Why is Mike McQueary the Biggest Bad Guy? The Aftermath of Penn State, and Comparing Reality to the Ideal when Managing Ethics in Elite College Sports

I'm proud to say that I am a former student-athlete. I will back up many of the systematic formalities that are in place for student-athletes and staff, throughout all divisions of sport. However, I have a big problem with the amount of money being thrown around in athletics (elite DI institutions) while other programs on campus continuously go underfunded, losing equipment, resources, student interest, and faculty to budget cuts. Additionally, I don't believe athletes or athletic staff are "above the law" by any means. Yet, I can see why they might think they are.

As the Penn State case continues to evolve, sparking interest, hatred, repulsion, and a growing media frenzy, I'm also starting to consider the situation from both sides of the fence. Yes, I'm a mental health professional, a mandated reporter, and I understand the immediate morality present when witnessing or having knowledge of sodomy and extreme sexual abuse of children. However, I'm not as surprised as many are by the "swept under the rug" actions taken place by witnesses and administrators. Unfortunately, I've seen and heard of a lot of inhumane acts of violence, abuse, and perpetration so far in my young career. For those "famous" in the elite college athletic culture, most hold a high degree of integrity, that we can see. Some do not, and sometimes that becomes public knowledge. Cover your ears if you still believe that everyone is "good" in this country--there is PLENTY of unethical behavior that goes on, both on campus and on road trips, that we don't know about, and probably never will. Are all of these acts unwitnessed? Probably not. Are all of these acts unreported? Probably most are. According to the RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) website, 44% of RAI victims are under the age of 18, in every 2 minutes in the U.S., someone is sexually assaulted, 60% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police, and 15 out of 16 rapists will never spend a day in jail. Jerry Sandusky is one man. One wealthy man. One wealthy man from an elite athletic program, with many "high profile" resources.

In a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Michael Ruse from Florida State claims that amongst a financial recession, head football coach, Jimbo Fisher received a 50% raise (aka $950,000) to his already savvy $9 million five-year contract this past year. Mr. Ruse concludes, "Why would Paterno or anyone else think that the normal rules apply to them? Why would Paterno or anyone else lift a finger to upset the apple cart – or should one say gravy train?" It's a reasonable question, in my eyes. USA Today reports that Paterno alone was bringing in an average of $554,000/year.

Why do you think we have programs such as witness protection? Because many people try to do the right thing by reporting criminal offenses, and when these accusations are against someone in high power, that "witness" now becomes a target of a wide range of physical, financial, and familial threats. Once the Penn State news broke, the Washington Post released a statement that assistant coach Mike McQueary (who attempted to report Sandusky's abuse as a GA) would not be attending the following Saturday's game against Nebraska due to "multiple threats" made against him. Now we watch the world unpack Coach McQueary's character in intense critical fashion. As NBC Sports has stated, upon witnessing a single sexual act (not multiple) with Sandusky and a boy in 2002, McQueary consulted with his family and reported the act to Joe Paterno the very next day. If Paterno and the Penn State University President wouldn't back up the need to take this matter to the police, what makes us so sure if McQueary would've gone to the authorities, he would've been taken seriously? Penn State defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky's word against a graduate assistant. Hmm. Something to think about.

By all means, I DO NOT support the multiple errors in judgement presented throughout this entire case at Penn State. My stance in this blog is to simply point out the reality behind a morally and emotionally charged public event. I do believe that all sexual abuse of children should be reported IMMEDIATELY. However, if I was being directly or indirectly threatened, and I was told "the situation is being handled" by my trusted mentor, I probably would think twice about making a report to the police. In the case of Sandusky and McQueary, we don't know why such threats are being made against the witness in this case. Is it because he didn't "make sure" the act was reported to authorities? Or is it because "he got Joe Paterno fired?"

The events themselves are extremely unfortunate, and I am happy to hear that victims are now finding support and freedom to express their voice. Whether this will be a good thing for our country or not, I foresee this Penn State chaos to symbolize to other perpetrators that they are not invincible. My worry is that continued news of the threats against witnesses will now only further stifle those who know of such abuse.

Kylie

Recently a blog was posted on October 9, 2011 by D.K. Withey titled Pay College Athletes? which was a well written blog about the constant argument of should college athletes be paid? The blog stated that out of 332 Division One school athletic programs that only 14 schools had experienced financial gain from their athletics. With that being said, I have to agree with Withey’s conclusion that student athletes should not be paid. Universities can not pay athletes from funds that are not available!

