situation just makes me sick.

Apollo Celestio · Nov 13, 2011

They rioted over him being fired before those kids who suffered. F'ing sports worship kills me. I read the indictment also.. it was sickening.

Pologie · Nov 14, 2011

Its very hard reading and hearing about a lot of the stuff that happened. I do agree with you that the people who lied should all serve time. I can only imagine how many other children suffered.

This reminds me of a sociology class I took years ago. The professor said a colleague of his wanted to sleep with one of the grad students. During the time he tired to have sex with her and was yelling that if she did not he would fail her, she recorded the incident. When she discussed this with the other professors in the program, they all covered it up because it was their long time friend. They couldn't go against their own friend no matter how wrong and manipulative he was. It was very hard listening to that lecture and the excuses he used to not stand up and do something about it made it worse.

It truly is sickening.

toastface_grillah · Nov 14, 2011

I haven't followed the Penn State situation too closely, so I can't really say whether or not Paterno should've been fired. But, I was stunned to see Penn State students rioting - not because of what one of the assistant coaches had done, nor because it had been covered up for so long, but because a football icon had been dismissed by the university. Wow.

Sponty · Nov 14, 2011

toastface_grillah said:
I haven't followed the Penn State situation too closely, so I can't really say whether or not Paterno should've been fired. But, I was stunned to see Penn State students rioting - not because of what one of the assistant coaches had done, nor because it had been covered up for so long, but because a football icon had been dismissed by the university. Wow.

Its a good start on what happened. I'm sick of Sports being just as untouchable as Banks or the politics or some first world countries. This was such a dispicable act and should be treated in the harshest manner. The sad thing is that pedophilia still lurks strong in society

Pologie · Nov 14, 2011

toastface_grillah said:
I haven't followed the Penn State situation too closely, so I can't really say whether or not Paterno should've been fired. But, I was stunned to see Penn State students rioting - not because of what one of the assistant coaches had done, nor because it had been covered up for so long, but because a football icon had been dismissed by the university. Wow.

Crazy isn't it? People care too much about their image rather then the children and families that have been hurt. I, personally, would be ashamed if I went there.

Sponty · Nov 14, 2011

Pologie said:
Crazy isn't it? People care too much about their image rather then the children and families that have been hurt. I, personally, would be ashamed if I went there.

So would you rather be in the State Penn?

acropolis · Nov 14, 2011

He should at the very least lose his job. It is in my mind criminal to not notify the police about a crime as heinous as that.

Sketcher · Nov 14, 2011

In a word, horrible.

SharonL · Nov 14, 2011

Every person that knew about this should be locked up. To put the well being of a university and it's coaches above the well being of what will come out as hundreds (not 8) of children whose lives have been destroyed.

I have 2 step-children that was molested over a long period of time before it came out - ages 4 and 7 - I've seen what it does to them, counseling after counseling does not remove it from their minds. The daughter has very little to do with family - she never told her husband and is afraid someone would slip and tell it, the son has no confidence - has lost every dime he has seeking relationships in the Ghana scams.

It is heartbreaking to see what has happened and how these boys must feel - that no one cared enough about them to help.

All it would have taken in 2002 is someone to have had the guts to fight for those boys. That pervert set up a chariety for kids who needed help and the helping hand is the hand that destroyed them.

kevlite2020 · Nov 14, 2011

It's interesting to me that right after the incident in China that highlighted how it isn't safe to help someone in need because good Samaritans are not legally protected, we have the opposite effect happening here. Seeing something bad in the US and not doing anything about it can now cost you your job.

As far as my opinion, I don't really think any of us know enough to say. Paterno wasn't a first hand witness, it was reported to him by a GA. Paterno may not have had the full scoop, or he may not have completely believed the report the GA gave him. From what I understand, he did file a report, but it was ignored by higher ups. I don't think that warrants firing him. It is very possible that he wasn't aware how serious this was, or that it was a repeat offense, and it doesn't seem right to punish him for someone else's mistake.

That being said, yes it is an awful situation and I wish the Penn State fans had their act together a little more in being sensitive to the victims. That certainly doesn't mean that they should be punishing Paterno, but that they should spend more time reflecting on and working towards helping those boys.

Rhamiel · Nov 14, 2011

kevlite2020 said:
It's interesting to me that right after the incident in China that highlighted how it isn't safe to help someone in need because good Samaritans are not legally protected, we have the opposite effect happening here. Seeing something bad in the US and not doing anything about it can now cost you your job.

As far as my opinion, I don't really think any of us know enough to say. Paterno wasn't a first hand witness, it was reported to him by a GA. Paterno may not have had the full scoop, or he may not have completely believed the report the GA gave him. From what I understand, he did file a report, but it was ignored by higher ups. I don't think that warrants firing him. It is very possible that he wasn't aware how serious this was, or that it was a repeat offense, and it doesn't seem right to punish him for someone else's mistake.

That being said, yes it is an awful situation and I wish the Penn State fans had their act together a little more in being sensitive to the victims. That certainly doesn't mean that they should be punishing Paterno, but that they should spend more time reflecting on and working towards helping those boys.

