Shut It Down Now Penn State

At first, I believed we should have seen a suspension of any and all of the administration involved with the Penn State incident but not punish the students. However, with the riot of 5000 students over the firing of Joe, the students have spoken. If there was a counter protest by the football players or other students, that would be one thing, but the student body has said either through the riot or through inaction, "It is OK for boys to be molested as long as we have a good football program."

Because of this, I believe the employees of the Penn State athletic department should be fired. Those involved should be blacklisted from joining other programs. Any administration overseeing the athletic department should be fired. The ENTIRE athletic department should be suspended indefinitely. Finally, Penn State should be booted from the Big Ten. (All of this on top of criminal charges and litigation against any and all DIRECTLY involved in the scandal.)

Want to talk about not fair? It's not fair that so many boys had their innocence & trust stolen from them in such a horrible way. Will the town take a financial hit? Yep. They deserve it for not making a powerful statement condemning these actions. The incidents happened in 98 & are just now being handled 13 years later. I believe a 13 year suspension of all athletic programs is not out of line. Plenty of time to rid the university of the scum and be able to start with a clean slate when they finally get their program back. Also, it would send a POWERFUL message to any and all other schools.

I will tell you that most organizations would be completely bankrupted and dismantled if facing similar accusations. Yeah, all things being "fair," Penn State would no longer even be a university...so don't talk about "fair" to me.

I believe, Randy, that shutting down the program is a non-starter. Penn State is an institution - a horrifically depraved one in their sports "business", yes - but life must go on.

Their intercollegiate sports programs should be banned for this century and maybe the next. All personnel who were part of the football program should be either dismissed (if likely culpable) or reassigned to classroom teaching posts or even clerical duties.

The students should have no game to rally around this weekend. The Board of Directors should all be dismissed for even considering a game anytime in the near to middle future.

This is an immense scandal because it was found. But these pedophilia incidents and crimes happen everyday and everywhere across this planet. Many adults, if honest, can site at least a few incidents like these alleged ones sometime in their childhood.

Yes, these children - not all so - who have allegedly or definitely been abused by Sandusky should be identified, questioned, and used to convict a felon.

The trouble is that so many adults and their silent enablers who know the truth will continue to get away with such perversions unless we speak about these problems in schools directly and teach children how to get assistance without shame or fear of retribution.

This is no simple task.

Well done.
We need to change the course of morality in this country. Shutting down Penn State will put us on the right track.

Keep writing

Couldnt agree more Randy. And forfeiting the game isn't "punishing the innocent"; it's demonstrating solidarity with and support for the victims, letting them know that we empathise with them and we care about them; that what is important is the health and welfare of the community and the citizens, much more important than a game of football. I'm sure if that were to happen the plaudits would flow from everywhere. Every American around the world will hear about it, will sit up and take note and remember that day and remember the victims.
Otherwise, it's just another game of football.

Penn State honors victims of child abuse with a moment of silence before game!?!

Exactly what abused kids need, more silence from Penn State.

What happened to the basic principals of human decency? A strong, healthy, 28 y.o. footballer walks in on a kid who is being molested gets “shocked and confused’ and leaves??? A coach waits a day, weighting out the options how to handle the situation??? Any normal person would have instinctively bit the sh** out of the rapist right there on the spot and then called the police! Anyone who knew and did nothing should be charged, especially the beloved coach, when you are in that position the demand to do the right thing is much higher. Disgusting…
And the college kids rioting…no comments

I talked about this topic with many people. Not only Penn State - it could be the Church over here in Europe where some holy fathers did the same for years and many more abuse-issues we get to count in our lives. Men say, if they get to "see" it they better turn away to avoid personal damage. Everyone in this moment takes more care of himself than taking care of the helpless boy-victim (or girls) to not reach too deep down into a pricking bush of 100,000 needles. None knows who´s involved and I know best myself what it means to speak up, all by yourself against a person which becomes easily a group, sometimes larger than you can imagine. I luckily wasn´t abused but was lucky to get away from being raped as an 18y. old twen. Being alone is being defensless. Glad some get caught. But many run away from getting involved. A reason might be: our Germany law system is different and over here, if you sue, you have to meet face to face to say "it is him!" And that´s pretty dangerous...

thanks for posting this topic -

Here is my concern. If you continue to allow those who do the wrong, leave the fear and blame for all of the rest of us then they really win. I totally agree that all those who did or knew should be punished. As a teacher and a coach in California you don't have a choice...either report it or be ready to be punished for not telling. I think this is only right. On the other hand, it is not fair to punish an entire program that had nothing to do with it and drag those innocents down as well. Punish hard those that did and knew...leave the innocent alone and don't allow fear to run our lives.

