Former Penn State Coach Arrested

[AOII Angel]

I can tell you that as a physician, I can't just ignore a report of child abuse. It doesn't matter if I don't see it myself. If someone tells me they witnessed something like this, I have to call child protective services. Your responsibility is to assure that someone checks on the child.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I can tell you that as a physician, I can't just ignore a report of child abuse. It doesn't matter if I don't see it myself. If someone tells me they witnessed something like this, I have to call child protective services. Your responsibility is to assure that someone checks on the child.

That gets into being a mandatory reporter. I had the same responsibility when I was a preschool teacher during college.

I do wonder if Paterno, as a state employee at a college, had a similar responsibility. Like Kevin, I don't know enough PA law to say one way or the other.

Either way, you have to think Paterno made a conscious choice to do only what he thought he was required to do. He heard something awful about someone he had known for years, and chose to limit his reporting of the incident.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Either way, you have to think Paterno made a conscious choice to do only what he thought he was required to do. He heard something awful about someone he had known for years, and chose to limit his reporting of the incident.

I agree.

Like they were saying on CNN, there's a legal obligation and a moral obligation. I do not know the details beyond what the media is reporting years later.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

That gets into being a mandatory reporter. I had the same responsibility when I was a preschool teacher during college.

I do wonder if Paterno, as a state employee at a college, had a similar responsibility. Like Kevin, I don't know enough PA law to say one way or the other.

Either way, you have to think Paterno made a conscious choice to do only what he thought he was required to do. He heard something awful about someone he had known for years, and chose to limit his reporting of the incident.

I agree, and I am not saying that Paterno didn't do what he was obligated to do. This is more of a comment towards others saying you can't just report things if you didn't see them happen. You actually should. Children rely on people reporting sketchy things. The system is set up in such a way that people aren't immediately arrested. Look at this case, Sandusky was investigated for 3 years before he was arrested. The important thing is to let someone check to make sure that the kid involved is not being victimized.
Honestly, could you really live with yourself if you didn't do something and it turned out to be true?

[ASTalumna06]

I think this sums up how us Penn State students/alumni are feeling - as written by a Penn State associate professor.

http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/we-are/

[als463]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I think this sums up how us Penn State students/alumni are feeling - as written by a Penn State associate professor.

http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/we-are/

I can't thank you enough for posting this. Honestly, this is what I have been trying to explain to people about the situation. This situation has truly shown me who my real friends and "sisters" (from other schools) are. Just like I would never tell the Alums of Virginia Tech how to feel about what happened at their university, I would appreciate it if people who have no connection to PSU would stop telling me how I should feel. In general-don't tell people how they should feel about anything.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by als463

I can't thank you enough for posting this. Honestly, this is what I have been trying to explain to people about the situation. This situation has truly shown me who my real friends and "sisters" (from other schools) are. Just like I would never tell the Alums of Virginia Tech how to feel about what happened at their university, I would appreciate it if people who have no connection to PSU would stop telling me how I should feel. In general-don't tell people how they should feel about anything.

Whoa.

[als463]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Whoa.

It's true. The way that they may feel they will always (unfairly) be associated with such a tragic event is the same way that PSU will always be associated with this. Just because people didn't lose their lives through death doesn't mean these victims (not the students or alums--the actual victims) didn't lose something close to their lives during the time they were victimized by this monster.

If you think that this event will not tarnish the school to the point they will lost funds, alumni support, and potential students--then you need to really look at this again. Many of us are disgusted by what happened and the fact that nothing was done for these victims sickens us.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

Where has anyone told anyone how to feel? The whole situation is tragic, and in a perfect world, it never would have happened. However, Penn State will go on.

Originally Posted by als463

I would appreciate it if people who have no connection to PSU would stop telling me how I should feel. In general-don't tell people how they should feel about anything.

.

ETA: Damn MysticCat and his fast fingers

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

.

ETA: Damn MysticCat and his fast fingers

You can put Ms. Alpha Frog (or is it AlphaFrog, no space? I forget) in that group next to Mr. MC.

The suffering that has been experienced by so many people as a result of one person's actions and acts is overwhelming. I offer prayers for healing, peace and compassion for everyone involved in this horrendous situation. I have learned through my own life experiences to step aside when it comes to judging; I leave that for others.

I have also learned that until you actually face a horrible situation, it is not truly possible to say what you would have done. Here in Tucson, last January, there were those who ran from the violence, and those who ran towards it, to help others. None have gone away unscathed. I dare say that all who have been involved in the events surrounding Coach Sandusky are also experiencing varying degrees of trauma, remorse, shame, and guilt.

I agree with DrPhil: this is not about sports. It's gone way beyond that. So many lives now in ruins.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by als463

I can't thank you enough for posting this. Honestly, this is what I have been trying to explain to people about the situation. This situation has truly shown me who my real friends and "sisters" (from other schools) are. Just like I would never tell the Alums of Virginia Tech how to feel about what happened at their university, I would appreciate it if people who have no connection to PSU would stop telling me how I should feel. In general-don't tell people how they should feel about anything.

What the eff?!

[honeychile]

While another victim steps forward, JoPa cancels the interview. Can't say that I blame him.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I do wonder if Paterno, as a state employee at a college, had a similar responsibility. Like Kevin, I don't know enough PA law to say one way or the other.

Penn State is not state-owned; rather it is state-related.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-related

Its employees are not state employees.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I agree, and I am not saying that Paterno didn't do what he was obligated to do. This is more of a comment towards others saying you can't just report things if you didn't see them happen. You actually should. Children rely on people reporting sketchy things. The system is set up in such a way that people aren't immediately arrested. Look at this case, Sandusky was investigated for 3 years before he was arrested. The important thing is to let someone check to make sure that the kid involved is not being victimized.
Honestly, could you really live with yourself if you didn't do something and it turned out to be true?

I think Paterno may have done what he was legally obligated to do, but failed on a moral front (to borrow DrPhil's comparison)

Originally Posted by 33girl

Penn State is not state-owned; rather it is state-
related.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-related

Its employees are not state employees.

Thanks, I wasn't sure of the employees' status. That may affect his responsibility as far as reporting it.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Penn State is not state-owned; rather it is state-related.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-related

Its employees are not state employees.

EXACTLY. People outside of PA. make this mistake all the time. Although Penn is in the name, Penn State and UPenn are NOT state universities. They are not part of the 14 state university system of PA. which are public and offer a great education that's very affordable compared to the many other colleges and universities in PA.