Kudos to Nike for removing Joe Paterno’s name from the child-care center named after him in Beaverton, Oregon. Sherwin-Williams and Cars.com dropped their sponsorship of Penn State many months ago – and many more will rightfully follow.
The crisis PR situation which Penn State faces is about as bad as it gets – According to a report by a private security firm, Penn State University leaders knowingly covered up the crimes and disgusting deeds of former football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, the child molester. Administrators, including Joe Paterno were complicit in the silence.
The report says that the powers that be at Penn State did what they did “to avoid the consequences of bad publicity.” Allow kids to be molested and avoid media? Penn State’s values can’t be any clearer than that.
Penn State needs to remove the Joe Paterno statue immediately and send the message that they won’t honor people who are aware of child molesters and do nothing about it – regardless of what they do in sports. They should also suspend the football program for a few years – focus on other matters instead of sports. There’s plenty of education needed at this supposed “school of higher learning.”
Penn State has to begin to show that values and decency are more important than protecting football – How many kids were molested in part because Paterno and others did not act upon their knowledge? One wonders how many will be comfortable having their children attend and be educated at an institution where university presidents, “hero” coaches, and students not only accept, but celebrate those who witness – and do nothing – about disgusting, illegal behavior.
Will alumni start to move Penn State to the bottom of their resumes?
There’s not much that can be said about – or at – Penn State. It’s time for actions, as clearly the leadership of Penn State took none while Sandusky was very active.
The fate of Penn State is in their hands.
Ronn Torossian is CEO of 5WPR which works extensively as a crisis PR agency.
