Official decision: Paterno statue coming down

[redheadbaker]

It's about 7:15 am Sunday morning (thanks, BabyL |-) ) and the local news just reported that construction workers and equipment are arriving at Penn State and officials have confirmed that the statue will be removed.

Who was it that said that one day the statue would just not be there? Sounds like that's what the school wanted.

[teflep]

I am really surprised that it went done in the middle of the night. But, glad it is going.

[Deleted]

Good news.

[OscarQ]

So glad I was wrong on this one. I didn't think PSU would take it down.

[emmybean]

:::dusts off hands::: welp! Thats done and over with! Paterno? Sandusky? Little boy rape? Don't know what you're talking about.

Move along, nothing to see here!

Eyeroll

[gpw]

Jul 22, 2012 8:34:46 GMT -5 emmybean said:

:::dusts off hands::: welp! Thats done and over with! Paterno? Sandusky? Little boy rape? Don't know what you're talking about.

Move along, nothing to see here!

Eyeroll

agreed.

Not that I don't think it should have come down, but PSU is trying to erase it all like it never happened.

[teflep]

Leaving it up would have been better? Definitely disagree.

[Deleted]

Jul 22, 2012 9:00:57 GMT -5 teflep said:

Leaving it up would have been better? Definitely disagree.

Agreed, tef. It won't make up for what happened (nothing ever will) but taking it down is still appropriate.

[teflep]

Jul 22, 2012 9:24:49 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

They had to take it down before school starts to avoid more riots by Paterno-worshipping college students.

I am pretty sure they don't shut down for the summer. Students likely are there now.

[emmybean]

Jul 22, 2012 9:00:57 GMT -5 teflep said:

Leaving it up would have been better? Definitely disagree.

Yup. And I've already explained why.

But yeah, taking it down when no one is looking just adds to the bullshit sweeping under the rug that is happening there right now.

[josieposy]

The NCAA will be announcing "unprecedented" penalties to Penn State tomorrow morning.

ETA:

From ESPN:

The NCAA will announce "corrective and punitive measures" for Penn State on Monday morning, it said in a statement, with CBS News reporting the penalties to be "unprecedented," affecting the football program and the school.

NCAA president Mark Emmert will reveal the sanctions Monday at 9 a.m. ET in Indianapolis at the organization's headquarters along with Ed Ray, the chairman of the NCAA's executive committee and Oregon State's president, the news release said.

A source confirmed to ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg that the penalties will be significant, but did not confirm that it's a joint agreement between Penn State and the NCAA.

"I've never seen anything like it," CBSNews.com reported an unnamed source as saying Sunday morning.

A source who also called the penalties unprecedented and harsh told ESPN's Joe Schad they will likely include a loss of bowl appearances and/or scholarships. It is expected the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and/or the NCAA Executive Committee has granted Emmert the authority to punish through non-traditional methods, the source said. To any degree, the NCAA is taking unprecedented measures with the decision to penalize Penn State without the traditional due process of a Committee on Infractions hearing.

The NCAA has a system in place in which it conducts its own investigations, issues a notice of allegations and then allows the university 90 days to respond before a hearing is scheduled.

Following the hearing, the Infractions Committee then usually takes a minimum of six weeks but it can last into upwards of a year to issue its findings.

But in the case of Penn State, the NCAA appears to be using the Freeh report -- commissioned by the school's board of trustees -- instead of its own investigation, before handing down sanctions.

The NCAA's announcement will follow a day after Penn State removed Joe Paterno's statue outside Beaver Stadium, a decision that came 10 days after the scathing report by former FBI director Louis J. Freeh found that Paterno, with three other top Penn State administrators, had concealed allegations of child sexual abuse made against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

The Freeh report concluded their motive was to shield the university and its football program from negative publicity.

[teflep]

Jul 22, 2012 9:33:39 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Jul 22, 2012 9:26:37 GMT -5 teflep said:

I am pretty sure they don't shut down for the summer. Students likely are there now.

Are we disagreeing that a campus population is reduced in the summer?

No, though that was not in the otp.

[emmybean]

CNN alert said it was going in to storage.

[Deleted]

Jul 22, 2012 9:26:48 GMT -5 emmybean said:

Jul 22, 2012 9:00:57 GMT -5 teflep said:

Leaving it up would have been better? Definitely disagree.

Yup. And I've already explained why.

But yeah, taking it down when no one is looking just adds to the bullshit sweeping under the rug that is happening there right now.

I read your explanation of your views in the thread I started on Friday. I respect it, but I just can't agree.