Coming from the UK this news never came over the water. If it did then I certainly missed it. Makes you think of what might be going on over here and how our football governing body would have re-acted. Evil will always be in this world it just has to be crushed each time and exposed as soon as it is found. In my opinion the death penalty for this sort of evil should be enforced. But then even that is probably to easy an escape for these evil men and women.

There is something else that I want to talk about-That in football, and I presume in all of sports, to various degrees, there is quite a bit of what I, personally, would call abuse. As many probably know, it is only the "tip of the iceberg" that has been revealed in recent years regarding abuse in organized sports. Things like date-rape, physical abuse, mental abuse, abuse of school rules and protocol, these things (I firmly believe) are very common in the sports world.

Sports and sport figures and coaches have been made into demigods by the media. And, as for example in the case of Michael Vick, Marshawn Lynch, etc..,many of these guys are simply glorified thugs, who also happen to be good at playing a game.

Let me say this-Somebody told me that Joe Paterno did in fact follow a protocol in this case, and reported the incident to the school administration. And I am told that he officially testified regarding this issue. Having said that, I don't know the whole story, nor do I feel motivated to spend a bunch of time "researching" this issue.

But here is my question: Was it not the job of the school trustees to take action here, if in fact Paterno reported the abuse? It seems to me that Paterno is being hung out to dry, because of the fact that the school administrators didn't/haven't taken full responsibility for the situation. It seems as though they are firing HIm in order to try and save their own collective asses. And, t seems that the people who need to be "hung out to twist in the wind" are the administrators who conspired in this coverup.

The University responded to the horrific actions of specific individuals by firing those responsible and complicit for those actions. Forfeiting the game would have one NOTHING to benefit the victims of these terrible crimes. The football game in question has nothing to do with the crimes that were committed and the recompense the University owes the victims. Punish the many - the players, the fans, the vendors, etc. - for the sins of the few? That's what you consider a good idea? Penn State University has a continued responsibility to its students and alumni to rehabilitate the name and brand of the school following this scandal, and it does so by working to return to normalcy. Your sentiment is well placed but your logic is flawed.

Written by someone who is not from State College, not part of the Penn State community and so has no idea how badly that community is wounded by this. And how that community will benefit from the game being played so it can begin to heal.

Randy,

As a father of 3 boys, this is something no father ever wants to hear. I pray for the victims - young, innocent boys whose lives will never be the same. The act is so evil that I have a hard time wrapping my mind around it. You blog was eloquent and right on target. Alas, Penn State played today and in the process dishonored all that is right and just. How anyone can turn a blind eye to the events that were witnessed is simply beyond my comprehension. In the end it comes down to the dirty M word winning over the H word. Money trumped Honor in this case and it teaches our world the wrong message. I could go on forever about this subject, but we have become an unaccountable society. Change is needed and perhaps in the coming weeks Penn State will recognize their obligation to right this wrong. Redemption cannot be bought, nor can it be earned. Penn State is now wearing the Scarlet Letter. I pray for all the victims.

It's amazing the wide and varied responses to your article, Randy.

I am the kind of person who would gladly be a "tattletale" if somebody is doing something wrong.

I don't take things like this lightly and would have glad shouted it from the rooftops regardless of who was involved.

Children HAVE to be protected NO MATTER WHAT! We as adults have a responsibility to the children.

Protect the children PERIOD!!!

Hey guys,

I have a lot more thoughts on all this and what you've shared. So I've just loaded the next post here: http://www.randygage.com/blog/take-back-your-power/

Please read and share your thoughts.

-RG

I want to know what interim coach Tom Bradley knows? He was part of the "inner circle" of coaches and there during the entire mess. He HAD to have known what was going on with Sandusky, even if it was second hand. Penn State should fire everyone from the Sandusky era -- and if that means shutting down the team, and season -- SO BE IT!!!

