Crass Truth

Experience teaches that winning football coaches are amongst the most unbeatable of political adversaries. If they choose to run for office, they put together a plan, organize a qualified, trained and loyal team and execute without mercy. Likewise, there is an adage in politics that such a formidable personage is “unbeatable unless they are found in the company of a dead girl or a live boy.” While unmitigated in its crassness, the saw sheds an interesting perspective on the appalling turn of events in Penn State University’s storied gridiron program and its much-honored head coach, Joe Paterno, and his staff.
In thinking about this column, I read the 20 plus page Grand Jury report that finally brought media attention to a situation that seems to have permeated the Penn State team for years. One can only hope that the issue here is not that Paterno and his merry band are all debauched pedophiles – in fact, it is highly unlikely it will be so simple. Yet the fact remains that this operation appears to have not only protected itself from accountability but continued to allow circumstances to occur that would lead to more irresponsible “horse-pay,” at best, and criminal depravity, at worst, on the part of central figures to the institution.

Aside from recklessly over-promising and under-delivering on many of their commitments to students, parents and others, universities have a long history of believing themselves exempt from external review. The mantra – we will handle this internally – leads to a culture of secrecy and superiority. The fervent belief that outsiders (that means all of us) couldn’t possibly understand the ivory tower breeds contempt for transparency. Lynching Paterno may satisfy the mob but isn’t a significant review of sustained institutional corruption within these mega businesses what is really needed? Perhaps better said – also needed.

This column was published on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 in the Current in Carmel, Current in Westfield, Current in Fishers , and Current in Noblesville - http: //youarecurrent.com/