E-Mails Suggest Paterno Role in Silence on Sandusky

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

They keep dropping Joe Pa's name because it gets headlines, but that's not what this is really about. It is about the institutional power that would allow something like this to happen without anyone speaking up, and that deserves an investigation. From a very-big-picture standpoint, it's not even about Penn State, as we will likely see changes at schools across the country.

Exactly. And arguments being made on both sides of the fence are quite ridiculous...

Trying to eliminate the football program won't help. Attempting to defend the football program won't either.

This isn't about football.. or Penn State.. or whatever else people seem to associate it with. This is about someone abusing his power, and in turn, abusing kids. And other people in positions of power decided not to act appropriately. It's sad. And disgusting. As a Penn Stater, I wanted so badly to believe that no one attempted to cover it up. However, reality eventually sets in, people are fired or resign, and trials take place. The school will eventually get past this and things will return to normal. Unfortunately, for some of those kids, they may never again know what "normal" is.

I HOPE the investigation continues, and I hope that every detail about what happened and who was involved comes to the surface. No one should get away with ANYTHING in this case. Paterno passing away doesn't change that.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Exactly. And arguments being made on both sides of the fence are quite ridiculous...

Trying to eliminate the football program won't help. Attempting to defend the football program won't either.

This isn't about football.. or Penn State.. or whatever else people seem to associate it with. This is about someone abusing his power, and in turn, abusing kids. And other people in positions of power decided not to act appropriately. It's sad. And disgusting. As a Penn Stater, I wanted so badly to believe that no one attempted to cover it up. However, reality eventually sets in, people are fired or resign, and trials take place. The school will eventually get past this and things will return to normal. Unfortunately, for some of those kids, they may never again know what "normal" is.

I HOPE the investigation continues, and I hope that every detail about what happened and who was involved comes to the surface. No one should get away with ANYTHING in this case. Paterno passing away doesn't change that.

The sad thing is, this could have happened anywhere in any sports program. It's not unique to Penn State. It's not unique to sports. It happens anytime people in power sacrifice the weak for the benefit of those who are strong. We see it all the time. It will never change. Sadly, otherwise good people justify covering up these heinous actions. We've seen it now with the church and with officials at Penn State. God only knows where else this ugliness breeds.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Exactly. And arguments being made on both sides of the fence are quite ridiculous...

Trying to eliminate the football program won't help. Attempting to defend the football program won't either.

This isn't about football.. or Penn State.. or whatever else people seem to associate it with. This is about someone abusing his power, and in turn, abusing kids. And other people in positions of power decided not to act appropriately. It's sad. And disgusting. As a Penn Stater, I wanted so badly to believe that no one attempted to cover it up. However, reality eventually sets in, people are fired or resign, and trials take place. The school will eventually get past this and things will return to normal. Unfortunately, for some of those kids, they may never again know what "normal" is.

I HOPE the investigation continues, and I hope that every detail about what happened and who was involved comes to the surface. No one should get away with ANYTHING in this case. Paterno passing away doesn't change that.

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

The sad thing is, this could have happened anywhere in any sports program. It's not unique to Penn State. It's not unique to sports. It happens anytime people in power sacrifice the weak for the benefit of those who are strong. We see it all the time. It will never change. Sadly, otherwise good people justify covering up these heinous actions. We've seen it now with the church and with officials at Penn State. God only knows where else this ugliness breeds.

This is where we keep saying the same thing over and over again. Yes, this can happen at any institution. Yes, this is about power dynamics. No, this is not just about college athletics. No, this is not just about Penn State.

Now that we have appeased some of the Penn Staters and anti-Penn Staters who needed this redundancy (they know who they are--I do not think they are in this thread):

Jerry Sandusky Case: Paterno family urges release of all Penn State memos in scandal

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

This is where we keep saying the same thing over and over again. Yes, this can happen at any institution. Yes, this is about power dynamics. No, this is not just about college athletics. No, this is not just about Penn State.

Now that we have appeased some of the Penn Staters and anti-Penn Staters who needed this redundancy (they know who they are--I do not think they are in this thread):

Jerry Sandusky Case: Paterno family urges release of all Penn State memos in scandal

BTW...don't know where the smiley face came from. It popped up on my post and when you're on an iPad, it's too big of a pain in the ass to get rid of it.