I think every college administrator that had anything to do with this should be tried and convicted of the felonies they committed whether directly or as accomplices. Second, those poor victims should be entitled to every bit of care, therapy, education, and careers that Penn State's sports funding can buy.
Third, play the games. Those students that have not been anywhere near this deserve a wholesome college experience from an otherwise good school. The chips will fall on this one. Lower student apps, less interest in their sports programs, lower ad monies will be the price this school pays for its insensitivity and greed. Perhaps reducing the school to a humble new beginning is what will happen. Couldn't happen to a better school.

I hate to say it, but I've never been one to watch football or baseball, so I really had no idea what the Penn State thing was all about. I've heard talk of this on the radio of late, but Wow this really pushes the limits for Sick Stuff. Just shows how people will let their greed blind them from what really must be done. Let's all use this as a example of why we need to circulate (TRUE) Love and Prosperity out in the world.

Randy,
I agree with you 1000% (not a typo.) It is heartbreaking and mind numbing what has been allowed to happen, even condoned.

I also agree that the current student body, parents, faculty and more need to WAKE UP and STEP UP in a unified action that would make the right and true statement to the victims not just of Sandusky but globally of such horrendous abuse.

Football is game. I know it is viewed by many as big business and I don't dispute the ridiculous (in my opinion) sums of money and hordes of energy and time expended on it by player and spectator alike. But in the end, . . .it is just a game.

The victims will carry the scars of this for the rest of their lives, the least the university can do is to cancel this game AND the rest of season as a tiny act of contrition and apology. And to show some semblance of awareness.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I found it interesting that at least one dissenter was anonymous (I didn't read all comments.)

Warmly,
Melissa

Lots of interesting conversation here. Some thoughts:

Anger never has been and never will be associated with prosperity.

For all of us saying, "This is what I would have done," we need to reflect more on it. Do we really know? Military and law enforecement train for years to have the ability to respond under these type of circumstances and they still make mistakes. Keep in mind that the witness held the perpetrator in high regard and in high trust. I am a high-brown belt (next is black) in Tae Kwon Do and I like to think how I would have handled it but the truth is, I don't really know and neither does anyone else.

Next, all the facts aren't in- let's stop all the judgement.

The scene this morning before the game was touching: unity and prayer for all.

Lastly, in the words of the master teacher, "Forgive them Father they know not what they do." Love and forgiveness is the answer (along with legal remedies), not judgement and anger.

Randy, you are right on point! It is tragic that in this sports obsessed country all they care about is the team and school reputation. Sports are far more important then humanity in this country. That is why teachers, social workers and anything to do with helping and developing children are underpaid and overloaded while sport jocks are treated like gods and paid millions (btw, they are paid in college but indirectly).

Randy - we spoke briefly about this last Jan. It seems that you have opened a forum where it makes sense to speak. What Richard Bach calls PoC? (Principle of Coincidence) Or just the universe having a giggle?

I was physically and sexually abused from the time I was 6. At 14 I went to a multi-school competition, two faith-based gatherings, and high school classes with one eye swollen completely shut, both eyes blacked and what I later learned was a broken nasal bone. No one could even look me in the eye.

I have had 34 years to reflect, to rant and rail, to forgive and finally to heal.

I was angry at my siblings, both adults before I was two, because they were grown-ups and didn't even notice.

I was angry with my gym teachers - who let me not suit up for gym when my legs showed bruises and even broken skin - but never acknowledged WHY they told me to put my street clothes back on.

I was angry with my mother - who watched while my head was pounded against a plaster wall - who cried and did nothing.

I was angry with myself - mostly.

I say this so you can imagine a little of where those boys have been.

I've had people tell me what they think justice would have been. I've even agreed - with my HEAD. But in my heart I knew I wasn't seeing straight. My sense of "highest right" knew that if I bought into that "eye for an eye" justice I was being a pawn. So I stopped telling my story and for most of my adult life no one would have guessed I had ever been abused.

That doesn't mean the pain and self loathing stopped. It means I learned to manifest only the parts of me that the public could handle.

