Penn State University bashers and supporters alike took to Twitter and Facebook on Thursday when the report on an internal probe into the school's child sex abuse scandal was released.
Lavar Arrington, a former Penn State player, responded on Twitter after reading the report.
all in the report are culpable starting with the president-vice pres-ad-head coach-bot all involved should've and should be removed
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LaVar Leap Arrington (@LaVarArrington) July 12, 2012The probe found that top university officials, including former President Graham Spanier and then-head football coach Joe Paterno, concealed child sex abuse by ex-assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and showed a "total and consistent disregard" for his victims. The concealment was meant to "avoid the consequences of bad publicity," the report said.
Penn State leaders disregarded victims, 'empowered' Sandusky, review finds
The probe's leader, former FBI Director Louis Freeh, said that ex-athletic director Tim Curley consulted with Paterno following allegations against Sandusky and "they changed the plan and decided not to make a report to the authorities."
Key players in the Penn State report
This, the report found, resulted in a failure to protect Sandusky's victims or warn the public about his behavior.
How the Sandusky case unraveled
Heated conversations immediately began on Penn State's Facebook page.
"The only important part of that report are the recommendations for the FUTURE! We need to all take a lesson from this, learn from some mistakes and use the recommendations to move on to make PSU a stronger place. It makes no sense discussing what happened in the past and what emails were sent. Complaining about the past does not make for a strong future!" Joey Schwartz wrote.
Controversy has swirled around how much Paterno knew concerning Sandusky's abuse, and given the report's findings, was a popular thread for commenters.
"You are all giving a bad name to the school and current students like myself. Time to swallow your pride and recognize that JoePa made very grave mistakes, and even he probably didn't understand the gravity of them at the time. This is undeniable proof that not only did he fail to act, but he influenced the decisions to report Sandusky to the authorities," Sean McFarlane posted.
"It's not a complete, unbiased report. Period," Bettina Kline wrote.
"This is not an idictment of Penn State students and Alum or even most of the people who work there. This is an idictment of its leadership and administration. Penn State students and Alums can keep their heads held high if you do the right thing and that is stop worshiping a man and althletic program that failed to protect innocent children. If you can do that then you have nothing to be ashamed of," Mike Carlson posted.
"If my degree was from Penn State, I would sue to get my tuition back," Jonathan Hubbard wrote.
"I'm so shocked (not) that Penn State throws a man who is not here to defend himself under the bus. I find it very convenient that the ones trying to avoid damning themselves blame the one who is dead. Why didn't anyone do anything? The truth will never be known. The whole thing is sick," Rhonda Head said, referring to Paterno's death in January.
"Launching a private investigation, spending 10 million plus on lawyers and PR... Why not just admit mistakes were made and move on. Use that money towards our education please" Alex Pawelski shared.
Darren Rovell, a sports business reporter, was one of many taking to Twitter with an immediate reaction.
Not sure the NCAA will do or feels like it can do anything with Penn State, but pretty sure the Paterno statue has to come down.
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darren rovell (@darrenrovell) July 12, 2012He also shared this update later:
BREAKING: Nike is taking Joe Paterno's name off its childcare center on the Nike campus.
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darren rovell (@darrenrovell) July 12, 2012Former Ohio State and New York Giants football player Jason Winrow tweeted this in response.
As a former college football player, I'm beyond disappointed. As a parent, I'm horrified. Penn State let those kids down.
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Jason Winrow (@JasonWinrow68) July 12, 2012Charles Robinson, senior investigative reporter for Yahoo! Sports, speculated on Penn State's future given the findings.
Everything is offically in play now for Penn State. This report opens the door for all manner of sanctioning - criminal, civil & NCAA alike.
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Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) July 12, 2012ESPN Radio host John Kincade responded to the late Paterno's previous statement that this was not a "football scandal."
One thing we now know, unlike what we were told, this WAS a Football Scandal at Penn State.
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John Kincade (@JohnKincade) July 12, 2012Aaron Nagler, NFL blogger for Bleacher Report, responded to those who initially defended Paterno.
I hope the Freeh report is sent to the inbox of every kid at Penn State who protested when Paterno was fired.
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Aaron Nagler (@Aaron_Nagler) July 12, 2012Clay Travis, author of "Dixieland Delight" and "On Rocky Top," singled out what he found to be the worst truth of the report.
Most amazing detail from the report is that no one at Penn State ever confronted Sandusky after 2001. Ever.
