On “Saturday Night Live,” even the devil was offended by the Penn State child sex abuse scandal. “SNL” cast member Jason Sudeikis reprised his role as Satan, appearing with red horns and pitchfork. The devil was informed by “Weekend Update” host Seth Meyers of sex charges against a former defensive coordinator and allegations that university officials failed to report the abuse.
Even he was disturbed by the news. Addressing Penn State students who protested football coach Joe Paterno’s firing, the devil spoke directly into the camera, asking, “Do you know how bad that made you look?”
And other judgements are already being handed down. Tangible impacts of scandal starting to become clear.
First, A standout high school offensive lineman from Colorado has turned his back on his verbal commitment to attend Penn State, becoming the first recruit the school has lost because of the ongoing sex scandal that has rocked the university to its core, Fox News Reports.
This is understandable.
“Anyone associated with Sandusky at Penn State or Second Mile is, has been or will be interviewed or investigated,” according to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett. Apparently, if you know anything about the former Attorney General, you know that he means business in areas like this.
Joey O’Connor told the newspaper Thursday that he had de-committed so he could focus on the rest of his high school season with Windsor High.
“It’s been a real struggle, just getting all this thrown in my face just before the playoffs,” said O’Connor, a 6-foot-5, 297-pound senior, “The only time I can get away from it is at football practice. I only forget about it when I step on that field.”
Poor Penn State.
The laws of logic and — dare I say it — common sense, dicate that this mess did not occur inside a vacuum without others being aware.
But according to several experts, the two Penn State administrators who have been charged with failing to report what they had learned about Sandusky are among only a few who have been charged with the crime in years.
Frank Cervone, executive director of the Support Center for Child Advocates, told ABC News he can think of only two other cases where someone was charged with failure to report. One is the ongoing case of Kansas City, Mo. bishop Robert W. Finn, the clergyman charged in connection with the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal; the other is the 1994 case of a Philadelphia doctor who was accused of not reporting suspected physical abuse of his minor patient.
Scott Berkowitz, President of the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), was similarly unable to recall other cases.
Neither could Howard Davidson, the director of the American Bar Association’s Center on Children and the Law. However, Davidson says “I have to believe people are prosecuting failure to report,” but because there is no national data on the offense or its prosecution, no one knows how often or under what circumstances.
Bottom line: At least six men could have called 911. Not one did.
Second, CNNMoney reports that Moody’s Investors Service is reviewing the risk to Penn State’s reputation and finances in the wake of a child sex abuse scandal that has rocked the university.
In coming months, the credit rating agency will evaluate whether the university should be downgraded. Penn State carries the second highest credit rating, reflecting very strong student demand and a strong national academic brand.
The university has about $1 billion in rated debt.
As bad as things have become, this scandal is still in its infancy.
Things are bound to only get worse.