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Penn State Leaders Disregarded Safety, Report Says (Video)

According to an investigation into Penn State's connection to child abuse, '...Nothing was done and Sandusky was allowed to continue with impunity.'

Former FBI director Judge Louis Freeh released his report investigating Penn State's invlovement in Jerry Sandusky's recent child sex scandal, saying that the "most saddening and sobering finding is the total disregard for the safety and welfare of Sandusky’s child victims by the most senior leaders at Penn State."

Does this report's findings change your opinion of Penn State and how it handled Sandusky? Tell us in the comments.

"The most powerful men at Penn State failed to take any steps for 14 years to protect the children who Sandusky victimized," Freeh said in a statement on Thursday. "Messrs. [University Presdient Graham] Spanier, [University Vice President Gary] Schultz, [head football coach Joe] Paterno and [Athletic Director Tim] Curley never demonstrated, through actions or words, any concern for the safety and well-being of Sandusky’s victims until after Sandusky’s arrest."

Freeh's report, which included over 400 interviews of current and former Penn State employees, as well as "3.5 million emails," found that Paterno "failed to take any action" despite being made aware of an initial 1998 investigation into Sandusky's alleged child abuse. 

"At the very least, Mr. Paterno could have alerted the entire football staff, in order to prevent Sandusky from bringing another child into the Lasch Building," he said in his release. "Messrs. Spanier, Schultz, Paterno and Curley also failed to alert the Board of Trustees about the 1998 investigation or take any further action against Mr. Sandusky."

Schultz is a 1967 graduate of Nazareth High School.

The full report accompanies this article as a PDF or the full report can be viewed here.

A press conference about the report will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday. Check back with Patch for more details.