The oldest of the boys that Sandusky abused (I say abused rather than RAPED because, in my experience anyway, the rape is only a small part of the abuse. The feeling of helplessness, of wondering what horrible person you are to deserve such treatment and you MUST deserve it or someone would STOP it, of fear of the next time or reprisal for telling the truth - THAT is the larger violation of self) is now 27 years old. He's had about 15 years to live with the aftermath. Has anyone asked THIS young man what would ease his pain?

I won't detail here the roller coaster ride of peace and condemnation, self sabotage and self actualization, I have followed. But feel called to share three insights.

First - I was abused, I was not victimized. But if I had listened to the "press" I would have identified as a victim because that's what people who have had my life experiences get labeled. Please do not label these boys and men as victims - help them choose to live free of that stigma.

Second - People are not monsters. Monsters live under beds and in storybooks. But people self-identify as monsters and then they behave like them. And as long as we protect them and look the other way in order not to have to acknowledge their behavior their self identity will not change and neither will their behavior.

WE create the monster when we condone the behavior and anything short of STOPPING the behavior is condoning it.

Every single person who knew or suspected that abuse was taking place and did not raise their voice in protest and their hand in defense of those children helped to create the monster you name Sandusky. Every person HE faced who knew, and he knew they knew, who went on associating with him, pretending their knowledge changed nothing, helped to keep him on a path of abuse.

I don't know the root of his patterns, and I'm no psychologist to diagnose it, but pain begins in pain. That seed produces true and, unless it is grafted to something sweeter like love and truth, it will only produce more pain. The people who "protected" him kept him from being forced to examine his pain. They "protected" him from being forced to stay on this path (and accept the consequences) or choose another path. So long as he was "protected" and even respected, he had no incentive to seek out help. Does that make him right - not even close. But it means he was as much a "victim" of the system that protected him as his so-called "victims" were. The system is SUPPOSED to stop this behavior for EVERYONE'S good.

Please, don't wait until the "monster" has been identified then cry for justice. Lift your voice and your hand to protect those being abused and to push the abuser to get help in making other choices or accept the consequences of their behavior.

Third - We will never stop abuse by playing a "blame game." Trying to parse out who knew, how much they knew, what they should have done about what they knew... that is a job for the legal system and it needs to be done. But it won't PREVENT abuse. STOPPING the abuse cycle is either accomplished by one very strong person who says "I will NOT visit my pain on another individual" or it is accomplished by an entire community saying "I WILL lift my voice and my hand to protect and defend - not my innocence or the status quo - but the good in every person I meet."

And protecting and defending the "good in every person" - that extends to the abused and the abusers and to every person in their community or the global community.

We each have power - which means we have responsibility. When we say "I didn't have anything to do with it, and there is nothing I can do about it now" we're abdicating power.

Communities have collected power - which means they have greater responsibility. Not to punish - but to protect, defend, and ultimately to heal.

When I was a child I believed adults were all-powerful. I believed that the only reasons that they wouldn't help me was either because they didn't care about me, or because they thought I deserved it.

Now I know what it is to be a grownup and still feel helpless to right what I believe to be wrong. I have had that "I have no choice" conversation with myself and I have not always made the choice that lets me sleep at night. I have had to admit that "I have no choice" is simply a way of saying "I can't imagine a choice that I LIKE." Sometimes we have to choose the hard path - as Frank Herbert said in Dune, "the course of least resistance always leads downhill." Doing the right thing can tax our strength.

I feel for those adults who knew or suspected what was happening to me. They also knew what the repercussions would be of intervening - what if they were wrong? What if they were right? Either way, it was going to get mighty unpleasant. They have had 34 years to think about it too - I wonder what they think.

So maybe firing was the worst that will happen to those who knew but didn't take definitive action. (And getting him to promise "not to take showers with the boys" is NOT definitive action - it didn't help HIM or the boys, it only allayed the guilt they would have felt if they had done nothing at all.)

But maybe living with the knowledge that they have contributed to the pain and bewilderment of so many children. Having to work with the man they protected and try NOT to think of the faceless children they failed to defend. Maybe that has been worse than the public exposure and loss of their positions. We don't know.

Please, as a community that is hurting and confused - Know that there were many in your community who knew or suspected. After all, this has been a "known problem" among some of the University staff since 1998. Although the case was never made public, the police were involved so it wasn't a complete secret. According to the CNN report, he was even recorded by the police as saying "I understand. I was wrong, I wish I could get forgiveness. I know I won't get it from you. I wish I were dead."