I have two thoughts on this
one, Paterno was not a witness to this, it was just hear say, someone reported it to him and he reported it to the people who run the school, he is legaly in the clear
two, I am not a football fan but from what I have heard from other people is that Paterno was very very powerful at that school, as the head coach he is responsible for what happens in a similar way to a captian on a ship is, maybe he should have used his considerable pull with the school to make sure these things were investigated more in depth?

he made a mistake but I can not say if he was part of a cover up.
should he have been fired? maybe, but it could have been done with more class then how they treated him, the witnesses of the molestation who did not go to the police should be put in jail, the heads of the school should be in jail, and if Joe Paterno was to be fired he should have atleast been given the chance to step down as a way to save face
Paterno made a mistake, the mistake of trusting his bosses to handel this
I am not sure Paterno should have gone to the police because he was not a witness

Keri · Nov 14, 2011

Rhamiel said:
I have two thoughts on this
one, Paterno was not a witness to this, it was just hear say, someone reported it to him and he reported it to the people who run the school, he is legaly in the clear
two, I am not a football fan but from what I have heard from other people is that Paterno was very very powerful at that school, as the head coach he is responsible for what happens in a similar way to a captian on a ship is, maybe he should have used his considerable pull with the school to make sure these things were investigated more in depth?

he made a mistake but I can not say if he was part of a cover up.
should he have been fired? maybe, but it could have been done with more class then how they treated him, the witnesses of the molestation who did not go to the police should be put in jail, the heads of the school should be in jail, and if Joe Paterno was to be fired he should have atleast been given the chance to step down as a way to save face
Paterno made a mistake, the mistake of trusting his bosses to handel this
I am not sure Paterno should have gone to the police because he was not a witness

The bold is the part I agree on. That's just unacceptable to not report it.

leothelioness · Nov 14, 2011

What was truly outrageous to me was the first time Sandusky was accused of molestation, he even admitted to the mother of the boy and the police that he had showered with the boy and touched him inappropriately and campus police were told to not take the investigation any further and the DA refused to file any charges. So, this was just a pattern of covering up on the part of the university.

GQ Chris · Nov 14, 2011

What I don't get is why the graduate student assistant who witnessed the shower incident did not beat Sandusky down and then take the kid to the hospital.

Hadassah_ · Nov 14, 2011

Me too! Who walks into something like that, leaves the child in that same situation, and then waits until the next day to say something?

*sigh*

GQ Chris · Nov 14, 2011

I don't care if the guy didn't really know how to fight, he could have found a baseball bat or football helmet and whacked Sandusky upside the head then take the poor kid to the hospital and call Police.

Hadassah_ · Nov 14, 2011

And can you imagine the horror going through that kids mind? Finally someone is coming in, to obviously save him, and then he turns and walks away.

I can't wrap my mind around that. Nor can I wrap my mind around being the mom of that 10 year old boy and letting the man who did that walk around still alive.

I think anyone involved in this should have been fired and instead one gets promoted to head coach. Whatever.

Pologie · Nov 14, 2011

leothelioness said:
What was truly outrageous to me was the first time Sandusky was accused of molestation, he even admitted to the mother of the boy and the police that he had showered with the boy and touched him inappropriately and campus police were told to not take the investigation any further and the DA refused to file any charges. So, this was just a pattern of covering up on the part of the university.

This makes me so angry and sad.
The truth always comes out, no matter what you do or what you say, it always comes out. Sadly, the university is going to continue to take hits and their reputation is going to go downhill as they deserve. I hope someone there has some sense and does all the right things by firing everyone and whoever did not report does jail time.

Im_A · Nov 14, 2011

leothelioness said:
What are your thoughts on Paterno's being fired? Do you think he should have been let go? Did he do/not do what was in his power? What about everyone else involved at the university?

I read the Grand Jury indictment and personally I think Paterno and everyone else involved should have been fired. The athletic director should at least do some time in prison for lying in his report about being told of one of the incidents. The saddest and most disgusting thing is Sandusky had been caught numerous times before and nothing was done. Even the university police refused to continue the investigation after the 1998 incident.

This whole situation just makes me sick.

What can be said about a situation where coaches hid the situation where 42 children were sexually molested and rape by a coach? It is gross, and it is shameful how the college and all the officials handled it and how long it took. There is no excuse for all of this.

My opinion is people went the route of procedure versus a route of moral integrity and procedure. No one, was outside their power to go to the authorities and push for actual justice to be done.

If it tarnishes Paterno's legacy...good. Penn State will go on without him. It may not take away the great things he did in the game but for some of us, his status of legend went away.

What I don't like...is how this will affect the students and staff that had nothing to do with this, but such is the unintended consequence.

What do you think of the Penn State situation?

Well-Known Member

Deal with it.

Only, love.

toastface_grillah

Guest

Newbie

Only, love.

Newbie

so rad

Born Imperishable

Senior Veteran

rawr means I love you in dinosaur!

Member of the Round Table

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

ooey gooey is for brownies, not Bible teachers

Well-Known Member

ooey gooey is for brownies, not Bible teachers

Well-Known Member

Only, love.

Legend

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency