Board intervenes, charts right path

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The Penn State University board of trustees made a difficult and conscious decision to do the right thing in light of one of the worst scandals in sports history by firing their long-standing and revered head football coach, Joe Paterno.

While many questions still remain, this was a step that had to be taken to show that an institution touted for honor and leadership could make the right decisions and truly lead by example.  More importantly, the board demonstrated to the country that they value human life over a storied coach and his sports program’s reputation.  Their position seems to say doing the right thing is non-negotiable, even when your position may adversely affect a program that generates revenue for the university in the millions of dollars. 

It’s about so much more than a game.

It is disappointing to see a man, who many of us grew up idolizing for his talk of leadership and honor by doing the right thing, suddenly cast out in disgrace.  It is more disappointing that more than eight children were molested under his watch, one of whom he knew about but failed to notify legal authorities.  Though the coach did not commit the act, did not personally see the act, he was clearly privy to wrongdoing and through inaction he enabled a deviant to continue abusing children.

There are many involved in this tragic series of events who are culpable, some more so.  We’ve heard about the arrests and firings of several figures at the university, including its former president, who knew something and did nothing or very little.  There will likely be more as the investigation continues.  It’s possible, as some have said that some authorities outside the university failed to act in the best interests of the children.    

It’s an emotional time for all of us with children, for those who love sports, and for the students and alumni at Penn State.  Everything we thought we knew was thrown into chaos over the weekend when this tragic story broke.  Pressure for the coach to resign as facts became known brought out an emotional response from many of us.  But put it into perspective, at least eight people have had to live with this inner turmoil for years. 

While we’ve believed the Paterno fairytale that all was well in Happy Valley, these kids have had to choke down the truth that none of us wanted to see.  Its revelation is shocking and difficult to come to grips with but fortunately it’s no longer a discussion about sports, it’s now about a legal process that should have begun ten years ago, were it not for a game and its reputation.

Sports is supposed to be a vehicle for bringing out the best in children and young men and women, not a vehicle for a deviant to prey on them and break them down.  In the end justice will be served in the courts.  The court of public opinion is a chaotic thing however and feelings amongst some on campus are confused. 

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Some feel the board erred in their decision and others take it as an indictment on their school and what it has stood for over the decades.  I hope they realize that their reputation is not about one man or a small group of men.  One man does not determine the values and fate of such a vast group.  It takes the collective efforts of the entire institution that create an environment of honor, trust, doing the hard right thing over the easy wrong, and standing up for principles no matter the cost.  

A leader can provide a vision and guidance but ultimately it is about the collective actions of the many that define that institution.  It requires strong leaders to build the kind of community Penn State is renowned for, and your board of trustees has taken an important step in showing us all what right should look like.  We all should be grateful that these leaders refused to let the inaction of few define their community, which was built on the efforts and actions of so many.   

That's really the point of all this, moving to the next chapter.  Removing Paterno and the rest who did nothing, puts the focus solely back on Jerry Sandusky and the sexual abuse charges.  We must learn the whole truth about what happened and how, so that as justice is served, conditions can be set so that something like this can never happen again.

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The past several days have been absolutely terrible for the entire Penn State community. But the outrage that we feel is nothing compared to the physical and psychological suffering that allegedly took place.

”-- John P. Surma,
vice chair of the board of trustees
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