Honest question: How did this system come about and why does it work that way?I'm not sure about the history, but in most cases I think the university and surrounding municipalities find it to be a mutually-beneficial arrangement. Cities often hugely resent having to provide services to universities, which are non-profits and don't pay taxes. And universities sometimes want to take a less-confrontational approach to policing students than local police forces might be willing to stick to. Keep in mind that there are often pretty big tensions between university students and members of the surrounding communities, and local police are members of the surrounding communities. You could see a situation arising where disputes about policing could exacerbate those tensions, particularly since most policing on university campuses is really small-scale stuff having to do with alcohol infractions and noise complaints and whatnot.
but the mother in those documents that was able to record her conversation with Sandusky where he acknowledged he showered with her son and others -- and yet she didn't ensure that this man was brought down.. that's what disgusts me most.Sandusky recruited all of his victims (or the ones we know about... more on that in a minute) from a program that he started for at-risk boys. The mother did go to the police, and they didn't act on the tapes. I wouldn't assume that she was in a position to ensure that a powerful man, backed up by even more powerful people, was brought down. Parents whose children end up in those programs are generally parents who don't have a ton of resources or authority.
Mr. Schultz testified to the grand jury that there was a similar incident involving a young boy in the football shower with Mr. Sandusky in 1998. The mother of that boy confronted Mr. Sandusky at her home, with two police detectives listening to the conversation. He told the woman, according to testimony by one of the detectives: “I was wrong. I wish I could get forgiveness. I know I won’t get it from you. I wish I were dead.”It doesn't sound like the mother was the one who was negligent here.
Mr. Schultz, whose position includes oversight of the university police, testified that he did not know that the university police produced a lengthy report about the 1998 incident. The grand jury found the assertions by him that the 2002 allegations were “not that serious” and that he and Mr. Curley “had no indication that a crime had occurred” contradictory to other testimony.
(a) General rule. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6311 (relating to persons required to report suspected child abuse), licensees who, in the course of the employment, occupation or practice of their profession, come into contact with children shall report or cause a report to be made to the Department of Public Welfare when they have reasonable cause to suspect on the basis of their professional or other training or experience, that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is a victim of child abuse.posted by Ironmouth at 9:00 AM on November 6, 2011
(b) Staff members of public or private agencies, institutions and facilities. Licensees who are staff members of a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency, and who, in the course of their employment, occupation or practice of their profession, come into contact with children shall immediately notify the person in charge of the institution, school facility or agency or the designated agent of the person in charge when they have reasonable cause to suspect on the basis of their professional or other training or experience, that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is a victim of child abuse. Upon notification by the licensee, the person in charge or the designated agent shall assume the responsibility and have the legal obligation to report or cause a report to be made in accordance with subsections (a), (c) and (d).
The fictional Joe Paterno would have said, "Hey, this is awful, but we have to clean it up. We have to do the right thing. It's going to look bad for us, but you can't let something like this go. We have to get Jerry some help, and we have to make sure he doesn't hurt any kids."posted by gladly at 10:31 AM on November 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
The real Paterno, as nearly as can be determined from the indictments, passed the information to Curley and then washed his hands. He apparently didn't follow up when there was no further investigation. He apparently didn't ask questions when Sandusky continued to enjoy his emeritus status on campus, complete with an office and access to the same building in which the alleged assault took place.
The allegations about a former coach are troubling, and it is appropriate that they be investigated thoroughly. Protecting children requires the utmost vigilance.Curley and Schultz are the two official accused of the coverup, not the assault. How anyone with a modicum of intellectual honesty can offer unconditional support for people accused of not reporting a sex crime against a minor is beyond me.
With regard to the other presentments, I wish to say that Tim Curley and Gary Schultz have my unconditional support. I have known and worked daily with Tim and Gary for more than 16 years. I have complete confidence in how they have handled the allegations about a former University employee.
Tim Curley and Gary Schultz operate at the highest levels of honesty, integrity and compassion. I am confident the record will show that these charges are groundless and that they conducted themselves professionally and appropriately.
Paterno needs to step down.I assume he will step down. He's 80-something, and presumably his career was going to end soon anyway. But that seems staggeringly insufficient. Someone needs to figure out what the fuck was wrong with the institution as a whole, and our culture more generally, that allowed this to happen.
However, I don't think Joe Paterno would be a mandatory reporter, because he doesn't usually (ever?) work with children under age 18 as a part of his job.At least in my state, there's a separate set of mandatory reporting laws that govern some people on college campuses. They assume you're dealing with adult victims and I think may be somewhat more geared towards allowing sexual assault survivors to have some say in how they proceed. Also, not everyone who works at a college or university is a mandatory reporter. I think it's probably much more complicated than the laws covering people who work with children.
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Burn the entire rotten vile thing to the ground. Then, for good measure, nuke it from orbit and burn it again.
Interestingly (but presumably just coincidentally), the DA during the original charges was none other than Ray Gricar, previously discussed on the blue in this post.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:17 AM on November 6, 2011 [13 favorites]