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Child Sex Abuse Scandal Rocks Penn State

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    College sports and morality on 'Fox News Sunday'

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And hello again from Fox News in Washington.

This weekend the Penn State football team took the field what -- head coach Joseph Paterno.

For the first time in 46 years.

Paterno was fired after a scandal broke about a former assistant coach allegedly abusing young boys some -- -- on campus.

In the stadium thousands wore blue instead of the traditional white to express sympathy with the victims.

In a few minutes we'll talk with former Penn State football -- Psycho Harris as well as the student body president.

But we Begin with Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett -- in the state capital of Harrisburg.

As governor you're on number -- of the board of -- is -- Penn State that voted this week to fire Joseph Paterno but it never gave a reason why.

All the vendors -- that you want to go in a new direction so let me ask you directly.

Why did the board vote to fire Joseph Paterno what did you believe he did wrong.

-- -- Chris I believe the the board voted to.

Fire both Paterno and now that impresses me here because they lost confidence in their ability to lead I said that a number of times of the course of this weekend.

And and what specific play in.

-- -- actions led you to that loss of confidence.

Well there's -- deliberations of the board and I'm not gonna go into with the deliberations were.

In my mind.

I agreed with the board's decision as to -- unanimous decision.

That.

Based upon on the -- there appeared before them.

That the ability to lead -- at Penn State through this time it into the future they no longer had its content had confidence in him to do that.

But governor let me point out these are just allegations Joseph Paterno who would spend a -- century at Penn State did not have an opportunity.

To offer a full defense why not.

Let him finish his season and retire as he offered today.

Well as this.

There -- deliberations that were part of the board of trustees -- those are questions that you go to the chairman of and the vice chairman of the board of trustees is speaking on behalf.

I'm just be a member -- forty trustees.

I gave them one statement I had once.

The second set I gave throughout the entire.

Period of time in the deliberations in that was this.

That we have to remember the children.

And I think a lot of it has to do with that.

I'm not sure governor why you know you are a member of the board of trustees of voting member you voted to fire -- -- out you're also the governor of the state why are you being so secretive about your own feelings about this -- Well -- my feel as the case or grab pretty well known.

If you got back back -- unless as a well Chris -- I started this investigation.

I have responsibility.

To see that the investigation continued I did.

As governor.

I have -- requirement to make sure that we protect the children of Pennsylvania.

That's my focus on this as to the actions of a mr.

-- the attorney general meeting determination.

That he -- had not.

At this point in time done anything that would be of a criminal nature.

But in my opinion when you don't follow through.

When you don't continue -- to make sure that actions are taken then I lose confidence in your ability to lead that would be the case here.

And let me follow up on not because Penn State and Paterno I think it's fair to say were considered models.

Of what's right in college football that the team motto for the football team is success.

With honor and yet in this case the coach and the schools seem to have been more concerned about protecting the program.

Then those eight boys -- and -- he allegedly abused over fifteen years governor.

How do you explain that.

Especially -- Penn product.

-- Chris.

I have to sit back -- it and take a look at what happened.

You all will will make your determinations in and conclusions based -- -- you see what I saw was a failure to act.

And I always have said your actions speak louder than your words.

That should not have been able to -- the continue.

I'd be very careful what I say because I'm an under an ethical obligation in this investigation.

As to when -- can't we can't say.

But the actions or the failure to act.

Well maybe not criminal.

Cause me not to have confidence.

In the present and the coach.

But but I'm -- -- a more general questions are how did the Penn State.

Program and the whole college seem to go so far off the tracks when this had been held up as a model.

Of what was right in college football.

Well Chris I think that's exactly what the investigation.

The internal investigation by -- Ericsson.

Us and by Ken Frazier who is given these special assignment to conduct this investigation.

-- secretary of education.

-- tomorrow is that's what they Archie determine at this point I can't answer that question for you.

If if I knew how that happened I'd be happy giving that is -- the debt investigation is going to be -- begun and to make a determination.

Why when reports were made there was no follow up what happened.

Is it could cause.

By a fear of of reporting is it costs by a lack of understanding that this kind of stuff and I can't imagine that.

That this kind of actually needs to be reported to law enforcement authorities and to be reported up to change is it a fear of -- harm to reputation.

Two institutions.

That is the I think the goal of Ken Frazier in his committee.

Let's talk about second mile the charity that Jerry's -- -- help form for disadvantaged kids that.

Quite frankly gave -- access.

To these young -- should action be taken against the charity.

Or the CEO.

Who allegedly was told about some of these abuses as far back as 2000.

Again keeping in mind that there is an investigation if Federer area of the state attorney general -- -- On going and -- be very careful here.

The attorney general's office has security section.

And I'm sure that they will be taking you look to see what.

What happened at that point in time.

That needs to be done the needs to be termination of what was communicated from the executive director.

Of that association.

To the board members in the chairman of the board.

And I believe that that association news that organization is gonna be having you know I'm meeting here today or tomorrow.

Of the board members to determine what the future is of the second mile.

It's unfortunate that -- -- purpose of the second -- was a great purpose.

If you talk to people who have worked with a second while it has done great work.

And it if it should cease to exist.

I am hopeful that other organizations will pick up the work that they did we need to reach out to these -- do we need to give them guidance.

But in this case as the allegations indicate.

Some of it was used to pick on some children.

And that the term is used grooming groom those children.

For mr.

Sheehan does he's purposes.

Finally we have about a minute left governor there has been talk and it's nothing more than talk about more victims or the possibility that others.

