No question, it was a sick crime that apparently went on for years. But it is also too easy to second guess what someone should have done. The witness should have went to the police - why didn't he?

 

He didn't go to the police for the same reason no one else went - it's PSU CYA and protect the football program ($$$$) at any cost. However, he did give Joe Paterno the details of what happened in that locker room. So for Joe P to say "I didn't have all the details" is patently false. The man made a huge mistake and now will pay for it.

 

Fear of reprisal would be my first guess.

 

Who knows why the witness didn't seek out the police? Maybe he was afraid for his job/position with the college. Blowing a whistle on a big organization is no easy task. It takes a lot of courage to take on certain people in authority, which is why many victims of sexual abuse stay silent. I think there is plenty of blame to go around as people fulfilled their "legal obligation" and no more. Based on previous child abuse issues with other "powerful" organizations, I'd bet there is a lot more to come out on this situation.

I hope the abusers and any who didn't come forward when they should have, rot in hell along with members of that other organization who swept things under the rug for decades.

 

Well I think whoever was at the top should have invovled Campus Police right away. There is a reason why several major universities have their own PD. Now I wonder if Campus PD investigated what was reported up by the coach.

The goal must be to create a system whereby those abused can speak up openly and without fear of reprisal and a system whereby whistle blowers are granted certain protections. Hopefully the reports of abuse that are coming out into the open of late will go someways towards creating such laws.

 

JoPa fear reprisal.....I don't think so. There is a statue of the man on campus. Until the end of last week, the man walked on water.
This is PSU land. The football program generates $72M annually, and Paterno is almost a religious figure. The only blowback that was in question here was how much money would be lost.
Apparently a grand jury was impaneled late last year or the beginning of this to investigate and indict. As of this moment JoPa did "the legally correct" thing, but did he do the morally correct thing, seems to be what is in question now.

BTW, Paterno is referred to as JoPa by all of the alumni that I know, this isn't one of my made up annoying names.

 

I think the reference was to the grad ass't, not Joe P. In any event, the rest of your post is right on.

 

Why dont we wait until all of the facts and evidence are presented before making a decision. Paterno has not even had a chance to tell his side of the story yet many are already condemning him. I thought you were innocent in this country until proven guilty. I will make my judgment after I have heard all of the details of this case.

 

Very well said. I completely agree.

Having said that though, the News Media is free to draw its conclusions from what is known. Perhaps all the coverage will motivate him to speak up sooner.

But the issue is emotional and hits home for everyone. So I can see why people are asking for heads to roll. It is why the judiciary must be unmoved by sentiment and work based on facts. We are a modern democratic nation and not France during the times of the revolution.

 

<<<<< is in Deb's and Zippy's camp. It's ALWAYS about the $$$$$$$$$$.

I know I have no right to be judge and jury here, and I understand the innocent until proven guilty. However this smells so strongly of a cover up. Where there is smoke, there is fire and I think I see a lot of smoke here! This whole mess makes me want to When news of this type from that "other" organization surfaced in the Boston, there were names on a list of possible abusers that I recognized. Unfortunately the statute of limitations had run out in some cases. Hope that does not apply in the PA case and that every victim has a chance to tell his story if he chooses to do so.