Gross Negligence at Penn State and the Solution

I'm sure those of you following the investigation on Penn State regarding the Jerry Sandusky affair are still digesting the information that investigator Louis Freeh provided to the university trustees.  And it all points to one conclusion.

The Penn State athletics department and the university president conspired with Joe Paterno and the football program to protect a pedophilic predator from prosecution and "bad publicity."  They did everything they could to hold on to someone who they knew could not be trusted around young boys.  They knew this almost 20 years ago.

When confronted with the information, Joe Paterno swept it under the rug and carried on as if nothing happened.  So the wagons were circled before the allegation was made public last winter.  Even worse was the arrogance shown by Paterno when he said that he would retire after the end of the season.  He was rightfully dismissed, but by then it was too little too late, even on the university's part.

By definition, the university was grossly negligent in their duties to the students, the trustees, and to the community in which they reside.  They know that Jerry Sandusky should have been dismissed and reported the very moment they found out what happened, but they didn't.  They knew that letting this matter go on could have been far more damaging to the university and its reputation, but they went forward, perhaps hoping that Joe Paterno would leave and with him, his coaches.  But he didn't leave and the atrocities continued.  Somebody had to know that things would get worse if they continued to avoid taking action, but asking why at this point won't help in the healing.  The horses have already left the barn.

But we at least know that all the actions taken against Joe Paterno were justified, including the removal of his name from the Big Ten conference football championship trophy.  Not even his unfortunate death would bring any form of redemption.  It simply leaves a chasm of credibility where the firm ground of a strong reputation once sat.

So as the one part of the closure process will commence the moment Mr. Sandusky sits behind bars until the end of his natural life, another part will commence.  And it will be on the part of the university.  A logical start is putting the football program on probation, followed by the dismissal of all remaining people who were in the position to act, but didn't.

As callous as it is to say, Penn State needs to be made an example before the NCAA community.  They need to atone for their sins as a whole.  They need to be punished.

Closure won't be achieved until all the surviving people involved in this debacle are appropriately sanctioned for their actions and inactions.