will ball July 13, 2012 at 08:43 pm
Did I say that these people should not be punished? Should I say that we should look the other way? Absolutely not. I'm a little flabbergasted (and amused) by your remarks. Clearly, you must not have read my entire statement. I was simply saying that castration is a primitive and non effective form of punishment.
David Curran July 13, 2012 at 09:28 pm
Tony Wayne, I thoroughly agree with #5 and#6. the statue has got to go and all (including the janitors) should be punished. Joe PA was an icon to me, but his handling of this matter was reprehensible.
ButterFace July 14, 2012 at 02:45 am
Moral character...You know a man is drinking away the family grocery money and there is nothing you can do to change the man's drinking habits but you can take the kids some food...Moral Character that Joe Paterno didn't have they were selfish men
Eve July 14, 2012 at 03:37 am
We are all guilty. We are a nation that spends hundreds of dollars on football games and apparel, then donate a $5 toy to toys for tots. We spend countless hours before the TV watching games, even throwing parties to celebrate them. How much time do we spend learning about the victimized children in our own backyards? Now we're all surprised at how many people thought the cost of children was worth the schools football reputation. We are all guilty.
Victor B. Krievins July 14, 2012 at 06:28 am
Looks like the PSU cash cow is dead. I don't feel we even spend 5.00 on toys for tots. Complete lack of priorities.
Mr. Ball, you are quick to condem castration as being uncivilized but do not offer the punsishment. Child molesting is uncivilized. Disabling the specific body parts does serve to protect these victims. May not be popular but either is child molesting.
Bob Guzzardi July 14, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Truth to Stupid:
Here is the Sandusky Timeline from the Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/09/penn-state-scandal-timeline-jerry-sandusky_n_1084204.html I was wrong in saying that AG knew about the 2001 incident in 2001, It seems, that AG's office knew about 1998 (Victim 6) or 2001 (McQueary) at the time. It appears the AG opened file in 2009 and learned about these, and other incidents, as investigation progressed. Sorry about the mistake. Please do not call me stupid.
Bob Guzzardi July 14, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Apparently, the AG's office did not know about this until 2009 and convened a Grand Jury instead of interviewing witness and making an arrest. It seems that, until 2009, there was not report by Penn State to police or any law enforcement authorities.
Bob Guzzardi July 14, 2012 at 12:56 pm
From what Marc Lombardi says, it seems that Kathleen Kane is Independent of Party Leadership.
Her husband's company is nonunion in unionized Scranton and I have to think that Kathleen Kane is Independent of Union Leadership. In my view, the best person for the job is someone who independent of both parties and focused on prosecution and not career advancement (as was Patrick Murphy and as is Dave Freed).
Margie Hopf July 14, 2012 at 06:54 pm
In order for Penn State to be placed on the NCAA death penalty, they would have to have violated NCAA policy. They did not violate any NCAA policy. http://blog.syracuse.com/sports/2012/07/penn_state_football_is_ncaa_de.html
I do, however, agree with you that Corbett was as guilty as the others for not doing his job as AG. He received over $500,000 campaign contributions from the Second Mile when he was running for governor. Hush money, perhaps? And now he's trying to come off as some savior when he fired Spanier and Paterno for not doing enough, fast enough. However, this Sandusky case sat on his desk for years, when he was AG. What Sandusky did was horrible, however, he went to trial and was convicted. He is in jail for life. There were four people, according to Freeh's report that didn't do enough. Spanier and Paterno were fired. Schultz and Curley are awaiting trial, and will also, most likely, go to jail. The victims will sue the university are will receive millions of dollars. How many different ways does the public want to punish this university and how many different ways is the university suppose to say it's sorry?
Kristen Mahon July 14, 2012 at 08:26 pm
Penn State as a whole will forever be tarnished. Anyone can argue this point but in fact it is true. 20 years from now, when Penn State is mentioned, it will come with a side note of Sandusky or JoePa and the shame that was brought to the university by everyone that was invlolved. For example, even to this day Bill Clinton will forever be linked with Monica Lewinsky regardless of his past, present and future accomplishments. Joe Paterno was and is still looked at as a well respected man, who had a passion for guiding and mentoring our country's biggest and brightest....is this really an accomplishment? Lets face it. The students that were led by Paterno were already well rounded individuals who would of most likely succeeded at any university if in fact they were not accepted at PSU. People keep preaching on how much of a respectable person Paterno is based on all he has done for those students. In my eyes, when it mattered the most Paterno (amongst all of the other individuals involved) turned their backs on the people who needed that mentor-ship the most-THE ABUSED CHILDREN. It disgusts me that a football team and a university's reputation mattered more than the lives of all the involved victims. It makes one question the morals of the university as a whole.
lickalottapuss July 14, 2012 at 09:24 pm
same way lehigh University will always be known as cover up university prior to the Clery murder, or Virginia Tech will be mass murder University to all of us, am I right? kent university where the state kills their students!
lickalottapuss July 14, 2012 at 09:26 pm
the past 6 months was the second highest school donation period in school history
http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/13690070-418/penn-st-donations-second-highest-in-school-history.html no biggie, no one was murdered like at other universities, some kids got extra loving and did not report it for decades
Anthony Wayne July 14, 2012 at 11:37 pm
Speak for yourself.
Anthony Wayne July 14, 2012 at 11:52 pm
One man???? How many kids would not have been raped had the leadership team done the right thing after finding out in 1998. Fourteen more years of opportunity existed because of them. It is not one man. It is a culture that exist in both the school and the surrounding community as your callous comments confirm.
Bob Guzzardi July 14, 2012 at 11:59 pm