Accept that YOU are hurting, the children (many now adults) are hurting, the people who knew and did nothing are hurting and Sandusky is hurting. NONE of this pain is right or necessary. It won't be healed by blame or punishment (although punishment has its place and I am not opposed to it - just aware that punishment alone is NEVER a solution.)

It also won't be healed by vigils and public displays and contributions to charities for children you will never have to meet.

That is a salve that helps you sleep - it won't heal the wound.

Healing requires human interaction. It requires honesty with ourselves and each other. It requires something much deeper than retribution or forgiveness - it requires compassion. Can you find your way to that?

Inside each of those young men a child still lives. Do you think they care about your vigils and your contributions? Your public displays or "blued out" stadiums? Do they care about your outcries here or elsewhere? I don't know - but I doubt it. The child still needs someone to look them in the eye and say "you did not deserve that - it was not about you, ever." They need much more than that - but the personal acknowledgment is critical.

Those children need someone to help THEM break the cycle. A graft of love and truth that will help them bear fruit that is not only pain. Can you do that?

Please - stop asking what should be done AGAINST and ask what can be done FOR. What can be done for those children, what can be done for the school, what can be done for the community and yes, what can be done for Sandusky who has performed horrific acts but must still have some good in him worth defending.

Randy, I've thought a lot on this although it has been only a short time since you brought it to my attention. If the program was a building - and a blight was uncovered...

Would you tear it down? A big, beautiful building that has housed much good? Or would you first investigate, examine the extent of the damage, estimate the cost of restoration, weigh the pros and cons of preservation - then make a decision based on your findings?

I think I will send my energy to hope for a full investigation of the program, the college, the legal counsel (who had a clear conflict of interest if I read the CNN report correctly,) the child welfare department, etc... I will hope that the community takes their power and responsibility seriously to uncover the blight and all the places that it touched and to restore it to what it could be.

But I will also send my energy to believing that each of those young men will discover what I discovered. That we each choose our own way to come into power and pain and fire is one path. It isn't a path I recommend, but if it is part of our experience then we can turn it into a path of personal power and light. And that our healing becomes a blessing for everyone we touch, and everyone who touches us. I will believe that they will discover the depth of connectiveness when we allow others to be a part of our healing and we become a part of theirs.

Because what is pain if not an opportunity for healing?

That, I think, will be far more meaningful than protest, vigils, public displays of support or contributions to charities.

We shall see.

This is a really disturbing post Randy. I heard about it in the news, but not with all the details. Oh so awful. I don't know much about college football or how it works or how much money is made. Now I have some insight. I agree with you Randy. And I am sorry about what happened to you too.

I really hate this post too, I know it's true, but it is just so horrible.

I think the potential for evil is present anytime human beings form an organization. Why? Because we are human, and humans are consistantly evil. All of us. So the bright side, is we can choose not to be. And it is not always easy.

Unfortunately, I was not surprised by the behavior of the people involved. I know from my own experience, and history that ego and false idoltry leads us to evil.

As humans we need to work on ego integrity and higher morality that stems not from institutions or relying on a higher authority. We must gain the knoweledge that we can trust ourselves. Trusting ourselves comes from ego integrity.

The most evil things I have ever done is when I have rationalized my corrupt behavior to myself, or when I have followed someone else's lead without trusting my own sense of right and wrong.

Think of the rationalizations one must have to believe that not doing anything was the right thing. But just don't be so sure you wouldn't have done the same... Not saying anyone here would have done that, but the only way to protect against evil is to be honest with ourselves. In what situatons in our own environments have we turned away from the truth to protect our egos or someone else's who we feel has more power or authority than we.

I know I have been amoral. It is not always easy to do the right thing and be honest. Truth can seem like a scary bastard, but it is also our salvation.

Children are our responsibility. Adults, and yes 28 is old enough to be an adult, have to protect and advocate for children. Really no one else will.

Randy, I agree. I've taught at some major universities. There is a culture in academia, especially administration, that sports should reign supreme. ...and usually to the detriment of the academics.

