The Mess going on at Penn state Thread

[Heisenberg]

LKB, I'm trying to understand your take on McQueary . . .

I just don't understand how he saw something so horrible and didn't immediately do something about it. I have a hard enough time understanding how he didn't do something about the situation immediately - but considering he waited until the next day to report it to Paterno (instead of the police) boggles my mind.

Maybe my perspective is wrong, I don't know.

[skinsgirl26]

A girl I went to high school with who now goes to PSU said money from tuition is paying for Curley and Schultz's lawyers...can that even be remotely true?

[Elessar78]

I'm just at a loss as to why apparently *nobody* went directly to the police on this. This is something you call 911 about ASAP if you see it, not something you report to your boss.

Leesburg, they did go to the authorities. Shultz was director of University Park Police, one of two entities that the grand jury determined this should be reported to. The other is the PA State Police.

[pointyfootball]

It's easy to judge in hindsight. He was obviously confronted with a bizarre situation and sent it up the chain of command.

If you caught you boss red handed involved in an illegal activity, would you report it to the police, or to his boss?

If he was doing what was alleged? Hell, yes. There's no chain of command in the civilian world.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

It's easy to judge in hindsight. He was obviously confronted with a bizarre situation and sent it up the chain of command.

If you caught you boss red handed involved in an illegal activity, would you report it to the police, or to his boss?

If I caught my boss RAPING a 10 YEAR OLD in the shower, I'm sorry but I'm calling the cops.

[DM72]

I agree...although I have a friend who's career, marriage and life basically, was ruined by a 14y/o girl lying (admitted after he spent several weeks in jail) about being molested by him. Children will also hide these incidents from their parents/authorities, thereby making it tough to detect them. I'm definitely with you on adults being smart about putting themselves in bad situations. I coach sports and never give rides to kids without at least another kid or two being along.

That's sad also. I have no idea how male female gymnastics coaches can do it. And on the flip side, I have no idea how a parent can allow their female child to be coached by a man.

[pointyfootball]

Leesburg, they did go to the authorities. Shultz was director of University Park Police, one of two entities that the grand jury determined this should be reported to. The other is the PA State Police.

That's fine. But, more than 24 hours after incident happened, AND no follow-up?

[Heisenberg]

If I caught my boss RAPING a 10 YEAR OLD in the shower, I'm sorry but I'm calling the cops.

Yeah, this is quite a bit different than catching my boss stealing or doing drugs. This is probably the most horrible things you can catch someone doing.

[KingGibbs]

It's easy to judge in hindsight. He was obviously confronted with a bizarre situation and sent it up the chain of command.

If you caught you boss red handed involved in an illegal activity, would you report it to the police, or to his boss?

What "illegal" act are you referring to? Because if you are comparing some illegal financial activity to the rape of a child then you are clueless.

[pointyfootball]

That's sad also. I have no idea how male female gymnastics coaches can do it. And on the flip side, I have no idea how a parent can allow their female child to be coached by a man.

I coach a 10y/o girls travel soccer team. I make sure to always have my assistant coach (female) or team manager (female as well) at all activities, and I let new families know this without coming out and saying why. Unlike my high school boys team, I never give rides to girls unless AC or TM is with me. Incredibly sad we have to take these measures, but it's the world we live in now.

[Elessar78]

Pointy, IIRC the GA saw Paterno on a Saturday.

Is there evidence that Paterno never followed up? The record is pretty void on this matter. We don't know yet if he never called Shultz again and asked, "Hey wha'ts going on with this?" I think it's reasonable to believe that he did and what if Shultz said "We're investigating the matter."

I think the expectation of the public at large is that Paterno knocked down doors until this matter was put to bed beyond a reasonable doubt. I called the police once on my neighbor because I heard him beating someone in the apartment, sounded like a woman. A cop came and left. I wasn't sure what else to do about it.

[bcl05]

I'm a physician, and I never see a patient without a nurse/med student/resident or someone in the room. Agree that its sad that such things are necessary, but its a sad reality that too many people in positions of power abuse kids.

There are many guilty parties at PSU now. Everyone there failed to protect these kids.

[Slacky McSlackAss]

A girl I went to high school with who now goes to PSU said money from tuition is paying for Curley and Schultz's lawyers...can that even be remotely true?

Yep, the school is financing the cost for both of their lawyers. Many people unhappy with this.

[Larry]

It was reported in 2002.

It's 2011.

Man up and take a stand.

Admittedly, I haven't read the whole thread, nor the whole Grand Jury report.

But from what I have read, I think I'm with what I think chipwich is saying.

If I'm reading correctly, the JoPa has received credible complaint, that a former player and current coach, who has been granted privileged access to University facilities, and who is in charge of a home for troubles youths, is a child molester.

Now, to me, maybe the law says that he's a criminal if he doesn't report it, but he did, so he didn't break the law.

But to me, if I'm in that situation, then my obligation is to do more than to notify somebody. (Especially to notify a person who is subject to pressure, not just to enforce the law, but to protect the University.)

If I notify the cops, then within six months, I expect to see either

• A newspaper story announcing that the guy's been arrested.
• Or a report from the chief of police, telling me that a serious investigation has been performed, and we can't find enough evidence for an arrest and prosecution, but we're still working on it, and we're keeping the guy under surveillance.

To me, if I notify the head campus cop, and six months later, nothing's happened, then I have an obligation to go over his head.

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If my understanding of the events is correct, then to me, I'm not even arguing over whether he should be fired. The question is whether he should be jailed.

[chipwhich]

Lighten up. I know there are 1000 perfect do-gooders on this site, but when the reality of a situation hits us in the face, we really don't know how we will react. We know how we hope to react.

No question about what I would do. You can't be serious.