Barfknecht: Does Penn State belong in Big Ten? (Jerry Sandusky child sexual-abuse scandal)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120703/SPORTS/707039883/1707#barfknecht-does-penn-state-belong-in-big-ten

Published Wednesday, July 4, 2012 at 12:00 am / Updated at 6:02 pm

IN MY OPINION
By Lee Barfknecht
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The criminal work is done in the Jerry Sandusky child sexual-abuse scandal at Penn State. Guilty on 45 of 48 counts, with sentencing to follow that should put the 68-year-old away for life.

Civil lawsuits will follow. The school knows it could be on the hook for payouts that rival a small country’s national debt.

And now that a CNN investigation has revealed emails detailing evidence of a cover-up at the highest levels — implicating coaching idol Joe Paterno and PSU President Graham Spanier — the cry is out for the NCAA to examine the Nittany Lions for penalties.

Snip: In other words, for at least 74 percent of the time that Penn State has been in the Big Ten Conference, four of the most powerful figures on campus allegedly chose to focus on protecting their institution and positions of authority at the expense of children already abused — with more victims to come because of their inaction.

FULL story at link.

[HopeHoops]

1. To be perfectly honest, I don't care. Sports fans have weird loyalties.

[gregoire]

2. And what about the guy that knew about the abuse for 25 years?

He admitted to it in public that he knew Sandusky was doing it and that it was continuing. He did nothing to stop it and waited until Sandusky was convicted before talking in public. He could have stopped this abuse 25 years ago, but instead decided not to. He doomed a dozen+ children to this fate. Of course I'm talking about Matt Sandusky.

[Omaha Steve]

6. He did break the law that required him to report to the police

Could he also be charged as an accessory to the crime?

http://www.criminal-law-lawyer-source.com/terms/accessory.html

An accessory to a crime is any individual who knowingly and voluntarily participates in the commission of a crime. An accessory is not typically present at the scene of the crime, but contributes to the success of the crime before or after the fact. A person charged as an accessory to a crime before the fact is one who incites, abets, or aids a person in the commission of a criminal act. An individual who is an accessory after the fact receives, shelters, comforts, relieves, or assists a felon after the crime has been committed. A person can be an accessory if they provide any support or assistance, whether financially, emotionally, or factually.

By law, an accessory can be held as liable as the principle actor who carries out the criminal act. If a person is an accessory to a felony crime, they too can be charged with committing a felony offense and subject to penalties accordingly. However, there may be different penalties for being an accessory versus a principle actor in a crime. Federal law states that a person who is convicted of an accessory crime shall be subject to a penalty that does not exceed half of the maximum incarceration or fine for the principle act of the crime. If the principle crime is punishable by death, the accessory to the crime will not be imprisoned for more than fifteen years. These provisions are subject to exceptions as made by the federal government. State accessory laws may be similar to federal laws.

Accessory crimes and punishments are subject to the laws applicable to state or federal laws depending on the criminal offense. Some states accessory laws echo common law definitions of an accessory crime. Common law considers an accessory as guilty as the principle player(s) in a crime. Many states today, however, make a distinction between the severity of an accessory crime after the fact and the principle criminal act.

An accessory after the fact is an individual who knowingly shelters or aids a criminal after they commit a crime. The accessory does so in order to help the felon evade arrest or criminal prosecution. In some states the crime of being an accessory after the fact is considered less severe than the actual crime that was committed. Even in states with this distinction, an accessory can still be held just as liable for the criminal act as the perpetrator. Some states have provisions which do not consider a criminal's spouse an accessory after the fact if they receive or comfort their spouse after a criminal act.

More at link.

[gregoire]

7. Thank you for that, Matt Sandusky is a criminal

He deserves time in prison. He knew first-hand that this was happening, and he went out of his way to keep from stopping it.

[a kennedy]

3. Yah, kick em outta the Big Ten so the Big Ten can be the Big Ten again.

I think it's now the Big 10/12 isn't it?? http://www.bigten.org/ and I count 12 schools. Now, who else can we kick off the list.

[gregoire]

4. I'm not quite sure what a big ten is...

but it sounds like something that conservative Sandusky would like.

[a kennedy]

5. ha ha ha.....

It's the college conference that mostly has midwest schools in it...... or am I missing your point.

[madinmaryland]

9. We gotta get rid of Nebraska so that we can be the BIG TEN again. And Jim Tressel got fired

for helping his guys get free tattoos.

[russspeakeasy]

10. The cornhuskers and penn state "get out of the big 10 !

[elfin]

13. YES! Neither "belong"

The big ten began its ruin with letting in PS, notwithstanding the Sandusky Shame. Now Neb. Has split the schedule into two entities. The Rose Bowl lost its original meaning a few years ago.

This whole nat'l championship bowl playoff system is horrible and speeding the doom of real college football. On the skids already - just pay them already as semi-pros and quit the flimsy facade that they are academics.

However much I disliked JoePa, even before Sandusky, I do really like Brady Hoke and hope he has some influence in turning things around.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

20. College football isn't on a decline.

And the ratings prove that. NCAA basketball and Baseball both have a playoff and they're doing fine, its what most people want.


Stop being over dramatic.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

11. Good idea.

Get rid of the college football powerhouse that just drastically raised the value of your conference.

[IADEMO2004]

12. NU came to Big Ten for the money not with the money

[Omaha Steve]

15. The BIG 10 did it for the conference football championship that requires 12 teams (4 the $)

Each school voted yes to add NU for the money.

This was about child abuse.

[IADEMO2004]

17. It's all about the money. Protect the money is job #1

[russspeakeasy]

18. It is always about the money....

[ForgoTheConsequence]

19. Uh huh.

And the Big 10 wouldn't have had them unless they had something in it for them.

[Junkdrawer]

8. Penn State needs a time out...

Football needs to be put in prospective and a season or two of no football would do that university a world of good.

[FarCenter]

14. They should all join the conference that University of Chicago is in.

[spartan61]

16. NO, PSU shouldn't be in the Big 10.

I said this when they became # 11 and now with Nebraska, there are 12 schools in the Big "Ten." I liked it so much better when there were 10 schools. Of course, being an alumni of one of the 10 schools, I am a wee bit biased.