This reminds me of a certain president who had sex with an intern. He should have been shut down as well. But what did we as a country do? We reelected him. The students at Penn State would keep Paterno and would probably vote for Bill Clinton again.

Ok, I said I was done, but one more thing... There was just announced a bomb threat at Beaver Stadium. Is this what your hatred to our community condones??

Please let's all stop with the hate and pull together as a group of human beings to do what is right and protect innocent children. Your hatred toward PSU is fueling rage into the entire world!

Let's be humans and show compassion instead of hatred - and turn a horrible situation into something we as human beings can stand for and agree upon - love and humanity!

Hey Randy

I agree. Nobody intervened or does anything when he saw or was a witness to the abusing sexually those poor children by
Mike McQueary .So these incidens happend with Sandusky in 1998, again in 2000, and will happen again in the future, unless, if someone will do the right thing for to stop and get him to be judged and be punished him,as he deserves it

Randy, I was mad about the blatant disrespect and lack of concern by the all of the concerned at Penn of the violated victims before seeing your response.

It gives me a sick gut feeling to know how low people will go to satisfy their own twisted desires and how low others will stoop to ignore it.

As far as some posters not wanting to punish the "kids"...how about the 'kids that were abused???? The irresponsible kids that are protesting by destroying others property and physically and verbally assualting police officers and civilians need to be punished...swiftly!!

As far as the football program is concerned perhaps some of the institutions of higher learning need to return to their primary purpose. Turning out educated, responsible young adults that can contribute value to mother earth and humanity.

We need mentors and teachers of moral values in our universities, not pedophiles. The over used cliche of "if it feels good do it" needs to be restated in moral terms.

Thanks for your thoughts Randy..right on!
David

I agree totally! They should revoke the school's charter for permitting this rape of kids to go on. It's one of the most despicable stories I've ever heard. I thought it was sick when fans supported michael vick for torturing animals but this blows it away. This country's obsession with sports is grotesque.

BREAKING: Dismissed Penn State Administrators Seek Jobs at Vatican

Good article, except this scumbag Sandusky is NOT behind bars.

He was released on only $100,000 bail, which the judge rationalized because "he is not considered a flight risk."

And he stipulated that "defendent is ordered not to associate with boys under the age of 18." So, 19, 20, year olds, etc. are perfectly OK with this judge???

I guess he forgot to tell the pervert to stay away from Victims 1-7 seeing how they are all over the age of 18 now.

I guess what this idiot judge is saying is that Sandusky can go ahead and have his will with ANY of the seven victims because they are no longer under that age. Or, just about any of the other "buddies" this guy had using his "charitable foundation."

The fact this guys is NOT behind bars tells me all I need to know about the system of justice in State College PA.

The fact that the detective who investigated Sandusky in 1998 was murdered in 2005 by an (as yet) unknown person is, of course, completely irrelevant to this "judge."

Thanks Randy for posting this. You know, having been at the effect of involuntary sexual conduct as a child, I just can't get why grown ups who know or witness or learn of such activity don't ACT immediately. The years of therapy, self doubt and anguish it I went through -- my prayers and love to those young boys who are truly dealing with something in secret, darkness and probably shut down. May their life now start healing.

I don't much jump to the drama band wagon. But this is not a wagon, it is a freak'n freight train. Child trafficing for sex is frighttenly very active in the US.

Completely agree, Randy, that Penn State should forfeit this game. What people fail to realize is that Penn State is not going through with this game as a sign of solidarity, a sign of respect to the community that depends on the game, or as a sign of respect to the student players. I'm convinced they are playing it because the university doesn't want to endure the economic pain of cancelling it. Which is the exact reason they brushed these incidents under the rug in the first place. Because of the dollars it would cost them by allowing them to come to light.

An aside on this, it is troubling to hear all over the media and public that "money" corrupted this institution and caused all this. Not true. Thirst for POWER corrupted this institution and money was merely a vehicle to attain it. It's important to make the distinction.

Randy, stop watching the TV~!

There is no such thing as a victim.

No one that I have read in this blog is looking at the spiritual answer.

There is always a bigger picture.

Victim consciousness will not lead you to prosperity.

"Fix" yourself and leave the rest to Spirit.

The worst part is Sandusky is not behind bars, as your article claims - he's out on bail, awaiting trial.