Video: Historic day for Penn State: Paterno out
Coach Joe Paterno and the president of the school have lost their jobs, effective immediately, over a child sex abuse scandal at Penn State, university trustees announced Wednesday night.
"What can I say, I'm no longer the coach," Paterno told a crowd of about 15 students gathered outside his house late Wednesday night. "It's going to take some time to get used to. It's been 61 years."
The crowd cheered and said, "We love you, Joe."
"I love you, too!" Paterno replied.
Paterno's wife, Sue, was visibly upset while standing beside him on the front steps.
John P. Surma, vice chairman of trustees, said that President Graham Spanier was being replaced and Paterno, the longtime head football coach, would not finish the remainder of the season.
Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Tom Bradley will serve as interim head coach. Rod Erickson, executive vice president and provost of the school, will be interim president, school officials said.
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Filed under: Crime & Punishment |
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I think in all of the turmoil over this child abuse/rape scandal we are all overlooking what actually should have happened in the line of reporting the incident. Pennsylvania has mandatory reporting laws that require persons at various levels of professional practice to report known or suspected cases of child abuse, neglect, and rape. Why did this reporting not happen? View the Pennsylvania mandatory reporter guidelines/law at http://www.rainn.org/pdf-files-and-other-documents/Public-Policy/Legal-resources/2009-Mandatory-Report/Pennsylvania09C.pdf . The outrage over JoePa's fireing to me seems short sighted. I believe he had an obligation, as well as the administration of Penn State U to report and take action on this issue long ago. This brings up another issue: What is the responsibility of any institution, aside from the individuals employed by the institution, to report known or suspected cases of child abuse, neglect, or rape? In my mind all of the individuals who failed to report as outlined by Pennsylvanias mandatory reporter laws should be investigated and held accountable according to the law.
Had Paterno stepped down on his own and shown some remorse he might have regained some respect, but till the end he showed that his first and only priority was to the game not the children who were abused, I have no simpathy for this old man, because he was aware of what was going on therefore he should be charged with assisting a pedaphile.
Where are the arrest for the "Second Mile" Charity staff that were notified by the University and in return never made a reported to the state child welfare agency or police? They too should be held accountable for these horrifying acts.