Sad, Sad, Sad

From former FBI director Louis Freeh's report on Penn State's responsibility for Jerry Sandusky's crimes:

Our most saddening and sobering finding is the total disregard for the safety and welfare of Sandusky’s child victims by the most senior leaders at Penn State. The most powerful men at Penn State failed to take any steps for 14 years to protect the children who Sandusky victimized. [Joe Paterno, former Penn State President Graham B. Spanier, former Athletic Director Tim Curley and campus police chief Gary Schultz] never demonstrated, through actions or words, any concern for the safety and well-being of Sandusky’s victims until after Sandusky’s arrest. . . .

Taking into account the available witness statements and evidence, it is more reasonable to conclude that, in order to avoid the consequences of bad publicity, the most powerful leaders at Penn State University . . . repeatedly concealed critical facts relating to Sandusky’s child abuse from the authorities, the Board of Trustees, Penn State community, and the public at large.

It is a sad fact about humanity that a lack of accountability leads to terrible behavior. When people think they can keep their actions secret, and avoid any blame, they will do almost anything. Protected by the aura of Penn State football, these men acted disgracefully, and many suffered terrible harm.