Does Joe Paterno’s Statue Need to Be Removed?

Please show us where there are any facts that he knew Sandusky was molesting children.

The young assistant to the coach saw Sandusky in the shower with the child and told Paterno. Paterno passed it on to the higher ups but nothing was done. If that had been me, I would hope that I would tell the Board members and the President of the school that if they wouldn't report it, I would. That would have been the right thing to do. But he didn't. He didn't want to upset the apple cart so he let Sandusky go on hurting children for 14 years! None of those men ever even spoke to Sandusky about the accusations. Were they all more concerned about their jobs than the children. I think they were.

What exactly did the young assistant tell Joe Paterno that he witnessed?

The investigation focused largely on the university officials’ decision not to go to child-welfare authorities in 2001 after a graduate coaching assistant told Paterno that he had seen Sandusky — a former assistant coach himself — sexually abusing a boy in the locker room showers.

Paterno and the others gave various explanations for their decision, saying among other things that they misunderstood the allegations, that they did the best they could and that this was the “humane” way to handle the matter.

But the Freeh report said: “It is more reasonable to conclude that, in order to avoid the consequences of bad publicity, the most powerful leaders at the university — Spanier, Schultz, Paterno and Curley — repeatedly concealed critical facts relating to Sandusky’s child abuse from authorities, the university’s board of trustees, the Penn State community and the public at large.”

A number of other factors contributed to the decision to keep quiet, the report found, including “a culture of reverence for the football program that is ingrained at all levels of the campus community.”

He knew about what was going on, take it down and melt it.

since sports mean absolutely nothing to me, I believe that this man is nothing to be proud of, Take that stupid thing down; off with its head!!!!!

Lol not so fast cowboy we aren't in iraq lol this is usa got it????

im just sayin, u let this type of stuff happen to kids, you are no longer ok with me

As soon as humanly possible.

This from the Boston Herald:
"Our most saddening and sobering finding is the total disregard for the safety and welfare of Sandusky’s child victims by the most senior leaders at Penn State," Freeh said at a news conference Thursday in Philadelphia. "The most powerful men at Penn State failed to take any steps for 14 years to protect children whom Sandusky victimized."

http://www.bostonherald.com/s...

If he knew anything, then memory of him should be erased. This whole thing is unexcusable.

Let's wait till the whole truth comes out....now that Joe has passed away the trash will be piled up on him.

the whole truth is out already, the whole world knows that joe paterno protected a child molestor and disregarded the safety of vulnerable children. Satan's been dancing on that embisile's grave ever since; why protect or stand up for him?????????

What proof do you have that he knew what was going on?

No you are wrong. If the SOB had not died he would have died in jail ! Sad day in PA.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/...

I am a Pennsylvanian. I'm not a huge fan of college sports, but Joe Pa was the man and I would just hate to see it taken down.

Joe Pa was "the man"? Sure, if you mean he was "the man" most responsible for covering up for a child rapist. If that statue isn't taken down by the school, then it will be taken down by other methods. Paterno is/was a fraud. He deserves nothing but contempt.

I also live in PA and it must be taken down and broken in little pieces and thrown in the river.

i won't criticise because of ur love for the state and his position, but because he LET children be raped and molested, I'd hate to see it stand up.

A history no matter how "great" it was has no business being heralded when struck in the face with what "the program" overlooked, failed to act on, and merely hinted that something should have been done. It seems that with Paterno, the only thing that mattered was football and NOTHING was going to tarnish, or diminish that. You can say he did a lot of great things and all, but when it comes down to making the right kind of decision.. Joe Paterno chose his friend and his abusive ways, over tarnishing his legacy or that of the football program. Seems incredible to me that someone would put football OVER the safety of a child..

I have mixed feelings on the subject... Everything that happened there is a complete travesty and all of those people who knew what was going on and did nothing to stop it should be ashamed of themselves. However, Joe Pa is dead. He was an amazing coach, he donated tons of money to the college and made it what it is today. I realize that a stupid football team is NOWHERE NEAR as important as the safety of children and it's appalling that no one spoke up for them. Everyone should be punished for it in some way... But now he's dead, and I feel like he should be remembered for the good things he did for the school. It's not really fair to place all of the blame on him, especially since hes not here to defend himself. I feel like he should be remembered for the good things he did.

I live in PA and it must go, the same as Joe did. If he had not dies, he would have dies in prison for what the SOB did, give the school a new start and forget Joe the SOB. Why should he be remembered as a hero that he was not. My 2 kids went there and they thought Joe was God, now they feel he is scum !

Sandusky was the guilty one here, no one seems to realize that. Sandusky did not work for Penn State after 1998.

I too live in PA, and honestly always hated PSU and anything associated with it. I always thought it ridiculous how the main focus of the school is the football team, and the arrogant people who seem to always be enrolled there( no offense to your kids) but, I just can't help feel a bit of sympathy towards Joe Pa. He was older than dirt and probably senile, it's amazing he coached as long as he did. I just think everyone should be looked down upon. There were other people who knew about it also. I don't see the point in tearing down a statue who means so much to so many people and who did a lot of good.

All the good he done. Doesn't change the fact he knew children were being raped. Then up helped covered it up. Sorry the bad out weighs the good when children are being hurt.

I changed my mind, I think it should go. He is not the hero people thought he was, bring it down.

Yep.

http://www.bostonherald.com/s...

kinda on the fence with this

Leave it up. If they have hard evidence that Joe Paterno deliberately tried to cover up that pervert then haul the thing down but until then leave it alone. People screw up in life but you don't need to burn him at the stake for it. Hind sight is always 20/20. The University should get the bulk of the blame they had reports and did nothing about it. They should have kicked Sandusky's ass so fast into a local jail cell he wouldn't have had time to get his cloths on.

and melt it down .

I agree !

now ur talkin'!!!!

He is a disgrace to Penn and people should not have to be reminded everytime they go there as to what happened. He got off easy and shouldn't have.

Joe Pa was a great coach....He made Penn State a powerhouse football school and should be remembered for that.

He may have done a lot for Nittany Lion football or donated much money. He just didn't a have a conscience to make sure little kids weren't being assaulted. Priorities way out of whack. What if it had happened to his son?

NEITHER

It is up to the alumni and students at the university and what they wish to do. It is not up to me or anyone else who did not attend this university.

My two kids went there and they said that it should GO and every memory of that old SOB Joe who is burning in hell where he belongs.

As I said it is up to alumni and students - not me, I never went there

If it is true that he helped to cover up for that sicko child molester, then not only should it be taken but melted down and the metal used to make the bars of Sanduskys prison cell.

Great idea !