On September 14, 2011, an advocacy group published a report about the fair market value of college athletes and continue to argue that these athletes should be paid. A national college athletes advocacy group presented information stating that Division One football athletes that are bound for a bowl game are worth on an average per player per year $121,000 each. They continue to report that Division One basketball players of the same caliber are worth approximately $265,000 per player per year. The group argues that the players should be sharing the funds like the professional athletes do. They even offered for the funds to be “set aside” and used towards their room, board and other educational expenses while in college and then the remaining funds be available upon graduation. Commercial deals and other promotions were also supported by this advocacy group.

According to some of the data, the football players playing at the bowl level spend an average of 43.3 hours a week during the football season while basketball players spend approximately 39 hours per week. Athletic scholarships are not covering all of the costs for the athletes for them to attend the university in most cases. Many athletes have to subsidize their scholarship money to pay all of their expenses and some of the student athletes do not have the means to pay any additional costs. One football player explained that his room and board included three meals a day but as a football player, he needed to eat five to six meals to replace the calories burned as a player.

I completely agree that student athletes need to have their college costs covered if at all possible. I believe this for a few reasons including the fact that most college athletes do not have the time to work outside their sport nor are they able to make money during the summer months when they are attending training camps, etc. I also believe that since most athletic programs are bringing in some revenues that the athletes college expenses should be covered for the most part.

I do not agree, at all, with the concept of paying amateur student athletes! I believe that being a student athlete is part of the development of the student. I believe colleges would loose credibility if such pay was available to the students. Some schools would be able to pay more then other schools (which already happens with the scholarship money available) but paying the athletes would only create a bigger discrepancy between the schools with money and those without a big budget. The competition would become between a “few” schools instead of the variety that is available now. Also, I strongly believe that the coaches salaries and the athletic director salaries be scrutinized closely at the university level to see where changes can be made to allow for more scholarship money to be available while keeping their salaries at a reasonable level! No to paying college athletes but yes to making sure their reasonable college expenses are covered!

When it Rains - or - How Penn State has Ruined my Thanksgiving Day Tradition

Another weekend of NCAA football has come and gone. I should be irate with the BCS at this point, frustrated that OK State and Oregon and the likes failed to win their games and make a “rematch” unlikely. Frustrated that LSU and Alabama will most likely meet again for the championship in that “rematch” that is now looking like a foregone conclusion. This same old story is supposed to repeat itself each year, just with different teams. This debate is supposed to give me something to talk about with my in-laws over turkey dinner this week. It should be fun to hear their SEC arguments. Sigh.

It doesn’t seem important this year. It doesn’t seem to matter as much. This year I am still dealing with the bitter taste in my mouth from the alleged sexual misconduct at Penn State. The taste keeps coming back, again and again.

New allegations and resignations at Syracuse, an investigation being requested at the Citadel... The story seems to be replicating itself all over. A Bible School in Canada, a High School in Illinois… the list goes on. In each case there is an allegation of someone sexually abusing or harassing a child, and in each case there is an allegation that someone knew and did nothing. In many cases it is alleged that those in the know not only did nothing, but actually attempted to cover up the abuse. What the heck is going on? How does this happen… and how does it happen again… and again? How many more cases are there that have not and will not be reported? How many have been reported and covered up?

A few thoughts here…

This week I have been working on updating my institutions list of Campus Security Authorities (CSA’S) partially in response to an audit taking place down the road. CSA’s are the people who are required to report crime under the Clery Act. The list includes law enforcement and security staff, and any faculty or staff with significant responsibility for student activities. On the surface this makes sense. A deeper examination shows some potential problems. At Penn State a janitor was witness to the alleged misconduct in the shower. The current parameters do not make a janitor a mandatory report. Hmmm… Do the current requirements and definitions really get at those who are most likely to witness a criminal act or violation? Why would we not want to create a culture where more people are reporting crime? Does it make sense to expand these requirements more broadly? Should we do it before someone does it for us?

Schools all over the country have sent out communications to their people in the past few weeks reminding them of the importance of reporting crime and criminal activity. How many of us get these reminders regularly? Is it just an annual notice on October 1^st as required by law or is it part of the campus culture? Why does it take something like Penn State to push us to send out this information? Does it? If your schools do this more regularly or intentionally let me know.

