It would be insensitive for me to claim that the good that Paterno did outweighed the bad. It certainly isn't any solace to all the boys who were abused by Sandusky over the last 14 years after Paterno and the other three let him off the hook. I'm just asking Penn Staters to find a middle ground when trying to explain Paterno's legacy. It is possible to be a good man and make a tragic mistake. But don't make a fool of yourself and try to defend that mistake with the illusion that Paterno is something that he wasn't.
In light of the release of the Freeh Report last week, the once squeaky-clean name and reputation of Joe Paterno has been further tarnished. Penn State is not the only institution distancing itself from the late coach. The Providence Journal is reporting that Paterno’s alma mater, Brown University, has revoked Paterno’s name from a yearly student award presented to the year’s outstanding freshman male athlete.
Damon Sims, the Vice President for Student Affairs at Penn State, sent a letter to Penn State students last night, which emphasized the commitment of student affairs to move forward from the findings in the Freeh Report. Sims took over the position in 2008 after the controversial Vicky Triponey resigned -- a woman who has recently gained national attention for her criticism of Joe Paterno.
Because of the revelations in the Freeh report about Joe Paterno's role in the failure to report sexual abuse crimes by Jerry Sandusky, the Paternoville (now Nittanyville) Coordination Committee released a statement on their website announcing the name change of the tent village that sets up before every game at Beaver Stadium.
The ritualism, sanctity and dictator-like reverence of the Nittany Lions is now not only on display, but on trial. And as our eyes are opened to the conspiracy and direct abuse of power within the administration, Penn State's flaws have become unearthed as well. Read more about how the university's culture is in need of change after the release of the Freeh Report after the jump.
Penn State has officially announced that they intend to renovate the Lasch building showers and locker rooms as soon as possible. There is no doubt as to the reasoning behind the future renovations, as university spokesman David La Torre said bluntly that this comes as a direct result of the child sexual abuse that took place in the building at the hands of Jerry Sandusky.