Penn State Child Sex Abuse Scandal

Hour 1

In a disturbing and graphic grand jury report (pdf), the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office has provided details of the child sex abuse case against former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky. The report alleges that while he was a defensive coach at Penn State and after his retirement in 1999,  Sandusky used the charitable organization he founded, The Second Mile, to gain access to his victims — all young boys in vulnerable situations at school and at home.  In addition to indicting Sandusky, two Penn State administrators, athletic director Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, the University’s senior vice president for business and finance, were charged with perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse. According to the grand jury report, both were aware of Sandusky’s suspicious behavior and did not notify authorities. Questions have also been asked about Penn State football coach and legend, Joe Paterno — why did he fail to report his former colleague after being told of his inappropriate behavior by another coach who had witnessed Sandusky with a young boy?  Last night the university’s board of trustees fired Paterno and Penn State president Graham Spanier. In this hour, we examine the Penn State case and the serious questions it raises about the moral and legal obligations individuals have to report child abuse and the notions of loyalty that can get in the way. Marty’s guests include FRANK CERVONE, executive director of the Support Center for Child Advocates in Philadelphia, which provides pro bono legal and social services agency for abused and neglected children. Also joining us is writer MICHAEL WEINREB, who grew up in State College and graduated from Penn State.

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[audio: 111011_100630.mp3]