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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like rats on a sinking ship... watch them sell each other out in an attempt to cover for themselves... i wish fast & furious could have led to the hype that this scandal has...
This is only one of the reasons why Americans are considered ugly Americans and stupid. A few influential people with money and receiving more money or threats to keep things secret. Does this sound familiar thread as in politics, whether school, office or government, all the same just variance in degrees and different players.
individualist capitalism brings out the worst of everyone involved. no exception.
He is a pervert and the others who covered for him should be ashamed. It is disgusting what happened to innocent boys. Penn State should not be allowed to be involved with football for the next 100 years. Shame on all of them.
Yeah MT, let's punish the young football players too be, for the next 100 years..... That's justice. That'll teach them! Absurd is an understatement.
I worked in the administration of a major Division I University for 15 years before I retired from administrative duties partly in disgust at the priorites expressed by the appointed leaders. The emphasis was always on protecting "the Company" or "the University", not on the welfare of students, faculty or anyone else. This kind of "protect the Company" image at all costs, and keep the money flowing is disgusting and a sorry state for supposed centers of "higher learning".
When I first heard that Louis Freeh was in charge of this investigation, I thought that it would be thorough and probably embarrassing to the university.
If I had a child who was in that athletic program, I think that my first instinct would be to want to murder somebody.
I understand that one or two coaches might lose control and abuse children, but a major university's hiding the scandal is not understandable. It is absolutely evil.
This scandal is indicitive of a greater societal problem. Sick, deviant behaviors are allowed to.continue when money is involved. Let this be a wake up call that nobody should be allowed to.get away with crap like this. It's time to get back to.the basics when doing.the right thing is put before parochial interests. Good people.stood by and allowed evil men to prosper. Sickening.
All who knew along with the coach should be held accountable....legally and morally....this is NOT about football its about the lives of the children that were intrusted to the University and its staff.
Right, Doc, let's insult all those honorable PPL who ever graduated from PS. Another misguided remark. You must have gotten your behind kicked by a Penn Stater in your past. Shame on you too.
This is an epedemic in the United States. Peope hired and entrusted to work for the people, who believe the business they run for us is their own, and protect it as their own, instead of being open for the people to see, and be protected by who they hire.
Democrat or Republican, you should all be ashamed of the laws you pass that only continue this charade, rather than provide for a completely translucent government that rewards those that expose this ugliness, rather than help support those that don't.
We need to replace All of Government, at all levels to fix this ugly mess!
And then the new folks that take their place should only be paid based on a performance model and if they cannot stay in budget and on time the get no pay, no benefits, and no retirement and they pay back any compensation they have been given prior to any transgression.
The President, AD and the most powerful coach in sports were all implicitly involved in a cover-up. Take the emotional attachment away from the equation and see that the program should be shut down. Doesn't matter what he did for the school, its what JoPa DIDN'T do for those kids.
Bet the Big 10 is happy they let Penn State in...
Disband Penn State football and send proceeds to victims funds and ethical behavior training programs all over the U.S.
This is a problem with the "don't talk about it" generation and their days are numbered. This is all our fault because we as a society let it happen.
I'm an alum and I am still proud of my education. My major was and is #2 in the nation. My professors were amazing. I am ashamed at the individuals involved, including Joe, and feel all who covered up should be held legally accountable. Football games have about 5% to do with the memories of PSU. And, the players – past and current – had nothing to do with this. Nor did the thousands of Alumni. If you think a PSU degree is worth less or the graduates are not as employable, you are ignorant.
Who knew God was a short ugly man called Coach Paterno?!?!?
To all the mental masterbators that point out faults of others improper and incorrect, spelling, sentence structure, and paragraph structures as well, in an attempt to point out how learned they are; I would like to point out that the abusers and enablers are all well educated, very affluent and above all respected leaders within their community.
It is not just in this instance of "high and higher crimes"that a well educated and respected for that station personage is found to be lacking in moral character
I admit my lack of prowess in proper and formal writing but I at least can find just as much honesty in the opinions of others like myself, but we do not try to hide behind dotted I's and crossed T's; and do the best we can with what we have.