Now that we're done petting the Penn Staters, I'm sick of hearing people jump to Paterno's defense to the detriment of the entire case. Being a good coach with a great reputation, dying of cancer before the end of the investigation and being an institution in the State of Pennsylvania do not earn you a pass. He may come out fine in the end, but IF he was involved in a cover up, all his good work deserves a nice thick coat of tarnish.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

BTW...don't know where the smiley face came from. It popped up on my post and when you're on an iPad, it's too big of a pain in the ass to get rid of it.

I was intrigued by " The sad thing is...."

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Now that we're done petting the Penn Staters, I'm sick of hearing people jump to Paterno's defense to the detriment of the entire case. Being a good coach with a great reputation, dying of cancer before the end of the investigation and being an institution in the State of Pennsylvania do not earn you a pass. He may come out fine in the end, but IF he was involved in a cover up, all his good work deserves a nice thick coat of tarnish.

From the general public's perspective (since we only know the after the fact cliff notes of Sandusky's offenses, Paterno's health, and the institutional dynamics) this all happened so darn quickly. Those who are in shock and awe (and who feel the need to pick a side) will make some...interesting...comments. I think Paterno's family just wants the truth to be told if there will be an investigation at the institution-level. They want ALL the emails to be released rather than a biased selection of emails.

Redundancy/

The-institution-that-shall-not-be-named did what many institutions have done/would do/will do by responding almost too darn quickly (i.e., replacing Sandusky on the mural and alleged debate over Paterno statue). This made it seem as though they were saving face, protecting their brand, keeping their money, etc. It made some people think the officials at The-institution-that-shall-not-be-named were more "oh snap, what was in the dark is now in the light" rather than "darn, we never knew the alleged incidents were happening...omg."

Again, perception.

/Redundancy

[als463]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

BTW...don't know where the smiley face came from. It popped up on my post and when you're on an iPad, it's too big of a pain in the ass to get rid of it.

Now that we're done petting the Penn Staters, I'm sick of hearing people jump to Paterno's defense to the detriment of the entire case. Being a good coach with a great reputation, dying of cancer before the end of the investigation and being an institution in the State of Pennsylvania do not earn you a pass. He may come out fine in the end, but IF he was involved in a cover up, all his good work deserves a nice thick coat of tarnish.

Seriously, what is your problem? So, Penn Staters are not allowed to be upset about this whole thing? What holier-than-thou school did you attend that you think it is okay to talk about us like we are a bunch of children who need our egos stroked?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by als463

Seriously, what is your problem? So, Penn Staters are not allowed to be upset about this whole thing? What holier-than-thou school did you attend that you think it is okay to talk about us like we are a bunch of children who need our egos stroked?

Certainly your reading comprehension is better than this. Take off your Penn State Goggles for a second.

[als463]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Certainly your reading comprehension is better than this. Take off your Penn State Goggles for a second.

I take offense to her statement. I don't feel the need to be "petted" or given special treatment. I just ask that people not continue to jump to conclusions and realize that while college is four years for some people, Penn State is more than college to many of us Alumni. It represents so much more than just somewhere we earned a college degree. No need to be hateful. The Penn State goggles statement also falls along those lines. Normally I agree with what you say but, I am a bit upset you would feel the need to say something like this, as well.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by als463

I don't feel the need to be "petted" or given special treatment.

Then her comment does not apply to you. Duh. Use your reading comprehension skills.

Originally Posted by als463

The Penn State goggles statement also falls along those lines. Normally I agree with what you say but, I am a bit upset you would feel the need to say something like this, as well.

You will get over it.

The fact of the matter is that Penn Staters like you are one of the reasons why this will keep being about Penn State--almost to the detriment of the much larger point.

[AnchorAlum]

Originally Posted by als463

I take offense to her statement. I don't feel the need to be "petted" or given special treatment. I just ask that people not continue to jump to conclusions and realize that while college is four years for some people, Penn State is more than college to many of us Alumni. It represents so much more than just somewhere we earned a college degree. No need to be hateful. The Penn State goggles statement also falls along those lines. Normally I agree with what you say but, I am a bit upset you would feel the need to say something like this, as well.

I certainly appreciate what you're saying and I believe that the majority of PSU graduates are of a similar mind.

But to those who are seeing this tragedy from afar may read things on message boards by a small minority who are vocal and angry that PSU is in the spotlight and that includes those who never set foot on the PSU campus, and are only followers of the sports teams. These folks grind their ax, so to speak, from a football fan's POV, and it can negatively affect the overall impression that others may have of the institution.

The surest cure is time, in my opinion.