An article in the Chronicle this week points to the tendency to create fear around these issues. Fear of lawsuits, of federal audits, of all sorts of “dangers” lurking in the unknown. The article discusses the market niche being filled by a new organization to “educate” institutions and help avoid these dangers. It seems to both question and support the fear factor. Sadly, fear can be motivating and is something that I keep in my bag of tricks for use on rare occasion. This may be one such occasion. The fact that Penn State faces huge settlements or lawsuits, plus a potential downgrade in credit rating based on allegations should motivate folks to make changes and ensure that systems are working. The fact that legislators in NY and PA are putting forth “Penn State” laws to address and strengthen reporting requirements is concerning. Again, should we make the changes ourselves, or wait for someone else to do it for us.

This post is a little bit random and wanders from point to point. It is frustrating to see how many Penn State’s have been reported in the past two weeks. It is even more frustrating to realize how many more have not been.

North Dakato "Fighting Sioux"

http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2011/11/01/Tribe-sues-NCAA-to-let-school-use-name/UPI-64071320174769/

The Spirit Lake tribe of Sioux are challenging the NCAA in court regarding the use of the name "Fighting Sioux" by University of North Dakota. Specifically, NCAA's policy banning the use of Native American names and imagery by collegiate athletic teams as the Sioux Tribes feel honored by the "Fighting Sioux" name.

In 1969 the North Dakota Sioux tribal leaders granted "perpetual use" of the name to the school through a Native American religious ceremony.

There are a number of college and professional teams named after various peoples. Some that come to mind are the Fighting Irish, Spartans, Vikings, Seminoles, Aztecs, Celtics, Blackhawks, Orangemen (now Orange), Trojans and Yankees.

Currently the NCAA is banning any post-season games to be held at UND and encouraging other universities to boycott playing UND teams.

Given the history with the UND the North Dakota Sioux tribes are suing based on violation of their Native American civil rights, equal protection rights, and religious rights.

In summary I think it is good the NCAA has been active in addressing stereotypes of Native Americans however, the NCAA needs to examine their "no tolerance policy" and include input from the peoples who are being represented by the University.

Paterno: Here to stay?

Sandusky and Paterno

Joe Paterno, head football coach at Penn State, is being asked by some to resign and others to stay in light of recent allegations against his former Assistant Coach, Jerry Sandusky. Sandusky has been alleged to have sexually abused at least 8 boys during his time with Penn State. There are eyewitness accounts from a custodian, a graduate student, and accounts from boys who allege that Sandusky sexually abused them.

One eyewitness brought it to Paterno’s attention after he says he saw Sandusky shower a ten year old boy and sodomize him in the locker room. It was decided that Sandusky could no longer bring boys to the locker room, but he still had access to Penn State. Law enforcement was never involved and the incidents of possible child rape were never reported to anyone outside the administration. 

McQueary, a former graduate assistant who reported the incident in the shower, reported the incident to Paterno. He is currently the assistant football coach with Paterno.  The question is whether the administration did enough to handle the situation and who actually knew about it. The grand jury implies that President Spanier knew about the allegations and had been reported to him by the Athletics Director, Curley. 

Spanier never contacted the campus police or local law enforcement but testified that he felt he handled the situation appropriately and that Curley has his unconditional support through this. Spanier has now been criticized for his actions and his lack of handling the situation.  It is said this incident was victim six, and there should have been more done.  The mother of one of the sons is extremely upset and claims that Spanier should be putting his unconditional support behind the victims, not Curley. The boys have been through a lot, and deserve more than what they received from the administration. 

The indictment has shown that Sandusky has raped boys over the last ten years and indicates a known pattern and severe lack of judgment by the administration and university officials. The president especially should have taken more severe and legal action against Sandusky.

Many argue that Paterno did what he was supposed to do by reporting it to a higher official. Yes, he could have done more, but when you tell your supervisors or administration something this sever, you would assume that it is being handled appropriately and professionally. Alerting his supervisors immediately after the claims were brought to him has saved Paterno from criminal prosecution for now. Paterno was very clear and concise when recounting what exactly he knew, when he knew it, and how he knew it. 

Critics are calling for Paterno to be fired and the Board of Trustees are meeting this week to discuss what may happen to the coach’s future at Penn State. No matter what happens to Paterno, I think it’s important that we look at what happened with the administration, especially Spanier when these allegations were brought to their attention. If the president knew, why wasn’t more done? Can Spanier be held accountable for knowing any of the information and not doing more? McQueary’s report was not the first that they had received about Sandusky and sexual misconduct. There was even a sexual misconduct investigation by University police in 1998 involving one of the youth involved in Sandusky’s youth foundation, Second Mile. 

Either way, I don’t entirely see the fault falling on Paterno. I don’t think he did anything wrong, but he could have done more right. I believe the administration, especially Spanier should have done more and alerted law enforcement.