"We" are not guilty. This is not collective guilt. This is guilt of those who betrayed their trust. It is the guilt of those who covered up the rape of a child to preserve a billion dollar business which paid them millions. If all are guilty, then none are guilty.
Ric July 15, 2012 at 02:54 am
I said from the beginning that Joe Paterno knew about Sandusky abusing boys, but all that mattered was his beloved football program. You can no longer say that he cared about his players as much as he cared for his football program at the expense of little boys being abused. It's not about Penn State, it's about the people who covered the abuse up including your beloved JoePa!
Bob Guzzardi July 15, 2012 at 02:26 pm
Exactly, when you see a crime committed or being committed, call 911. That is what a decent person of common sense does. These people were blinded by careers and billion dollar football.
Bob Guzzardi July 15, 2012 at 02:28 pm
It is a tragedy for all. Let us hope we all learn something.
Mar July 20, 2012 at 05:18 am
Thank you Earnest and also Anthony Wayne for pointing out to Lynda Redmond and the other sad deluded souls who continue to defend their precious Joe Pa, the Football Program, and the University that it was NOT "just one man" who did the damage to these poor children. How many of them were raped because Saint Joe and the other officials at PSU chose to look the other way instead of intervene on FOR FOURTEEN YEARS? How disingenuous of Ms. Redmond to say "pause to remember the victims" when she does not even acknowledge the reason WHY so many of them WERE victims -- it was because the people who knew chose to look the other way. The fact that she is still defending them just heaps insult upon the injury that the victims have already suffered.
Mar July 20, 2012 at 05:27 am
Take a hike, Eve. How dare you say "we are all guilty" of this? No, we aren't. Those who perpetrate such acts, and those who turn a blind eye to them are guilty. If you want to take the blame as well, come down off your high horse and go ahead.
Dick Smith July 20, 2012 at 07:57 pm
I think the school should tear down the statue, it might stop the students from having those candlelight vigils for their beloved Joe Pa, the man who cared more about football and money than he did about what was happening behind the scenes. Apparently Paterno was negotiating a $3 million retirement deal,talk about golden parachutes.
PSU Alumni July 20, 2012 at 08:00 pm
they will move the statue to in front of the Paterno family library
Mar July 21, 2012 at 04:56 pm
The library is a PERFECT place for the Paterno statue! What a great reminder for all to KEEP QUIET!
But seriously folks, there is a 24-hour guard at the statue to protect it? Where is the money for that coming from? That statue has GOT to go. All of Joe Pa's good deeds have been forever overshadowed by his lack of integrity and action when it was needed most.
Bob Guzzardi July 21, 2012 at 07:47 pm
Great idea, Mar. Paterno statue reminds you to keep quiet. :-)
Incognito July 21, 2012 at 11:08 pm
How many of you have even actually read the ENTIRE Freeh Report? I highly doubt that all of you have read anything other than what the news has to report. Take the time to read it so you can become informed citizens instead of listening to what everyone else has to say. Also, stop bashing Penn State as a whole. Seriously, over half of you now think more poorly of Penn State? Really? The students and alumni had absolutely NOTHING to do with covering up Sandusky's abuse. I think people fail to understand that Sandusky was the one who molested the children, not Joe Paterno. I'm not saying that Joe Pa's actions were right, but can you honestly say what you would have done if you were in the same situation? Sure, everyone would like to say that they would have gone to the authorities and made sure that the police investigated Sandusky. However, in reality, few probably would have done so. If anything, you would have handed it off to the police and then let them take care of it. Abuse happens every single day and yet the majority of it goes unreported. Why? Because people are not perfect. We all make mistakes. Yes, this means you. Joe Paterno made ONE mistake and many of you probably would have done the same. Stop thinking that you’re saints. You’re not. Joe Paterno is NOT just football. He has contributed lots to Penn State. For instance, without his contributions, the library would not be what it is today.
Incognito July 21, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Penn State is much more than football. It is an outstanding university where students receive excellent educations that prepare them for success in future careers. Please stop targeting Penn State and its students. Oh and please stop with the jokes, you’re not funny. Take a moment to read the Freeh report, reconsider your opinion, and realize how you would feel if this were your school.
Incognito July 21, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Even though you are obviously joking, making a comment like that is despicable. It is extremely offensive and disrespectful to the victims.
Nadia July 24, 2012 at 05:32 pm
GOV CORBETT PROTECT SANDUSKY IN THE FIRST ABUSE CASE IN 1998. IMPEACH CORBETT NOW!
careless fills July 24, 2012 at 06:02 pm
Nadia, Although Corbett was temporaily appointed state AG for a brief time inb 1997 to complete an unexpired term, he was not elected to his own term as state AG until 2005. Other people were state AG in during the period of 98-02 when the initial complains against Sandusky were made and when McQueary witnessed the shower incident, and when the Centre County DA Gricar investigated and decided not to proceed. None of this has anything to do with the state AG at the time (and it wasn't even Corbett) since in PA, county DA's are not appopinted by the state AG - rather they are elected locally, like Lehigh Co's Martin and Northampton Co's Morganelli are! Your anger against Corbett is completely uniformed and misplaced!
Corbett's office resolved the problems and delays, not caused them. Soon after the 2009 complaint entered the state system, his office subpoenaed records from PSU in January 2010. They methodically investigated using the grand jury, searching for and accumulating reports from multiple victims that were previous unknown. If they had relied on just one complaint, they prosecution wopuld have failed. Indeed, Sandusky was still found not guilty with regards to the McCreay shower observation case. Corbetts office was the only prosecution that was succesful against Sandusky.
Daryl Nerl (Editor) July 24, 2012 at 06:54 pm
Please don't type comments in all caps. It's the Internet equivalent of shouting. It's unnecessary and just plain obnoxious.

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