Sandusky: The Real Tragedy

Penn State Coach Sandusky’s conviction on child molestation charges is certainly a relief to the families of those involved but it reflects only a small part of the tragedy of this incident. The much more serious issue is how this could have gone on for so many years and involved so many children. One must conclude that there were many people who knew of Sandusky’s misdeeds or had serious suspicions but did nothing. The one’s who did know something covered for him by lying about it instead of confronting him or reporting him to authorities.

Nearly every misdeed involves lying, either at the beginning by the perpetrator or afterwards in the cover-up by those who were aware of the misdeeds. There should be a serious analysis of the climate surrounding Sandusky and especially why these people did nothing to expose him.

In his ”Essay on Man” Alexander Pope said “Vice is a monster of such frightful mien that to be hated, needs but to be seen, yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, we first endure, then pity, then embrace.”

Here is one suggestion: A strictly enforced honor code at Penn State might help end the “embrace” that Mr Pope refers to and prevent such a tragedy from occurring again.