Penn State punished over sex scandal
Source: Agencies |
July 24, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE National Collegiate Athletic Association slammed Penn State yesterday with an unprecedented series of penalties, including a US$60 million fine, for the child sex abuse scandal that shook one of the largest and most lucrative sports programs in the United States.
Though the NCAA stopped short of imposing the "death penalty" - shutting down the football program completely - the punishment is still crippling for a team that is trying to start over. Other sanctions include the loss of all once-legendary coach Joe Paterno's victories from 1998-2011.
Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State assistant coach, was found guilty in June of sexually abusing several young boys, at times on campus, sometimes after finding them through the charity he founded for at-risk youth.
The NCAA action came in the wake of a devastating report asserting that top university officials buried child sex abuse allegations against Sandusky more than a decade ago.
The investigative report by former FBI Director Louis Freeh found that Paterno and three other top Penn State administrators concealed sex abuse claims against Sandusky.
The NCAA said the US$60 million fine is equivalent to the annual gross revenue of the football program. It must be paid into an endowment for external programs preventing child sexual abuse or assisting victims.
"Football will never again be placed ahead of educating, nurturing and protecting young people," NCAA President Mark Emmert said.
"Against this backdrop, Penn State accepts the penalties and corrective actions announced today by the NCAA," Penn State President Rodney Erickson said in a statement. "With today's announcement and the action it requires of us, the university takes a significant step forward."
Though the NCAA stopped short of imposing the "death penalty" - shutting down the football program completely - the punishment is still crippling for a team that is trying to start over. Other sanctions include the loss of all once-legendary coach Joe Paterno's victories from 1998-2011.
Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State assistant coach, was found guilty in June of sexually abusing several young boys, at times on campus, sometimes after finding them through the charity he founded for at-risk youth.
The NCAA action came in the wake of a devastating report asserting that top university officials buried child sex abuse allegations against Sandusky more than a decade ago.
The investigative report by former FBI Director Louis Freeh found that Paterno and three other top Penn State administrators concealed sex abuse claims against Sandusky.
The NCAA said the US$60 million fine is equivalent to the annual gross revenue of the football program. It must be paid into an endowment for external programs preventing child sexual abuse or assisting victims.
"Football will never again be placed ahead of educating, nurturing and protecting young people," NCAA President Mark Emmert said.
"Against this backdrop, Penn State accepts the penalties and corrective actions announced today by the NCAA," Penn State President Rodney Erickson said in a statement. "With today's announcement and the action it requires of us, the university takes a significant step forward."
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