Joe Paterno’s son chides Penn State call for civility
The son of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has strong words for university officials after they issued a public appeal for the school’s huge community to be polite and respectful, even while disagreeing.
Friday’s exchange comes as fallout over the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal continues.
In a blog post, Jay Paterno writes that “respect is earned and is a two-way street.” He also suggests Penn State’s administration is fueling the incivility by creating people who feel disenfranchised.
Paterno’s response came hours after Penn State President Eric Barron and dozens of administrators posted their 450-word message on the school’s website.
Penn State’s trustees fired the elder Paterno in the wake of Sandusky’s 2011 arrest. He died of lung cancer months later.
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