Penn State Child Molestation Scandal...continuing discussion

[lazarus]

Yeah, the kids in that program have put in a lot of time and work and shouldn't be punished for what the administration failed to do.

Of course, one could argue that canceling the season would maybe make everyone think a little harder about the (lack of) importance of athletics w/r/t education.

[Imperor]

Originally Posted by Danny Boy

I'm pretty sure if you were working on a Saturday, saw a senior VP anally raping a 10-year-boy in the bathroom, and reported it to the CEO, he would follow up on it.

This is why I don't work weekends.

[deep]

Originally Posted by mikal

on a side note, this story has inspired me to watch the movie "Sleepers" tonight.

you can do a double feature with

Mysterious Skin or L.I.E.
both better movies

[gvox]

Originally Posted by PhilsFan

Are you arguing with me? I'm just telling you what he said because you had it slightly wrong.

Not arguing with you.

He claims that he was told something else. McQuery claims he told him more, and also told others.

All Im saying is its a very thin distinction, and at the end of the day sexual assault is sexual assault. Reading your other posts we probably see this in much the same light esp the assurances part.

[bono_212]

To me, McQuery is the one that disturbs me the most. The whole fast-track thing...he knows that's why he's in the position he's in today. I don't know how you could handle something like that.

[phanan]

Fuck 'em all I say.

[speedracer]

Originally Posted by iron yuppie

Be proud that you are one of the PSU community members being a thoughtful analyst of the situation rather than a bloody reactionary.

I'm late to this discussion, but this * 1000. It's really important that the PSU students and affiliates who possess a measure of moral clarity speak up.

[iron yuppie]

Originally Posted by LemonMelon

The question of "why?" is irrelevant to someone who has been part of an institution for 60 years, and it's certainly not safe to load that question with the assumption that he's only benefited the athletic program. He's done a whole lot of shit for PSU unrelated to football by this point. iYup may be aware of this, but his argument doesn't allow any concessions for it.

I would have to disagree respectfully with you that the question of “why” is irrelevant, LM. I will admit that I feel strongly about this issue, as I see major college sports as a blight on higher education. In the short term, dangerous binge-drinking and crime spike during and immediately after games; in the long term, schools are diverting sorely-needed money from talented graduate students and professors in order to recruit some quarterback who will probably struggle to maintain a 2.0 GPA and has only a diminutive chance to play professionally. Penn State has had several Nobel Prize laureates, but I defy anyone to name one of them off the top of your head. Yet we all know and have known Paterno for many years. In an environment in which US higher education and economy are increasingly seen as laughing stocks around the world, it is more important than ever that we question why we value athletes and coaches so much more than other university figures. The former may be fun to watch from the couch on Saturday, but they are also negatively affecting the world in which we try to earn a living.

I do understand that Paterno is an institution at Penn State, but I have yet to hear any details on what he has contributed to that community beyond football and lumbering around campus for fifty-odd years. Just being an old man shouldn’t make him above reproach.

[bono_212]

College sports were pretty integral into how I made and hope to continue to make my living.

[bono_212]

[corianderstem]

Pretty much.

And what's this about a DA disappearing a few years ago, and he had some connection to all of this? Ray Gricar? I was reading a friend's comments about the case today, so I just have her description of the story.

[bono_212]

Peef mentioned that a few days ago, surprised we haven't heard more about htat.

[indra]

I don't get how it's ok not to call the police when you see a violent crime occurring -- I don't give a fuck what the company policy is. Violent crimes -- and sexual assault is a violent crime -- should never be handled "in house".

[PhilsFan]

Originally Posted by corianderstem

Pretty much.

And what's this about a DA disappearing a few years ago, and he had some connection to all of this? Ray Gricar? I was reading a friend's comments about the case today, so I just have her description of the story.

The DA who investigated in 1998 and decided not to prosecute has been missing since 2005. They found his car in a parking lot and then his laptop in the Susquehanna River, with the hard drive ripped out. They found the hard drive a month later, destroyed beyond recognition.

The last thing he searched for on his computer? "How to destroy a hard drive."

[corianderstem]

Jeeeeeezus.