Joe Paterno Could Have Been a Hero
In response to Duane Campbell’s letter of support for Joe Paterno (Review, Nov. 11, 2011), I doubt that Campbell has read the grand jury report. He wrote that Paterno “is not only a historically outstanding coach, he has been all his life a genuinely good person devoted to his school and to his students.” However, when called upon to do something that would have added “hero” to his traits, Paterno failed miserably and, by his own admission, did less that he should have. A “genuinely good person” does not tolerate the cover-up of the rape of children.
Granted, nothing has been proven yet and all will have their day in court. But the report to Paterno in 2002 by Mike McQueary, then a graduate assistant, about the alleged rape of a 10 year old boy by Jerry Sandusky in the Penn State shower room must have been credible. Otherwise, McQueary would not have been employed for almost a decade by the university. Mr. Paterno then reported the incident to Tim Curley, athletic director, who then told Sandusky to stop bringing children to Penn State property. Curley and Gary Schultz, PSU senior VP, did not report the incident to the police. And since 2002, neither had Paterno.
Curley and Schultz have resigned after being charged with perjury by the grand jury. Paterno and Graham Spanier, PSU president, were fired by the Penn State board of trustees. As I write this, McQueary was put on administrative leave.
Campbell wrote that “Paterno did not deserve a pink slip.” I disagree. Heroes don’t deserve this treatment, but then Paterno has shown that he is not a hero.
JLF
.
Granted, nothing has been proven yet and all will have their day in court. But the report to Paterno in 2002 by Mike McQueary, then a graduate assistant, about the alleged rape of a 10 year old boy by Jerry Sandusky in the Penn State shower room must have been credible. Otherwise, McQueary would not have been employed for almost a decade by the university. Mr. Paterno then reported the incident to Tim Curley, athletic director, who then told Sandusky to stop bringing children to Penn State property. Curley and Gary Schultz, PSU senior VP, did not report the incident to the police. And since 2002, neither had Paterno.
Curley and Schultz have resigned after being charged with perjury by the grand jury. Paterno and Graham Spanier, PSU president, were fired by the Penn State board of trustees. As I write this, McQueary was put on administrative leave.
Campbell wrote that “Paterno did not deserve a pink slip.” I disagree. Heroes don’t deserve this treatment, but then Paterno has shown that he is not a hero.
JLF
.
Comments
Post a Comment