What did they know and when did they know it?
That’s what authorities are asking of Penn State, now that it appears university officials long knew of Jerry Sandusky’s molestation of young boys, but still did nothing about it. It’s a blockbuster of a question, which could implement many school officials and spell trouble for the famed university.
Recently uncovered emails indicate that former Penn State President Graham Spanier and 2 other former university officials knew they had a problem with Sandusky after a 2001 shower incident. In that incident, graduate assistant Mike McQueary first told head football coach Joe Paterno on February 9, 2001, that he saw Sandusky make sexual contact with a boy in a campus locker room shower. McQueary said the boy was naked with his hands against the wall and Sandusky was “behind him.” But according to the emails, when university officials first heard of the incident, they apparently decided to handle it using a “humane” approach before contacting outside authorities whose job it is to investigate suspected abuse.
Initially remaining silent was “a more humane and upfront way to handle this,” former Penn State vice-president Gary Schultz allegedly wrote.
Sandusky was eventually charged with having sexual contact with 4 more boys after the 2001 incident. On June 22nd, Sandusky was convicted of abusing 10 boys over 15 years.
During the exchange of messages from February 26th to February 28th, 2001, Spanier was careful to acknowledge Penn State could be “vulnerable” for not reporting the incident. “The only downside for us is if the message (to Sandusky) isn’t ‘heard’ and acted upon, and we then become vulnerable for not having reported it,” Spanier purportedly wrote.
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| Graham Spanier |
The e-mails among Spanier, Schultz and former Athletic Director Tim Curley never mentioned Sandusky by name, but instead referred to him as “the subject” and “the person.” Children that Sandusky brought on campus — some of whom might have been victims — were referred to as “guests.”
Did a “good ole’ boys” network at Penn State protect Jerry Sandusky, which eventually led to him molesting even more boys over several more years?
Since this story broke, I've always felt that there was NO WAY that Paterno and University heads didn't know about Sandusky. Not only did they remain quiet about it FOR YEARS but they allowed him continued access to Lord knows how many young and defenseless boys?!In my eyes ALL of Sandusky's accomplises are WORSE than he is and I wish they could be put on trial too. I'm just sorry that Paterno didn't live to see his reputation torn to shreds as this whole disgusting story continues to be exposed.