I take issue with the first statement right out of the gate... What do you think?
Here is the Paterno family’s full statement:
Sexual abuse is reprehensible, especially when it involves children,
and no one starting with Joe Paterno condones or minimizes it. The
horrific acts committed by Jerry Sandusky shock the conscience of every
decent human being. How Sandusky was able to get away with his crimes
for so long has yet to be fully understood, despite the claims and
assertions of the Freeh report.
The release of the Freeh report has triggered an avalanche of
vitriol, condemnation and posthumous punishment on Joe Paterno. The NCAA
has now become the latest party to accept the report as the final word
on the Sandusky scandal. The sanctions announced by the NCAA today
defame the legacy and contributions of a great coach and educator
without any input from our family or those who knew him best.
That the President, the Athletic Director and the Board of Trustees
accepted this unprecedented action by the NCAA without requiring a full
due process hearing before the Committee on Infractions is an abdication
of their responsibilities and a breach of their fiduciary duties to the
University and the 500,000 alumni. Punishing past, present and future
students of the University because of Sandusky’s crimes does not serve
justice. This is not a fair or thoughtful action; it is a panicked
response to the public’s understandable revulsion at what Sandusky did.
The point of due process is to protect against this sort of reflexive
action. Joe Paterno was never interviewed by the University or the
Freeh Group. His counsel has not been able to interview key witnesses as
they are represented by counsel related to ongoing litigation. We have
had no access to the records reviewed by the Freeh group. The NCAA never
contacted our family or our legal counsel. And the fact that several
parties have pending trials that could produce evidence and testimony
relevant to this matter has been totally discounted.
Unfortunately all of these facts have been ignored by the NCAA, the Freeh Group and the University.
Showing posts with label Sexual abuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sexual abuse. Show all posts
Monday, July 23, 2012
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