Scrapbook Item 7: Sandusky and All of the Lies

Link to this article: http://abcnews.go.com/US/penn-state-suspects-lawyer-victim-lied-felt-important/story?id=15007125

In class on November 3, 2011, we talked about deviance in sport and society. Throughout the media the last couple of weeks, the Penn State scandal has been widely known with Sandusky and the children that he molested. Evidence continues to come forward and be taken away in trying to either convict or find him innocent with all of the testimonies and information being given from people he has interacted with through the charity that he ran. Whether he is found guilty or innocent, the acts of knowing this had all occurred by himself and others that he worked with is ridiculous. This is where the act goes wrong because people knew that it happened and they let it continue since he agreed to 40 counts of child molestation. Not only is Sandusky at fault but also all of the people that knew it occurred and never stepped up are also in the wrong as well.

Coakley talks about the deviance off the field and away from sports on pages 173-177 and most athletes deal with felony rates, alcohol use and binge drinking and delinquency rates. Unless it is huge, most athletes are the ones committing the crimes not the coaches. The coaches try to stay out of the light as much as possible because they have learned to stay low and out of paparazzi way. When the Sandusky scandal occurred, it not only took himself down but also many that were involved within the Penn State organization at all levels. Even though Sandusky was doing a good thing with the charity that he ran, it was still not being used in the right manner according to the allegations that are being put against him. If anyone knew about it, it should have been reported right away to the police and not going through the school because by what has happened, nothing got accomplished until it was somehow linked to media.

With all of the acts that are happening, it is outrageous that people are willing to look the other way if all of these acts did occur. Many individuals should be ashamed of themselves because they let Sandusky get away with these acts for far too long and not have anyone step in, telling him that this was wrong. Coaches can commit acts of deviance as well and it can be outside of sport, people jsut try to think they are in the clear doing nothing wrong if they do not pay attention to it. The name they established for themselves and Penn State is now ruined because of the acts they committed and I do not think it is worth it at all. They built up the program, their names, the university and it all came crashing down due a choice that was made by one individual. Our society has changed to be very messed up in the head and I hope that it tries to get better instead of worse because acts like these do not need to be committed or any deviant act on that matter and they need to stop immediately before it gets way too out of hand to control.