Did you know that Jerry Sandusky's autobiography was titled, "Touched," Joe?
“The fact that someone we thought we knew might have harmed young people to this extent is deeply troubling. If this is true we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families. They are in our prayers…It was obvious that the witness was distraught over what he saw, but he at no time related to me the very specific actions contained in the grand jury report. Regardless, it was clear that the witness saw something inappropriate involving Mr. Sandusky. As coach Sandusky was retired from our coaching staff at that time, I referred the matter to university administrators…If true, the nature and amount of charges made are very shocking to me and all Penn Staters. While I did what I was supposed to with the one charge brought to my attention, like anyone else involved I can’t help but be deeply saddened these matters are alleged to have occurred.”
—–Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno, commenting on the indictment on 40 charges of child sexual abuse brought against his long-time former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky. It was Paterno who first brought allegations of Sandusky’s sexual molestation of young boys to the University’s attention, and two Penn State administrators have also been charged with covering up Sandusky’s alleged misconduct.
Paterno’s statement is ethically troubling on many levels, self-serving and disingenuous. How can Paterno say he was “fooled,” or that he found the charges “shocking,” when he was informed—nine years ago!— by a credible eye-witness that his friend and former assistant had been seen molesting a young boy in the university’s showers? Then he might have been shocked, but now? After testifying before a grand jury investigating Sandusky? Disappointed, perhaps…but how can Paterno be shocked at an indictment when he knew that a grand jury was preparing one?
“It was obvious that the witness was distraught over what he saw, but he at no time related to me the very specific actions contained in the grand jury report. Regardless, it was clear that the witness saw something inappropriate involving Mr. Sandusky.” Huh? If it was clear “something inappropriate” was going on between a child and Sandusky, why are you shocked, Joe? And what “very specific actions” did you need to know in order to recognize your duty to make sure, other than passing on the information to superiors, that a middle-aged man you were told was seen molesting a young boy in the shower was kept away from potential victims? Is your imagination that poor? “Molesting a young boy in the shower” is enough for me; I wouldn’t need more details to know something needed to be done. Why did you?
My favorite line, however—all right, “favorite’ isn’t exactly the right word—is the first one: “The fact that someone we thought we knew might have harmed young people to this extent is deeply troubling.”
Ah. So you just thought Sandusky had molested one child, and that wasn’t so troubling…is that it, Joe? You just thought buggering a young boy was a one-time thing for Sandusky, and that your pal woke up one morning and thought, “Hmmm…what new can I try today? I’ve never sexually molested a child…yeah, I’ll try that on one of the kids in my foundation!”…is this really what you thought, Joe? “That one incident of child molesting…well, okay, Jerry made a mistake, but 40! Now that’s troubling!”
What is troubling is that Paterno sat on what he had heard, knew his school was doing nothing, knew Sandusky was still surrounded by young boys, knew he was being investigated, and is now crafting statements that make the coach sound like he was totally blind-sided by the news of the indictments.
Joe Paterno built a reputation at Penn State for impeccable values and high ethical standards. A few more statements like this one, and that reputation could vanish in a hurry.
It may already be too late to save it .
Ethics Alarms 
I am very disappointed in Mr. Paterno. I respected Mr. Paterno and the football team. I think he should resign. If he knew this that long ago and didn’t do anything about it, he is guilty. I am stunned. But it reaffirms my thought on putting too much respect into leaders or celebrities especially when you don’t know them personally.
Very well said. I so agree. The whole thing is disheartening.
If what Paterno did was unethical, then the graduate assistant who did not report the crime to the police, the one person who had directly witnesses the purpoted act, would be a thousand times unethical.
I’d agree, but Joe Pa is the God of Pennsylvania. Reporting to him is reporting to the highest authority possible.
Of course, that view is insane, but it likely guided the graduate assistant’s actions.
A thousand times? I don’t see how you get that. He told a supposed moral and ethical exemplar, and assumed he would do the right thing. He’s not a university official; Paterno is. The thousand X works in the other direction.
Paterno reporting to the police would be hearsay. True, it could trigger an investigation, but a report from the person who witnessed the act would be much more compelling.
Misuse of hearsay. It usually can’t be used in court as evidence, but it can support police investigations and arrest. Why is anyone making excuses for Paterno?
Jack, if Paterno’s failure or refusal to tell the police that the grad assistant told him Sandusky engaged in child rape, then the grad student’s failure to tell the police that Sandusky engaged in child rape would be much more blameworthy.
And I never claimed that Paterno reporting what he heard to the police would be useless. Indeed, I noted that it could trigger an investigation . But the grad assistant would surely be more credible than Paterno was.
EVERYONE involved had a moral obligation to call the police and or child protective services. Just telling your boss isn’t good enough. They aren’t the ones who need to be told. That’s the police and child protective services.
And the person who had the greatest moral obligation would be the person who purpotedly witnessed the act.
True but once Paterno and everyone else was aware they had obligation to follow up and make sure the police knew.
Gary Schultz knew about the allegation, and he had oversight over the police department. Ergo, the police knew.
“Hey coach, just saw Sandusky raping a child in the team showers”
There’s not one coach I’ve ever played for in my limited time in team sports who would respond with this to the effect of,
“Really? Well, let me get in touch with HR…I bet they’ll know what to do. Thanks.”
Why didn’t Mcqueary get Sandusky in a headlock or something? That’s what i would have done.
Of course! Why would anyone doubt you?
why didn’t mcqueary choke sandusky,or put him in a headlock or something?