Still Are Penn State

Although I have only attended Penn State for half a semester, I am starting to understand why this university is so important to all the past and future students that attended Penn State. One event that has shed negative light on Penn State is the Sandusky Scandal that has shaked the very foundation of what this univeristy stands for. As stated in an old proverb the actions of one individual cannot influence or be considered the actions of the many. Joe Paterno should not have been fired for the path that he chose to pursue in this matter, in fact he should be given credit for actually doing his job. Joe Paterno did not see the crimes that Sandusky was committing in the shower but instead, he was tipped off by a non-credible witness that these crimes were taking place. So as the head football coach of a team, Joe Paterno did what he was supposed to do and told his boss, the acting athletic director. The fault placed on Joe Paterno should instead be placed on the Athletic Director for not passing on this information to the President of the University. Yes, Joe Paterno could have done more instead of dsoing the bare minimum in order to keep his job and causing a scandal but quite frankly so can millions of other individuals in different areas of their lives, with me included. I also find it hard to believe that the assistant coach named Curly still has a active paying job at Penn State after wittnessing the crimes that Sandusky was committing and not going to the proper authorities. In my personal opinion he should be fired and brought up on charges for being a partner in a crime (even though he wasnt the one raping the children). I could understand if it was a player or volunteer staff member that happened to catch Sandusky in the act of committing these crimes and decided not to go to the proper authorities because, that individual would be scared for his/her future due to the repurcusions that might occur thanks to Sandusky past title amongst the program. This situation is different however. Curly was twenty-eight years old at the time. He should have acted like a adult, and not just any adult but one with a morally right concious and stopped him or told someone. I am also highly irrated on how the media in particular, Sportscenter, is portraying the football team in this endeavor. Whenever this scandal is mentioned, the only images that can be viewed are those of the football team, with hardly any of the images portraying Sandusky in a negative light. I understand that Sandusky was a defensive coordinator here at Penn State, but that was in the 1990s. None of the current players have even come in contact with Sandusky, so the media needs to leave the football team out of their reportings.  I will be glad when people in other communities stop asking me about this horrible event and instead look at the positive programs and other activities that Penn State partakes in.