By Nick Childs

So I have been learning more and thinking more about this Penn State scandal, and the more I think about it, the more upset I get. This isn’t about sports. This isn’t a recruiting scandal or rules violation (which the country has shown that they care so much about). This this the utter, disgusting failure of society to protect children.

Luckily, I can say with confidence that societ as a whole looks at child molestors with complete hatred, but apparently when it rears its ugly head in our lives, we sit and do nothing about it. Sadusky has allegedly sexually abused at least nine young boys and I suspect even more will be coming forth, but that’s pure speculation on my part. And if found guilty he needs to rot in prison for the rest of his life. I feel like that goes without saying.

The moral line that society seems to see as a grey area is coming forward when we see wrong. As it turns out, it seems that there were many people who had been aware that something may have been going on. Let’s take a quick look at some of the people who may have known.

There was the Grad Assistant who may have witnessed Sadusky sodimizing a child. He then told Joe Paterno about it the next morning. While he did do something that may have helped the situation, why not confront the situation while it’s happening. I would like to think that I would have physically intervened, followed by going directly to the police. Problem solved.

However, the GA didn’t notify the police, just Joe Pa. Paterno then did the bare minumum of telling the Athletic Director. I have HUGE problem with this. As a glorified figure in the community, Paterno is in a position to affect change, and he did not do so. He merely, put the burden on someone else to deal with this GIGANTIC issue. Instead of doing all he could, he just did a little.

What should happen to Paterno is something that I can’t come up with. He obviously isn’t legally responsible because he did what he is technically supposed to by telling the AD. While he may have done things by the letter of the law, he greatly failed as a citizen. He should no longer represent Penn State, and he should no longer represent a member of society that can be counted on. Luckily for Paterno, he has accomplished so much and was near the end of his illustrious career anyway, so it’s not like he is resigning in his prime.

I think the same for every single person who had ever heard the softest whisper that Sadusky was doing this needs to step down, and the ones that knew about it and lied about it need to be in jail with Sadusky.

It literally makes me sick to my stomach that these people didn’t go to the police. How many children could they have saved? That’s the worst part about this. There are at least nine alleged victims who have gone through something that no human being should ever be go through. It’s disgusting. It’s saddening. And it’s confusing that such a seemingly stand-up individual didn’t do more about the situation.

This incident raises so many more questions about society. Why  is it that, many times, people just stand by and don’t stand up for what’s right?! It seems that we live in an age when we see a fight on the street or someone mugging someone that we pull out our cell phone to take a video instead of intervene?

I hope that I’m just being pessimistic, and this situation isn’t indicative of the majority of society. I could rant on and on about this topic, but I’ll leave it at that. Hold each other accountable. Do the right thing when the opportunity presents itself, and please talk to people about this issue. The one thing I do hope that comes of this is continued media coverage and, more than anything, awareness to such a discusting scenario. Talk about this with friends, family, anyone. This is bigger than any sports story.