Detroit Free Press
November 11, 2011
http://www.freep.com/article/20111111/NEWS07/111110369/Penn-State-scandal-Joe-Paterno-fallout-still-spreading?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s
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| Penn State students gather on campus to express solidarity with alleged child sexual-abuse victims. Thursday's gathering came after a night of rioting in response to the firing of coach Joe Paterno. / JEFF SWENSEN/Getty Images |
Joe Paterno didn't just lose his title this week as Penn State football coach. He also may lose his shot at a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor the nation can bestow on a civilian.
A day after Paterno was fired by Penn State trustees amid a devastating child sex-abuse scandal, Pennsylvania's two U.S. senators, Republican Pat Toomey and Democrat Bob Casey, said Thursday that they have rescinded their Medal of Freedom nomination for the legendary 84-year-old coach.
Paterno's legacy has become increasingly tarnished this week by the unfolding scandal involving his former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky.
• Penn State indictment: What grand jury alleges in Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse case
In 2002, graduate assistant Mike McQueary reported to Paterno that he had seen Sandusky having intercourse with a boy of about 10 in the university showers. Paterno admits he told only the school's athletic director, not police or state agencies.
On Saturday, Sandusky was charged with molesting eight boys over a 15-year span. The athletic director and a university vice president were charged with failing to report the case to authorities and with lying about it to a grand jury.
Paterno has not been charged with any legal wrongdoing, but he has been sharply criticized by state police and victims advocacy groups for not pushing harder to make sure that boy and others were safe.
Paterno said Wednesday that in hindsight, he regretted not doing more, and said he would retire at the end of the football season. But trustees, unwilling to wait, fired him and university President Graham Spanier on Wednesday night.
The fallout continued to build Thursday. The White House said the allegations, if true, are outrageous. And Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, a university board member, said he supports the firings of Paterno and Spanier because he had no confidence in their continued ability to lead.
The two senators said in a statement that they are "deeply disturbed" by the case.
"In light of the recent events in State College, we are rescinding our support for the nomination of Joe Paterno for the Presidential Medal of Freedom," they said.
"We hope the proper authorities will move forward with their investigation without delay. Penn State is an important institution in our commonwealth. We should turn our attention to the victims of these atrocious crimes and ensure they get the help they need."
Meanwhile, questions were raised Thursday about whether McCreary, now Penn State's wide receivers coach, will suffer repercussions for his role in the case.
Earlier Thursday, news reports said a university trustee had asked that McQueary not be allowed on the field at Saturday's game against Nebraska. Despite that request, interim football coach Tom Bradley said in the morning that McQueary would be coaching at the game.
But late Thursday, Penn State officials said McQueary has been told to stay away because he has received "multiple threats." They did not elaborate.
McQueary has not spoken publicly. His mother, Anne McQueary, said the family has been advised not to comment.
Support for the coach remains strong in some quarters. An estimated 5,000 students took to the streets late Wednesday to protest the firing, turning over a news van, tearing down street signs and light posts and pelting police with rocks. Police dispersed them with pepper spray and said Thursday that they are reviewing videos and expect to make arrests.
But there also were many people calling for greater sensitivity for the boys, now men, whom Sandusky is accused of molesting. Students gathered on campus Thursday to show solidarity with all sexual assault victims. One sign read: "Vigilance for Children."
A lawyer who is advising some of the alleged victims, as well as a group that advocates for people abused by Catholic priests, cautioned Paterno's supporters to think about the consequences of their protests.
"These sexual assault victims are now watching people parade and riot..." said Harrisburg, Pa., attorney Ben Andreozzi. "Now you have a football institution crumbling, and to think that is not in some way going to impact these victims is naive."
BishopAccountability.org compared the students supporting Paterno with Catholic congregations that rallied in support of priests accused of abuse.
"This kind of deference to powerful authority figures helps create a culture in which victims are silenced and officials feel entitled to hide crimes rather than calling the police," the group said in a statement.
On campus, Tom Bradley, who will be Penn State's interim coach, said Thursday that he is replacing Paterno with "very mixed emotions."
"I have to find a way to restore the confidence," he said.
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