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Former Penn State president: I was abused as kid, wouldn't ignore Sandusky allegations
Former Penn State President Graham Spanier said he would never have ignored accusations of child sex abuse on campus because, among other things, he "personally experienced massive and persistent abuse as a child," according to a letter he sent to the school's board of trustees.
"It is unfathomable and illogical to think that a respected family sociologist and family therapist, someone who personally experienced massive and persistent abuse as a child, someone who devoted a significant portion of his career to the welfare of children and youth... would have knowingly turned a blind eye to any report of child abuse or predatory sexual acts directed at children," Spanier said in the letter - which was dated Sunday and obtained by CNN Tuesday.
While Spanier has not been criminally charged in the case, an investigation by ex-FBI chief Louis Freeh concluded that he helped university officials conceal allegations of sexual abuse against the former assistant football coach.
Spanier disputes these findings in his letter, saying "at no time during my presidency did anyone ever report to me that Jerry Sandusky was observed abusing a child or youth or engaged in a sexual act with a child or youth."
Sandusky was convicted in June of sexually abusing young boys over a 15-year period.
More on the Penn State scandal:
Paterno loyalists: Sanctions excessive
Ex-Penn State pres: I was abused
History books, Paterno's legacy altered?
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Too much fodder in the Freeh report. Needs a second look.
yeah, because Freeh doesnt have experience investigating things as former head of the FBI. Give me a break .
WHY...do I not believe him? I too was abused by my father and multiple stepfathers (thanks mom) and for him to NOW say something is just hollow and desperate. As a survivor of abuse, I take great offense to someone claiming abuse as a defense. If, for some far-fetched reason this is true, then this makes Graham Spanier even a BIGGER monster for he should of known better when the allegations were made and STOPPED Sandusky then. Spanier either needs to put on his big boy pants and own up to his massive lack of responsibility in protecting these young boys or shut up and let justice takes it course. I, for one, do not want to hear anything from him except a true confession of his role in the cover up.
That's right ....attack the victim? Why should anyone believe 'your' story either? HYPOCRITE
Amen
God bless.
I have read the report issued by Louis Freeh. I have viewed the emails and handwritten notes back and forth between Spanier and others. His comments in this report directly controvert his own emails and notes. That...makes his statements now...lies.
Earthquake Ethel,
That's right ....attack the victim? Why should anyone believe 'your' story either? HYPOCRITE
Hmm, when all one can do is resort to name calling, it negates one's argument. You are baseless and so is your argument.
What – do you not know how to reply only once? Still learning the "internet" are you? You may very well be one of my "wonderful" stepfathers...sure sounds like it...
Hindsight is always 20:20.
Nobody really knows for a fact if he would or not take action on allegations.
People of the United States of America,
This man must think we are all morons out here,talk about trying to cover your tracks!
And you should listed to Frank becasue he has absolutely zero first hand knowledge about any of this -– what a pathetic joke
Spanier was Captain of the ship. FACT!
So is President Obama and he has not taken responsibility for anything
It will sure be interesting to see how this all plays out
Wouldnlt it be a shocker if the Freeh report is massively flawed - and the NCAA has tons of egg on face
Not going to happen
You need to explain to me, how Obama gets brought into this. What is he to take responsibility for. George Bush being the biggest loser, entering a war on lies, giving tax breaks to the wealthy or how about the oil companies. Stick to the subject, keep your one sided politics out of this
That's about as likely as you becoming rich or important .
And the coverups and denials continue! I see at least he was smart enough to choose dead people, who as we know tell no tales.
Actually the NCAA chose a dead person too in Joe Paterno - so did Freeh - Now due process for dead people
Does anyone really believe this guy? He's lucky he's not in jail.
What if a Penn State University professor from the engineering department committed the same acts as Sandusky and a cover up similar to what is alleged to have occurred with the Sandusky matter happened? Would the Penn State engineering program lose accreditation? How about vacating all degrees granted since 1998? Would the entire academic program be fined sixty million dollars? Just wondering.
You're elevating a sport to the level of an academic field? And if that was the case, the whole department may suffer a similar fate.
Yup
Your point on the elevation of football is well taken. Still, I doubt the regulators in charge of overseeing the academics of the school would do much outside of punishing those responsible for the crimes and cover up. I think the publicity of the matter and the punishment meted out by the NCAA is precisely because this was a prominent football program.
His father made him eat his carrots when he didn't want to – "I too was abused"
He is a poor liar and needs to go to prison. He will know the meaning of abuse then and experience it first hand.
Being abused as a child does not make you a better person. This article just shows one who stayed twisted. That is not a surprising outcome of abuse.
Now that Mr. Freeh's investigation has pinpointed more details of the people involved in the cover up, Mr. Spanier is feeling the heat and is looking for any kind of sympathy. It's the old clique, "It was somebody else's fault and not mine". Poor me!
Read the Report. Spanier was no innocent. The e-maild hang him.