Were involved in abusing these kids can you assure the people of Pennsylvania and the nation.

That this scandalous over or is it possible that there's more to it -- we now know.

Well.

As -- attorney general says it's an ongoing investigation and I don't get the details of that investigation because I'm no longer the -- -- But in looking at other cases like this.

It would not be in common to find.

Other victims because when the word gets out.

When people understand that.

Authorities are actually doing something about this that they may be believed.

Then more people come forward and other investigations.

If -- to speculate I wouldn't be surprised if we had.

More victims come forward so that's why the attorney general in the state police have put up -- numbers for people to call if they've been a victim.

This scandal may be even bigger -- It did you could be more victims century.

Governor -- we're gonna have to leave it I'm not very -- -- thank you so much for coming in today to talk with us -- And thank you very much.

So how are current and former students reacting to the scandal we want to bring in Penn -- a -- former Pittsburgh steeler right.

It's like -- Harris who joins us from Pittsburgh.

As well as TJ -- Penn State student body president who's on campus there.

Frank -- you have blasted the board of atrocities including governor Corbett does wait for firing Joseph Paterno you say they showed.

A lack of courage I want to -- it up before I do I wanna put up I -- -- -- comments made by the mother of one of the victims in this case.

As well as the comments of Joseph Paterno reacting to is firing let's watch.

To tell you know what to deal I just didn't know what to do and you just can't tell Jerry -- We still got things you don't and I don't matter then name a phone call him -- -- -- -- Don't know how -- Like -- Joseph Paterno may have followed the letter of the law are complied -- that buyers informing his superior but.

On a moral basis and in the end he was fired because of visited his failure is not any kind of legal -- Should really have called the cops when he heard about this abuse or at least followed up with a person he tell the athletic director to find out.

Where this investigations -- They -- let me take you know go about this for a minute as you know there was a grand jury investigation.

And and had yet of that investigation.

They found Joseph Paterno.

Cooperated fully.

With them and -- good testimony.

And there was no charges.

Against Joseph Paterno.

And and then.

All of a sudden all of a sudden sudden something came out about.

A moral obligation.

And everybody jumped on that everybody said.

It should be a moral procedures have been a moral procedure.

And and like that subject to -- people's own train of thought with that.

So like I thought I was very unfair.

And I think it is it is -- how people.

We're treating show -- with this issue because Joseph is a highly moral person.

Highly great moral character and so the very disturbing to me that.

When someone said this everybody else jumped on this.

That not let me bring in TJ Bard at.

It's thinking to yourself I know you're the head of the student government and speaking for yourself did the trustees' overreact.

And firing Joseph Paterno.

I don't know I think it's definitely been hugely emotional for assesses students but also think the trustees and all this and I think.

There's a lot of information that we students don't know mom and it's definitely been a frustrating time in a confusing time for us and at the end of the day I I only think -- will really tell the trustees made the right decision or not today I can't say that I.

I worked with the trustees before and I know they they have and always will have the best interest of the university -- -- so.

What that means I don't know but -- I do trust their judgment.

TJ as the head of the student government you spoke to your fellow students on campus on Thursday.

The day after.

The rioting.

Let's take a look at what some of what -- I decide.

We've lost.

They can't build up false sense of community.

We must support each other.

Yeah you need each other it's -- -- -- during this trying time.

TJ how would you a -- The mood on campus now is there more outrage over the abuse of the kids are more outrage over the firing at Joseph Paterno.

I think -- after that the day after the rights are described as kind of the calm after the storm.

At this point I think the students really have been focused on the victims bringing attention to the victims and their families and trying to do everything we can to make sure that justice is -- for them.

Com we've had a candlelight vigil and in the statistics are really amazing.

3000 -- approximate -- to -- in the riots on the after the -- manager return aspiring.

And anywhere from ten to 20000 students participate in the candlelight vigil on to honor the victims and bring attention to -- abuse and that's not even including the -- -- at the football game or the hundreds of thousands of dollars that have been raised by students and alumni.

On for child abuse prevention so I think.

It's safe to say that the students kind of attention has been turned to bringing really in finding justice -- for the victims.

Franco when -- read -- the grand jury report I don't know if you've had a chance but it's it's just awful and when you see the rioting.

On on Wednesday on the campus at Penn State.

It seems that that a number of people I'm not gonna focus now on Paterno but it seems that a number of people were and are.

More concerned about football more concerned about the football program at Penn State.

Than they were the victimization.

Of these kids.

How does that happen and -- effects.

Well I think that happened because of the press and and they've focused on Joseph Paterno went after Joseph Paterno.

Rather than putting the focus on on -- kids.

And look let me go back just for a second here.

About the board.

When they mention that the board had leadership.

It doesn't really meet my definition.

Of leadership.

Everyone looked everyone knows that in in in business and in politics.

That when -- crisis happens.

You know they do.

Program 101.

Like to me it's nothing that showed leadership or anything bold.

That is that you just get rid of everybody.

And you don't and it doesn't matter about what's true or not true or write anything like that would you do is just.

Cut everything.

And like and that's what that's what I mean when I said aboard the national leadership who show any guts they just did.

101 and I'm very disturbed about and and and -- wanna say that -- eloquently talked about the riding.

Writing at Penn State I heard there's only about -- couple dozen out of over 2000.

All right we're gonna have to leave -- -- Franco Harris TJ -- we want to thank you both so much thanks for joining us today obviously.

We're gonna follow the events their -- day.

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