In 2002, then Graduate Assistant Mike McQueary, walked into the locker room to find coach Jerry Sandusky raping a 10 year old boy in the shower. Mike walked away, sat on this info for the night and reported it the next day to Penn State's legendary and iconic coach, Joe Paterno who in turn sat on the information for another day and then reported it to athletic director Tim Curley stating that McQueary had seen Sandusky "fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy." Curley discussed it with Penn State's senior vice president of business and finance and "took" Sandusky's keys away. Not a single one of these men reported this incident to authorities such as the police or child welfare services.
Over the course of what could possibly have been 20 years, Sandusky committed heinous sexual acts on young boys and is currently being indicted by a grand jury on 40 counts:
"Former longtime Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, known for his charitable work with at-risk children and for helping establish the school's "Linebacker U" reputation, faces 40 charges -- including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse -- in Centre County, in a scandal that has ended the 46-year tenure of football coach Joe Paterno.
The 40 charges against the 67-year-old Sandusky also include indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.
Sandusky was arraigned Nov. 5 in Centre County court and later released on $100,000 unsecured bail."
As a result of this scandal, that has brought negative attention to the renowned university, an ever lengthening list of men have lost their prestigious positions at the university for failing to protect innocent children, including university president Graham Spanier and the most revered man of the university: Coach Joe Paterno. In the aftermath of the press conference held by the board of trustees announcing coach Paterno's immediate resignation, Penn State students reacted in disgust taking to the streets and chanting:
“Hell, no, Joe won’t go!”
“One more game!”
“F—k Sandusky!”
Things got so heated that students overturned a news crew van and even threw rocks at police officers, leaving many throughout the nation wondering how the position of one man and his career achievements for the university can overshadow the safety and protection of children.
Here's a brief synopsis of some of the allegations against Sandusky:
Victim 1: Said he was 11 or 12 when he met Sandusky in 2005 or 2006. Beginning in 2007, he said, Sandusky began inviting him to stay overnight at his home. In a basement bedroom, Sandusky kissed and fondled him, performed oral sex on him more than 20 times and made the boy reciprocate once.
Victim 2: In March 2002, graduate assistant Mike McQueary walked into a locker room one Friday night and heard rhythmic slapping sounds. He looked into the shower and saw a boy of about 10, with his hands up against the wall. A naked Sandusky was having intercourse with him. The assistant left. The next day, he reported the incident to Paterno. On Sunday, Paterno told Penn State athletic director Tim Curley that McQueary had seen Sandusky "fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy." Curley and Gary Schultz, Penn State's senior vice president of finance and business, talked to McQueary about 10 days later. About two weeks later, Curley told McQueary that Sandusky's keys to the locker room had been taken away. The grand jury said police and child welfare agencies were never notified, and the officials made no attempt to identify the boy.
Victim 3: Said he was between seventh and eighth grade in 2000 when he met Sandusky. He was invited to spend the night at Sandusky's house, where he said Sandusky repeatedly hugged him, gave him back rubs, blew on his stomach and, twice, fondled his genitals.
Victim 4: Said he was 12 or 13 in 1996 or 1997 when Sandusky began inviting him to spend the night. He described repeated acts of oral sex and fondling, and said Sandusky gave him dozens of gifts and guaranteed him he would be a walk-on player for Penn State.
Victim 5: Said he was 8 to 10 when Sandusky began inviting him to events in 1996-98. He said Sandusky showered with him, repeatedly hugged and touched him and forced the boy to fondle him.
Victim 6: Said he was 11 in 1998 when he went to work out with Sandusky. Afterward, Sandusky showered with him in a college locker room, hugging and washing him. The boy later told his mother, who reported it to university police. They investigated, but dropped the case after the Centre County District Attorney decided not to file charges.
Victim 7: Said he was about 10 when he met Sandusky in 1994. He also was invited to events, and said Sandusky hugged him, showered with him and tried to put his hands in the boy's pants.
Victim 8: In fall 2000, a Penn State janitor reported he saw Sandusky in a shower room, performing oral sex on a boy who was pinned against the wall. He told other janitors and a supervisor, but made no official report. The grand jury could not identify the boy.
This issue is raising a lot of questions about our responsibilities in regards to human rights and has some proposing a law that would require any individual to report to the authorities if they are witness to these types of acts, while some are wondering why this isn't a law in place already. It also puts into question the decisions and choices individuals will make in order to protect the reputation of a universities football program of which rakes in 40-50 million dollars a year or even their own job, for as low on the totem pole as it may be, as was seen with the janitor.
People are inherently resistant to change. It is easier to pretend a problem doesn't exist rather than face the grotesque nature of atrocities that are being committed such as this. And more often than not it isn't until something of this severity calls the attention of people to realize that something needs to change or something different must be done.
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