Penn State University removes former Head Coach Joe Paterno statue.
It was dismantled today in disgust and shame following admission that Coach Joe knew of child sex abuse occuring on the campus and within the football complex, yet he never reported the rape and molestation to legal authorities.
Quite the opposite, Penn State athletic officials, including Paterno, ousted President Graham Spanier, Athletic Director Tim Curley and Vice President Gary Schultz intentionally looked the other way since they discovered the sex abuse in 2001. Serial abuser, molester and child rapist Jerry Sandusky sodimized little boys in the athletic department showers on campus as well as at school sponsored functions and activities and was never reported or stopped. Every child rape by Sandusky since 2001 is a consequence of the inaction by Paterno and others.
[…] In a statement released later on Sunday morning, the Paterno family said:
‘Tearing down the statue of Joe Paterno does not serve the victims of Jerry Sandusky’s horrible crimes or help heal the Penn State Community. We believe the only way to help the victims is to uncover the full truth.’
The Freeh report, though it has been accepted by the media as the definitive conclusion on the Sandusky scandal, is the equivalent of an indictment – a charging document written by a prosecutor – and an incomplete and unofficial one at that.
‘To those who truly want to know the truth about Sandusky, it should matter that Joe Paterno has never had a hearing; that his legal counsel has never been able to interview key witnesses, all of whom are represented by lawyers and therefore unavailable; that there has never been an opportunity to review critical evidence which has not been made public; that selective evidence and the opinion of Mr Freeh is treated as the equivalent of a fair trial.’
The statement went on:
‘Despite this obviously flawed and one-sided presentation, the University believes it must acquiesce and accept that Joe Paterno has been given a fair and complete hearing. We think the better course would have been for the University to take a strong stand in support of due process so that the complete truth can be uncovered.’
Construction vehicles and police arrived shortly after dawn Sunday, barricading the street and sidewalks near the statue, erecting a chain-link fence then concealing the statue with a blue tarp.
Penn State President Rod Erickson said he decided to have the statue removed and put into storage because it ‘has become a source of division and an obstacle to healing.’
‘I believe that, were it to remain, the statue will be a recurring wound to the multitude of individuals across the nation and beyond who have been the victims of child abuse,’ Erickson said in a statement released at 7am on Sunday. […]
The NCAA will announce a punishment against Penn State and its football programme tomorrow morning. A source told CBS News that the penalties against the university will be ‘unprecedented.’ (read more)