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Clay Travis (@ClayTravisBGID) July 12, 2012A Miami Heat reporter, Rizzmiggizz, responded to other people's calls for Penn State's program to be shut down.
Forget the "Death Penalty" for Penn State...let them play and make millions....and make them donate EVERY DAMN $ to stopping child abuse.
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(@Rizzmiggizz) July 12, 2012Penn State supporters also took to Twitter using the hashtag #WEARE, standing up for their university before and after the report was released. Many reactions were ambivalent, showing either disappointment in the report or their school, but most were looking forward to moving past the scandal.
The media tries to put down Penn State in any way they can. Every Penn Stater knows what Penn State really is! #WeAre
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Brady Lucas (@bradyluu) July 12, 2012penn state proud. penn state forever. sing our love and loyalty, may no act of ours bring shame. may god have mercy on their souls #weare
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dennis mcnamara (@dennismcnamara) July 12, 2012#WEARE moving forward as a university and bringing light to an epidemic that happens everyday in our neighborhoods and communities.
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Chantelle Bellavance (@ovoxo_Chantelle) July 12, 2012We are not the actions of those 4. RT @MarkMcColey This is all terrible and the trust of many was betrayed. I still love my school. #WeAre
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Devon Edwards (@Devon2012) July 12, 2012TheSchoolPhilly, a social media site covering Penn State, showed a lack of enthusiasm for the supportive tweets, and offered this instead:
There's no way to defend this. We have to take it in the chest. Like men. Together. #WeAre
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(@TheSchoolPhilly) July 12, 2012Here's more of our coverage:
Key passages from Penn State report
Penn State community still admires Paterno
What do you think about the report and its findings? Let us know in the comments below and sound off on CNN iReport.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Gay and Lesbeans are always doing bad things like this. We need to put them all on some island where they can't harm childrens.
Where are you getting anything about gays or lesbians being involved in this? Sandusky is a pedophile. Pedophiles are criminals. He is not gay. Being gay does not make one a pedophile and being a pedophile doesn't mean you're gay.
Older women who go after boys are called Cougars.
Older men who go after boys are called Nittany Lions.
I agree. If we put a stop to gayism then nonsense like this would stop. Lesbeans are even worse. They are ultra gay.
Nate and Thaddeus for President and Vice-President of the Ignorant Persons club!
Am not ! I'm a professional athlete and movie director ! And airplane pilot !
Plus I am a master chef and professional bowler and race car driver ! Yeah !
And Scoooba diver !
This *IS* Joe Pa's legacy!
Colleges are indifferent to anything but their own self interest and pretensions.
Leave the poor guy alone, He was just having Fun.
Maybe we should report you to the authorities as well.
The most troubling aspect about this is the lack of concern for the victims. Nobody gave a rat's patoot about the kids.
I agree with you. What was the concern of the school administration and Joe Paterno. Protecting the football program and the reputation of the school. My feeling is that the ones who covered this up, who allow Sandusky to remain an employee and continue to have access to young boys, are as guilty as he is.
I hope that the civil attorneys for the victims, sue both Penn State and the Individuals themselves for as much as they can get.
You have just summed up the entire premise of "government education"
I realize that the present football staff or players are in anyway culpable for this but I truly think that Penn State's football program should receive a multiple year Death Penalty from the NCAA. It would send a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated period... The point of having a University is for higher education and not hosting a minor league football team.
Whats spelunking ? Is that like a possum ?
The lawyers will rightfully bankrupt Pedd State for this criminal coverup....
It's terrible that the people that were supposed to lead the university covered up such a horrific act. However, people that are putting the blame on the university as a whole (students, professors, alumni, staff) just don't get it. These 4 men, paterno included, should have and could have prevented other kids from being abused. Paterno is gone, the other 3 should be punished. The students working hard to get an education, the alumni, and the professors contributing valuable research to the community should not.
The statue should come down. Letters of profound apology to the students of Penn State, its faculty, the pubilic, and especially the young people who were victimized, should be scripted immediately.
And to those of you who in some way made excuses or turned your heads, or defended Jerry Sandusky, shame on you. If these had been your sons (or daughters), you would be pulling the bricks of the buildings down and sowing the earth with salt!!!! For shame!
I agree with you 100 percent. They should never get to play football again.
Ah, you and I know they won't take down their precious JoePa statue, it might ruin someone's weekend! Best to just cover it up for the next 14 years and hope nobody notices.
The new name for the Stadium was pending the release of the investigation. My suggestion; The Joe Paterno Pedifile Stadium