Penn State students to honour child abuse victims at football game

Source: The Guardian

Penn State students have pledged to show support for victims of a child sex abuse scandal at the last home football game of the season on Saturday as a mother of one boy involved said she feared there were many more victims than the eight reported so far.

The mood on campus on Friday was calm, but authorities were planning to boost security after what police described as a "riotous mob" of students protested the firing of coach Joe Paterno, one of the most revered US sports figures.

Linda Strumpf, a member of the university board of trustees, told Reuters that officials had considered cancelling the game. "We did discuss it. We felt very strongly that to penalise the players and the fans and the band ... was just the wrong thing to do."

Paterno, 84, was dismissed by the university on Wednesday after it was revealed that he was told in 2002 that his former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky had sexually assaulted a young boy in a campus locker room. While Paterno told his boss, he did not call police.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/11/penn-state-students-honor-victims

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I'm sure they mean well, but...

AT THE FOOTBALL GAME?!?

bewilderedly,
Bright

A band formation saying "Sorry"? Placard cheering? A human pyramid? Everything that comes to mind is worse than the last. :crazy:

while they show pictures of little kids on the Jumbotron.

I don't even want to get into the mascots.

:shrug:

*THAT* would be a fitting tribute.

Just let Nebraska folks who have already made the trip attend. Maybe they will opt out also. An empty stadium would show lives are more important than the football program.

If the school and NCAA are too cowardly to cancel the Penn St. football season, the Penn St. students and alums could stand up.

Best idea yet!

IIRC, Omaha Steve posted an article to that effect.

and resident, and I gotta some of us are really uncomfortable about tomorrow's game. Not because of any danger or anything like that -- the rioting was clearly just a minority of idiots. (Though I understand our security people and Penn State's security people have coordinated, and Husker fans who are traveling to the game have been given a short checklist of common-sense cautions. And while Nebraska fans love to wear red, there may be very little or none of that tomorrow.)

No, we're uncomfortable just because of the situation. This thing has rocked Penn State to their core, and it feels like they should be stepping back a bit for a deep breath. We feel like we're showing up for a party at someone's house where there's just been a death in the family. We all wish -- well, many if not all -- that the game had been cancelled.

involved in this situation, to give people time to decide on a respectful course of action.

Seems like more bad leadership.

More from the OP link:

"The mother of Victim 1 who spoke out on Friday said her son was 11 years old when he met Sandusky in 2005 through the former assistant coach's Second Mile program for at-risk boys.

"She said her son had feared speaking out against Sandusky, telling her: "I didn't know what to do ... you just can't tell Jerry no." But she said he is "doing OK" and felt a sense of relief when Sandusky was charged.

"A ninth possible victim, now in his 20s, has since come forward, according to the Patriot-News in Harrisburg, and Pennsylvania police have set up a telephone hotline to receive information about the sexual abuse allegations.

"Prosecutors in Texas also opened an investigation on Thursday into Sandusky after grand jury testimony in Pennsylvania indicated that he may have abused a young boy when Penn State was in San Antonio for the 1999 Alamo Bowl.

We all know what they cheer for when it comes to Texas justice.

I would use the phrase "rush to judgment" except it's a rush to look like they are doing/meaning something.

...piss poor.

:puke:

That would be a major statement. This dedication thing sucks ice cold wind..

REVENUE ETC... that has anything to do with this freaking game to Legitimate Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs. Geesh if they have to sit there and spue how unfair it would be to the players, fans and the band ... to cancel the game because it "was just the wrong thing to do." Arrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggg ......

F%$^ WOULD SOMEONE ON THE PSU Board of Trusties get a freaking clue? Your words on these blue child abuse place-cards, or making everyone wear a nice pretty little blue ribbon for the day reminds me of those stupid 'support our troops' yellow bumper sticker ribbons all these gas guzzling SUV's were running around with awhile back. Freaking Rah Rah made in China empty slogans !!

I think this Child Sexual Abuse Scandal of yours (Penn State) has created enough 'publicity' lately on Child Abuse Awareness that this make you feel good gesture of handing out more cheap shit sounds like a public relations stunt more than anything ...

SHIT IF YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE GAME .... OR HAVE TO PLAY THE LAST 3 GAMES INCLUDING ANY BOWL GAME ..... DO THE RIGHT THING .... THE FAIR THING AND DONATE ALL PROCEEDS ..... ALL REVENUE ..... TO THE PREVENTION OF THE SHIT YOUR INSTITUTION WAS COMPLICIT IN. DON'T WAIT FOR THE COURTS .... TAKE THE BALL AND RUN WITH IT.

Otherwise just cancel the freaking games

:rant:

ONLY if all of the proceeds for ALL the games go to legitimate abuse prevention programs.

none, nada, neit .... no way, game over.

Wow...Just when you thought you heard it all.

totally insensitive....

for their "glory" and honor as a football powerhouse and for their personal father figure/god, Joe Paterno. It is that insatiable need to win at whatever cost which is the poisoned root of the sick culture of Penn State. Far too many of their students/grads worship their football team with the fever and fervor of born again Christians/true believers.

I'm sure that the victims will all feel much better.

:eyes:

The Guardian.

:hide:

What about the "penalty" laid down on those little boys who got raped by your coach while your esteemed institution ALLOWED it to go on--was THAT a problem for you too?


:puke:


If there was any truth to be spoken, it would probably have been something along the lines of, "...to penalise the financial standing of our athletic department and our Grant and Aid Contributors was just the wrong thing to do."



Higher learning at one of its finest moments.




Laura

And the entire team took turns trying to kick a field goal with his nuts.

THEN I'd support the game 100%!