Penn State students plan vigil for victims

In an attempt to get the focus back on the victims of alleged child sexual abuse, Penn State students are planning a candlelight vigil Friday night. On Saturday, the Nittany Lions will play their last home game of the season tomorrow.

Kevin Cirilli, a spokesman for the fraternities at Penn State, said the idea came from two senior students who think people are spending too much time talking about a football program. The vigil, he said, is a show of solidarity from Penn State students to the victims of alleged assault by former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

The vigil comes after two days of raucous behavior from students reacting to the child sex crimes scandal and the firing of Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno. University President Graham Spanier also has been fired.

The firings took place after a grand jury report alleged repeated abuse by Sandusky, involving boys as young as 10, sometimes in Penn State’s facilities.

The candlelight vigil will be on the Old Main lawn Friday evening.

Students are also planning a blue-out at Saturday’s game against Nebraska instead of the traditional white-out in the student section of Beaver Stadium.

Blue, said Cirilli, while one of the Penn State colors, is also the rallying color of RAINN, the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the country.