A statue is a symbol of respect and reverence. Leaving it up just says that JoePa is still respected and revered. While I'm sure he is and always will be by some, I think it needs to be shown that many have changed their views of him.

[emmybean]

It isnt (wasn't) such a symbol to those without allegiance to paterno, and with the alterations I suggested, it would be impossible to see the statue as a positive symbol to anyone.

[Deleted]

Jul 22, 2012 9:57:13 GMT -5 emmybean said:

It isnt (wasn't) such a symbol to those without allegiance to paterno, and with the alterations I suggested, it would be impossible to see the statue as a positive symbol to anyone.

I agree your suggestions were good ones, but I'm not sure they would make a difference to the Paterno apologists, except perhaps to make him more sympathetic and martyrish. From the comments I've seen posted on FB, some continue to insist he's innocent.

[charminglife]

In incredibly surprising news ( ), the Paterno family released a statement about the statue coming down:

"Tearing down the statue of Joe Paterno does not serve the victims of Jerry Sandusky's horrible crimes or help heal the Penn State Community. We believe the only way to help the victims is to uncover the full truth. The Freeh report, though it has been accepted by the media as the definitive conclusion on the Sandusky scandal, is the equivalent of an indictment — a charging document written by a prosecutor — and an incomplete and unofficial one at that.

"To those who truly want to know the truth about Sandusky, it should matter that Joe Paterno has never had a hearing; that his legal counsel has never been able to interview key witnesses, all of whom are represented by lawyers and therefore unavailable; that there has never been an opportunity to review critical evidence which has not been made public; that selective evidence and the opinion of Mr Freeh is treated as the equivalent of a fair trial. Despite this obviously flawed and one-sided presentation, the University believes it must acquiesce and accept that Joe Paterno has been given a fair and complete hearing. We think the better course would have been for the University to take a strong stand in support of due process so that the complete truth can be uncovered.

"It is not the University's responsibility to defend or protect Joe Paterno. But they at least should have acknowledged that important legal cases are still pending and that the record on Joe Paterno, the Board and other key players is far from complete."

What does taking down a statue have to do with pending legal cases? This family needs to STOP TALKING. I can only imagine what they'll say tomorrow after the NCAA announces their penalty.

[teflep]

Sources are saying there will be no death penalty, but loss of bowl appearances and scholarships.

[gpw]

Jul 22, 2012 9:26:48 GMT -5 emmybean said:

Jul 22, 2012 9:00:57 GMT -5 teflep said:

Leaving it up would have been better? Definitely disagree.

Yup. And I've already explained why.

But yeah, taking it down when no one is looking just adds to the bullshit sweeping under the rug that is happening there right now.

I hadn't read your comments in the other thread till just now. While I agree in principle, it was never going to happen in practice. PSU would never have done any of the things suggested, although it would have been awesome if they did. So, in theory, I agree. Leave him up with alterations...PSU would never have done that, though; and the Paterno apologists would have had heart attacks if they did (not that it matters, mind you).

[EllieArroway]

Ugh, one of my fb friends just said that taking down the statue was wrong and that we need to let Joe Pa rest in peace.

Uhhh, no. If he is "resting" anywhere I hope he never finds peace again.

[basilosaurus]

Whatever you do, don't look at the agree/disagree thread on facebook. I only read a few comments because my blood pressure can't handle it.

Someone even managed to pull in an Obama gibe.

[batsteph]

My favorite FB status from today (from one of my favorite people):

Anyone upset about the Joe Paterno statue being taken down should just look the other way and pretend it isn't happening.

Sent from my ADR6300 using ProBoards

[heightsyankee]

Good.

[redheadbaker]

Two people in my Facebook feed have changed their profile pictures to photos of themselves with the JoePa statue. :@

[gpw]

Jul 22, 2012 18:32:47 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Two people in my Facebook feed have changed their profile pictures to photos of themselves with the JoePa statue. [/quote

Unfriend. Seriously, I think I would. I've unfriended for less...

[IIOY]

Jul 22, 2012 18:32:47 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Two people in my Facebook feed have changed their profile pictures to photos of themselves with the JoePa statue.

I'm not sure I'd be able to resist posting "Yay for child molesters and their protectors!" on their walls.

[redheadbaker]

Jul 22, 2012 19:08:46 GMT -5 IIOY said:

Jul 22, 2012 18:32:47 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Two people in my Facebook feed have changed their profile pictures to photos of themselves with the JoePa statue.

I'm not sure I'd be able to resist posting "Yay for child molesters and their protectors!" on their walls.

Well, one is a staff member at the animal shelter where I volunteer. Not the kind of person whose bad side you want to be on.