Hindsight is 20-20

It's easy to say in hindsight what we would have done that fateful 2002 night at Lasch Hall. Me? I woulda pulled Sandusky offa the kid, told Joe Paterno, who shoulda went 2 Graham Spanier n said "look if u don't call the cops, I will." I think JoePa knows that now. Tim Curley n Gary Schultz are scum 4 keeping quiet all these yrs n deserve whatever they get. How bout Curley taking adm. leave? Yeah, like Penn State is gonna have u back when all the dust settles. You'll be lucky you don't serve jail time Timmy. Had you called police, the university wouldn't have half the stain that it has right now!

Penn State's Mike McQuery has gotta go, too!

I hear Penn State University President Graham Spanier is resigning by the end of the day! I'm sorry but Penn State WR Coach Mike McQuery has gotta go too. He was a 28 y/o man at the time of the 2002 incident, not some young kid. As the only eyewitness, he had a responsibility and he shirked it.

Graham Spanier MUST GO!

Now that they've forced Joe Pa out, I wanna know what Graham Spanier's involvement was in all this and 2nd Mile CEO Dr. John Raykovitz. Both knew of Sandusky's ban at Lasch Hall and neither did anything to protect the children and neither called the police!

We are (still) Penn State

Amidst the ongoing witch-hunt of the “who’s who” in the Penn State scandal, I find myself saddened by all the events. I attended Penn State years ago, and there’s one thing I realized after my time there was over. No one is a “former” Penn Stater. We will always be Penn State. The pride that comes with attending the university resonates within oneself and no matter what happens, where you are, or what you do, you will always feel that pride swell within you when you talk about Penn State.

Of course, that has all been put to the test this past week.

During my short time at Penn State, I went to the football games and watched Joe Paterno run down the field amid his players. The students were always in awe to watch this legend, JoePa, right there in front of us.

I also volunteered at a charity for underprivileged children. The Second Mile appealed to me because I had always wanted to reach out and help people and this organization gave me the opportunity, as a student, to do so.

I volunteered with The Second Mile during 2002, which puts me right in line with the Jerry Sandusky timeline. Knowing that this was allegedly going on while I was doing my part to help these children makes me ill. Although I had never actually seen Sandusky while I was there, knowing that his presence was felt in such a negative way makes me feel like I was a part of something evil.

For the record, regardless of its founder, The Second Mile is an amazing organization that does so much for these children. It is a travesty that its name has been tarnished in such a way.

As for Joe Paterno, I started writing this minutes after hearing about his retirement. Joe Paterno is Penn State. Whether he is the coach of the Nittany Lions or not, I think everyone who has attended the university knows that he makes up a big part of the institution. To see him go, especially over this scandal, has been heartbreaking.

In my humble opinion, he should not be the one to leave the university over this case. As for the reason for his decision, in the statement Paterno released on Wednesday, Nov. 9, he said, “At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address.”

While Graham Spanier says he stands behind his employees, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, Joe Paterno has and always will support the victims of this horrific event. That’s a class act, right there.

Investigations like this always turn into a witch-hunt. The public will always want to know who was involved, who was guilty, who could have stopped this. This is human nature. Yet, here we are, every Penn Stater feeling guilt-by-association. But this will not stop the Lion Pride.

We are, still, Penn State. We always will be. I will always be proud of my university, no matter what happens. Am I proud of who represents it at the current time? Not at all. But I sure am proud to be wearing my Nittany blue and white…and always will be.

Rebecca Schnitzer

Levittown

Say it isn't so Joe!

After hearing about despicable acts of child molestation and sexual abuse committed by a former football coach from my alma mater, only a few words came to mind.

Disbelief. Deceit. And, most importantly, shame. Sifting through my emotions hasn’t been easy and will continue to test my resolve as hearing proceedings start and more victims step forward.

A university that offered me the opportunity to advance myself as a person and improve on my shortfalls was all of a sudden marred by controversy. On top of it, top university officials were told to report to Harrisburg on charges of perjury.

That is what I woke up to on Sunday – a sad and tragic reality that no alumnus wants to ever hear.

As for Penn State football, the stage was set. They would host the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a pivotal game on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Beaver Stadium. An ESPN Game Day-type atmosphere ensued, but a dark cloud quickly formed over the stadium that JoePa built. Instead of College Game Day banners and fanfare, we got ESPN reporter Jeremy Schaap, standing behind a microphone filling the entire nation in on lies, cover-ups and the willful allowance of a sex offender to use university facilities long after his retirement.

And to hear that Joe Paterno, our coach and leader for the past 46 years, would retire at seaon's end was news that reverberated down College Avenue straight up to Old Main.

This wasn’t the way we wanted it to happen. It won’t be the same without Joe running out onto the field decked out in his khaki pants, Nike shoes and Penn State windbreaker. And those glasses! JoePa is Penn State football; however, I do believe it's time for a culture change within the athletic department. This just wasn't the way to do it.

I graduated from Penn State in May 2010 and attended University Park during my junior and senior years.

While I was at University Park, I didn’t waste one second. I made memories that will remain with me for the rest of my life, and even through this entire mess and charges of sexual abuse, I still have an undeniable pride for the blue and white community. As far as I’m concerned, Jerry Sandusky, Tim Curley and everyone involved in this investigation, excommunicated themselves from that brotherhood, from that bond.

A true Penn Stater knows what “Success with Honor” means. A true Penn Stater remains steadfast through trials and tribulations. A true Penn Stater knows that once you are Penn State, you remain Penn State.

Looking back, it always felt like a privilege to step into class at the Carnegie Building, not a necessity based on tuition I paid the school. A friend of mine was told me that the best debt you can ever have is your education and I can’t deny that.

Penn State allowed me to be me.

So, here’s what I hope becomes of this.

The Penn State Board of Trustees cleans house and swiftly relieves Graham Spanier of his responsibility as president of the university. Jerry Sandusky never sees the the outside of a jail cell again. Tim Curley and Gary Schultz are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And, if Curley and Schultz are convicted, they should lose any benefits coming from Penn State. Spanier shouldn’t get anything but a swift kick to the curb.

I love Penn State and will continue to be a member of the alumni association. These times are trying, but right now all I can do is keep calm and fight on.

For the Glory,

John Williams

Class of 2010

Joe Pa should NOT be forced to resign

I don't think Joe Pa should resign over the Sandusky charges. He told the AD, the AD told a VP, the VP told PSU Prez Graham Spanier, who decided to do nothing. I think Spanier should go; Joe Pa needs to go for football reasons, not this!