Now that former Pennsylvania State U. assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky has been found guilty on 45 counts of child sexual abuse the victims and their families can breathe some relief.
But there must be more to the investigation. If, in fact, other Penn State officials knew about the abuse, more people should stand trial.
Although it was Sandusky who committed the crime, anyone else who knew and didn’t relay the information to the proper authorities should be held accountable.
According to CNN.com, emails between then-Penn State President Graham Spanier and other Penn State officials have surfaced that mention the events involving Sandusky and his victims.
The emails do not describe Sandusky or his victims by name, but there may be enough information to connect the dots.
“The only downside for us is if the message (to Sandusky) isn’t ‘heard’ and acted upon, and we then become vulnerable for not having reported it,” Spanier allegedly wrote.
The emails were written only 16 days after then-graduate assistant Mike McQueary, a graduate student at the time, reported to former head coach Joe Paterno the sexual abuse he witnessed in the showers.
Paterno claimed he reported the incident to his boss, Athletic Director Tim Curley, who in turn reported it to his superiors.
Although Paterno recently passed away and therefore cannot stand trial, anyone else who had any knowledge of the incident should be held accountable.
Reporting sexual abuse to your boss is not the same as reporting it to the police. It is clear PSU covets the dollar sign more than it does the safety of children.
If the NCAA can ban the University of Southern California from participating in a bowl game because its coach cheated, it should suspend PSU’s athletic program for an extended period of time.
The fact Sandusky was able to continue his behavior after it was known should outrage any PSU fans as well as the national community.
There should be no consideration for the money PSU would lose; they had no consideration for these children.
This is the time for the NCAA and the U.S. justice system to take a stand. A child’s safety is more important than any dollar amount.
The heartache and personal damage will most likely follow Sandusky’s victims for the rest of their lives.
This event should be tied directly with the University. Because it was covered up for the sake of PSU, it should not be considered a private act by its employees. PSU should compensate the families and its athletic program should be suspended.
There are multiple reports through a lengthy time period in which Sandusky was accused of sexually abusive behavior and was allowed to keep his job.
It is evident PSU officials would rather sweep incidents like this under the rug instead of dealing with it the proper way.
It would be an injustice to the victims if further action is not taken.
PSU must be made as an example to other institutions. To cover up this kind of behavior is beyond unacceptable and a repeat of this incident must be prevented.
Some say the students who are currently playing for PSU would be hurt if the athletic department would be suspended – and they would.
But the University should still have to suffer. They obviously didn’t consider their students when they covered up the abuse in the first place. The student athletes who would be affected are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It is a terrible situation, but it must be dealt with; simply moving on as if it didn’t happen would only allow another incident like this to occur.