A failure of empathy in State College PA
Joe Paterno, football coach at Penn State, is being ousted before he can finish his last coaching season because he didn't do enough to stop his subordinate, Jerry Sandusky, from abusing a string of underage boys.
Apparently this is a big freakin deal to some Penn State students there. Big enough to have a riot involving turning a TV truck over. Apparently football is more important than integrity and making a statement about what will not be tolerated. Apparently we can tolerate someone not doing enough to protect sexually abused kids and bring their abuser to justice if he is an old and beloved coach.
One of the news stories I heard on the radio this morning mentioned that Paterno was one of the first football coaches to actually want to make sure his players were doing well in the classroom as well as on the field. He would talk to his players' professors to see how they were doing and if they passed their tests. He came from the Ivy League and wanted his players to actually get an education.
This habit actually makes Paterno look bad, because his whole style was to follow up on everything. Yet he failed to follow up on the reports of Sandusky's sexual abuse of minors. He passed the information along and did nothing else. Sandusky remained in his position for years afterward, and Paterno knew he should have been removed. And did nothing about it.
Justice delayed is justice denied. That's part of the education these protesting students still need to learn.
Apparently this is a big freakin deal to some Penn State students there. Big enough to have a riot involving turning a TV truck over. Apparently football is more important than integrity and making a statement about what will not be tolerated. Apparently we can tolerate someone not doing enough to protect sexually abused kids and bring their abuser to justice if he is an old and beloved coach.
One of the news stories I heard on the radio this morning mentioned that Paterno was one of the first football coaches to actually want to make sure his players were doing well in the classroom as well as on the field. He would talk to his players' professors to see how they were doing and if they passed their tests. He came from the Ivy League and wanted his players to actually get an education.
This habit actually makes Paterno look bad, because his whole style was to follow up on everything. Yet he failed to follow up on the reports of Sandusky's sexual abuse of minors. He passed the information along and did nothing else. Sandusky remained in his position for years afterward, and Paterno knew he should have been removed. And did nothing about it.
Justice delayed is justice denied. That's part of the education these protesting students still need to learn.
Posted by oldfeminist at 11/10/2011 12:52 PM 
Categories: youth, education, victim blaming, blaming the victim, entitled white males
Tags: joe paterno jerry sandusky
Categories: youth, education, victim blaming, blaming the victim, entitled white males
Tags: joe paterno jerry sandusky
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