Jerry Sandusky Scandal Summary

Summary: In 1969, Jerry Sandusky starts his coaching career at Penn State University as a defensive line coach for the Nittany Lions football team (ESPN). Eight years later Sandusky founds The Second Mile, a group foster home dedicated to helping troubled boys that grows into a charity dedicated to helping children with absent or dysfunctional families (Kim, S). In the fall of 2000, janitor James Calhoun observes Sandusky and victim 8 in the showers, no reports are made. Less than two years later, in March 2002, the first report against Sandusky is filed with head coach Joe Paterno and the athletic director, Tim Curley. Patriot-News reports that grand jury is investigating Sandusky on allegations of indecent assault against a teenage boy-
As allegations rose that Head coach Joe Paterno, University President Graham Spanier, Athletic Director Tim Curley, and Assistant coach Mike McQueary knew about Sandusky’s actions and had failed to report them, all members were ousted as well (USA today). By properly and continuously identifying the crisis, the University was able to determine the extent and decide on the appropriate next steps. Four days after Sandusky’s arrest the University’s board of trustee’s rule to remove Paterno and Spanier effective immediately, while placing McQueary on indefinite paid administrative leave. The University did not stop there with removing the football coaches from the school’s image. The Statue of Paterno was removed from outside of Beaver Stadium on July 22, 2012, in hopes to limit division and promote healing on and off campus (Deadspin). While the Paterno Library on campus remained as a tribute to the commitment to Penn State’s student body and academic success, while highlighting the positive impacts Paterno had on the university. This was important for Penn State to distinguish the two, as the statue represented the coaching staff and the problems facing
I would highly recommend that Penn State create a crisis management plan for future scandals or outbreaks involving the University. While no one could have prepared for the Sandusky scandal, having a list of crisis team members and contact information may have kept Paterno from releasing his own statements. Also in creating a plan in advance could help evaluate impact better, and take necessary steps in downsizing the impact. Penn State should have warned local police officials, school officials, and campus security before announcing Paterno’s firing on live television. While this would not have eliminated the riots, it could have prevented the amount of damages and number or injuries occurred. I would recommend having this list of contacts under “In Case of Emergency” in the crisis management plan. It is hard to suggest an improvement in response time when the first allegation came out in March 2002, and Sandusky was not arrested until November 2011, but it was not reported properly through the school or to the police. The situation should have been immediately reported and dealt with, but once properly reported Penn State did take action in a timely manner. I would have recommended Penn State to have comment on the Patriot-News report in 2011 involving the