Pennsylvania State University, home of the storied Nittany Lions football team and its legendary coach, Joe Paterno, was rocked by allegations that one of Paterno’s former assistants, Jerry Sandusky, was charged with sexually assaulting eight young, disadvantaged boys.
The point of the article I posted earlier today, about former Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Fumo, was abuse of power. This sex abuse scandal is a variation of the same theme. Sandusky’s inappropriate behavior went on for years, probably because no one wanted to challenge a football dynasty.
According to the grand jury report:
• In 1998, Sandusky brought an 11-year-old boy into a Penn State locker room shower and behaved inappropriately. The boy’s mother reported it to Penn State University police. After a lengthy investigation, the Centre County District Attorney decided there would be no criminal charges.
• In 2000, a janitor saw Sandusky in the showers with an 11- to 13-year-old boy pinned against the wall, performing oral sex. He was distraught as he told his fellow janitors and his supervisor what he witnessed. But most of the janitors were new employees, and they were afraid that if they reported what had happened, they would lose their jobs.
• In 2002, a Penn State graduate assistant witnessed Sandusky having anal sex with a 10-year-old boy in the locker room showers. The graduate assistant told Joe Paterno. Paterno told his supervisor, Athletic Director Tim Curley. There were a few meetings, but no official investigation. In the end, all that happened was that Sandusky was told he could no longer bring boys to Penn State. Then, when the grand jury investigated, both Curley and the university’s Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz, downplayed the incident.
For more, read reporting in the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Ex-Penn State coach charged with sex crimes
Paterno says all at Penn State were fooled by Sandusky
Here’s a recent interview with Tom Paknis, who IIRC wrote that article I posted the other day — not only was he at one time an assistant in the PSU football program, but he was also abused as a child:
http://http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45283472/ns/sports-college_football//
Hens, there is nothing that turned me away from football quite like going to Penn State and seeing all the flat-out worship of the program there. Every convenience store around town has little “necessities” like blue and white marshmallows, M&Ms, face paint… at the campus book store, they sold sleepers so you could dress your infant like the Nittany Lion mascot, and coffee mugs shaped like JoePa’s ugly head. I’d be tempted to buy a dozen of those right now just for smashing purposes!
LadySweetG,
thank you for that very interesting link. I highly recommend people read it for a little more in-depth perspective on the Penn state scandal.
But there is a problem with it (http:// is added twice) so I’ll repost the link here for you, so people can click on it and be directed to it.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45283472/ns/sports-college_football/page/2/
Katy,
thanks for understanding my attitude problem. 🙂
I hope your ex-spath becomes part of your PAST very soon. These creatures do tend to pop up again on a regular basis, so never let your guard down. Maybe send him a cow on his birthday each year (anonymously) to keep him busy… LOL!
Dress it up in lingerie.
Star,
I had missed your last post to me.
Actually, though my spath didn’t look like Clint Eastwood, he projected the exact same coolness that Clint does in his movies. Strong silent type, where still waters run deep. The way he danged his cigarette from his lips must’ve been practiced for years.
The MoFo was irresistable despite being ugly as sin. And not just to me. Lots of people fell for his crap. The only ones who didn’t were those who had experienced his type before.
That’s why I post the details of his behavior. If other people can get to know the TYPE of person to watch out for, we can save so many lives.
Another fantastic article about the Penn State case. Megan gets it:
“There is a scientific name for people who are not bound by these sorts of ties: sociopaths. And as I understand it, they do not, in fact, make excellent agents of justice, because they don’t care about the victims, either.”
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/11/the-real-problem-at-penn-state/248472/
This thread prompted me to look up the sex offenders in my neighborhood. There are two in my condo complex. One of them lives in my building. Happy happy joy joy!
Athena:
I didn’t read the whole article you posted, but from what I did read, it sounds a lot like what VictimCindy was saying…
Athena
Did you see the other article referenced asking the question why these people didn’t stand up for those abused children, why did they pass the buck? One answer struck a note with me. It’s b/c they had something to lose. And I think that’s about right. People avoid getting involved when the thing they have to lose or feel threatened that they will lose is greater than the suffering they might endure if they intervene.
People will do anything to avoid loss of status (Penn State Bleeds Blue?), loss of a marriage, loss of love, loss of approval, loss of prestige (job in big football program). They enter into denial, looking for ways the victim is wrong (he was just horsing around! touching legs. showering with 10 yr olds and wrestling with them, kids are liars, kids don’t know the difference b/c sexual touching and just ol’ kindly fun.)
Fortunately for the victims, there are STILL people of good character who WILL stand up for them in a world of JERKS making excuses for their abusers – people who know that when you excuse ONE, you become part of the EVIL.
My abuser uses the pity play. We ALL know here on LF that it’s one of the highest indicators. When I see it trotted out, I SEE it for what it is… a manipulator trying to BLIND us. That’s when I know to SHINE THE LIGHT OF TRUTH and drive the leeches and bloodsuckers back into the dark hell they chose for their home.
Katy, who will NOT stand down so that others can abuse b/c WE ALLOW THEM IF we don’t say NO. GGGGRRRRR.
Louise,
No, it’s not the same thing at all.
They are both saying it’s because Joe liked Sandusky, BUT, the article says that Joe KNEW THE TRUTH about what was happening and took it upon himself to excuse Sandusky because he liked him.
What VictimCindy is saying is that Joe was blinded by his affection for Sandusky and couldn’t bring himself to believe the truth.
The only thing blinded about Joe is his moral compass. Remember, he did move to protect himself. My parents are the same way. They only right a wrong when they know that it could cause them harm. They are law abiding citizens but they will turn a blind eye if it doesn’t benefit them to act.
These are the same type of people that allowed the Holocaust to happen.
That article is one of the BEST articles on the subject that I have read so far. It’s worth reading.
It addresses another weakness in the human race: Loyalty. Yep, loyalty is another strength which quickly becomes a weakness if we lean on it too heavily. Blindly.
My spath said, “I have to say, you are an extremely loyal person.” I thought it was a complement, but he meant it derisively. Spaths see loyalty as a weakness and they look for loyal people to exploit. I really AM a very loyal person. I need to work on that.
Oxy and Sky, now another Clint Eastwood film comes to mind. Anyone remember High Plains Drifter, the eerie tale of revenge and reincarnation? An entire town sits and watches as their sheriff gets beaten to death by bad guys. No one does a thing. No one lifts a finger to help. They are all cowards. So a reincarnated version of the sheriff (Clint Eastwood) rides into town as a mysterious stranger with no name, and teaches them all a lesson. Why can’t real life be more like a Clint Eastwood film where justice is always served?
skylar:
I see what you are saying.
Wow, some things you said hit me at the core. That’s exactly how my X spath acts…he only rights a wrong when he knows it will cause him harm if he doesn’t…OMG. It’s all about him. So sorry that you have parents like that.
Yep, I never looked at loyalty in that way, but you are so right. It is a strength that can become a weakness. I too am extremely loyal and I also need to work on that. I did give up one loyalty and that was to my job. I worked at a huge company where the culture of the employees is strong loyalty to the company, but that place is toxic. I saw and endured so many things there….I finally got out. I am so glad I was strong enough to do it. I am loyal to the core…to friends, family, jobs…hmmm, I never realized it can be a detriment.