SPT 510 Report: Societal Impact of Penn State Child Sex Abuse Scandal

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the child sex abuse scandal at Pennsylvania State University involving Jerry Sandusky. It explores the overview of the case, the societal perception, the impact on Penn State and the surrounding community, and the response from authorities. The scandal, which involved allegations of abuse spanning over a decade, significantly damaged the university's reputation, leading to financial losses, leadership changes, and a loss of trust from students and parents. The report also delves into the ideological and political factors affected by the event, as well as the measures taken by the university to rebuild its image and prevent future occurrences. It references the role of key figures like Joe Paterno and the implemented child protection policies, and concludes with recommendations for Penn State to regain its standing in society.

Running head - REPORT
Report
Child Sex Abuse – Pennsylvania State University
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author’s Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
Discussion............................................................................................................................2
Overview of the case.......................................................................................................2
Perception of the society..................................................................................................3
Impact of the event on Penn State and the surrounding..................................................4
Response regarding the event from the authorities..........................................................5
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................6
References............................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
The Pennsylvania State University, also commonly known as Penn State has been among
ranked as one of the best state-related and doctoral university in the U.S. The university have
produced some of the most excellent students of the state that are placed in various achievable
sectors across the country. The state university has also created some of the most exceptional
sportsmen that has earned the good name of the university. The university motto has been set as
making life better for the student (psu.edu, 2019). However, it did change the presence of some
students when it came to light about a child sex scandal in 2011. The following report discusses a
case study of child sex abuse that was reported against an associate coach. The story consists of
an overview of the case, its impact on the society, social perception and the organisational
response.
Discussion
Overview of the case
The Pennsylvania State University Child Sex Abuse scandal was a child abuse sex
scandal that was reported against Jerry Sandusky who was appointed as an assistant coach at the
Penn State Nittany Lions football team. It was found that Sandusky has been abusing children
over the last 15 years through a charitable organisation named The Second Mile that was
founded by Sandusky himself in the year 1977. The scandal was heightened in November of
2011 claiming that Sandusky has molested more than 52 children. However, it is estimated that
the molestation began in the early 1970s. There has been a hunch that the university president
Graham Spanier, vice president Gary Schultz and athletic director Tim Curley knew about the
incidents but failed to report it. Total of 52 charges were filed against Sandusky out of which

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four were dropped initially. Sandusky was convicted on June 22, 2012, for 30 to 60 years of
imprisonment (theguardian, 2015).
The university suffered massive loss after the incited came into light. Many officials were
held responsible for knowing about the on-going child abuses. Investigations led by the local
police and FBI have changed the lives of many teachers and employees of Penn State. The
NCAA has done heavy penalisation. The reputation the university had since its dawn have been
soiled down after the sex scandal. Parents are afraid to put their ward in the university for the
newly acquired reputation they have held fear inside every parent around the state (Weatherred,
2015).
Perception of society
Pennsylvania State University has been on the list of best state universities in the country.
It has a huge name around the community. People are amazed by the motto of the university as it
has been changing the lives of many students since its dawn. The university has 19
Commonwealth and five unique mission campus listed under its name around the state,
spreading excellence education in each of the colleges (Ketchen, Snow & Pope, 2015). Penn
State has been listed as a Public Ivies, that has been funded publicly, and the university is
compared with many Ivy League too. The university administers $3.62 billion as its funds and
endowment. The research expenditures of the university have been estimated a total of $836
million. For the betterment of society and raise funds, the university holds Penn State
IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) that increases a record of $13.3 million (Adams,
2018).

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After the child abuse scandal, the university has faced many criticisms from many
authorities and investors as well. The event has shaken the cultural norms that Penn State has
maintained throughout the years. After the incident, NCAA has pressurised the university and
have implemented the massive amount of penalties on the university. Students have seen the
university as a mode to achieve their goals with such inequalities. However, the recent turn of
events has raised questions regarding the regulations that the university have been circulating
(Abel et al., 2018).
Impact of the event on Penn State and the surrounding
Officials at the board of members have announced that there would not be any spending
of tax and tuition money related to the sex scandal case. The university has been drawing salary
from the interest collected from the investments. Soon after four months of the fact, Penn State
has paid more than 7.5 million dollar as legal fees for the incident. It has also been managing
crisis communications and bearing other expenditures related to the child abuse scandal. Penn
State has been paying as high of $5 million as high and $1.6 million as low to the victims of
Sandusky scandal case (Holland, 2015).
Lawsuits are one of the factors that have charged on Penn State regarding the scandal
have been the primary cause for such high expenditures (Huge & Glynn, 2015). However, if any
of the officials at the board of members are found guilty of knowing the allegations and have
kept is in the shadows, then that would lead Penn State in big trouble. The insurance companies
would not pay back in such cases. Since the legendary coach Joe Paterno was fired by the
authorities, it was set back for the university. The victims were paid again a handsome amount of
money which is also a factor for such high expenses that the university have been bearing (Eury
et al., 2018).

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Ideological aspects can be listed as one of the factors which have changed the
surrounding of the society at Pennsylvania after the scandal. Ideologies like fascism, socialism,
humanism have been affected by the event took place. The students have been the effect on a
large scale basis, and fear has been implanted inside them. Students would be afraid to interact
with their associates and teachers after such an event. A student who used to see Sandusky as
their ideal in the field of sport is currently thieving against him. Joe Paterno was a legend around
the campus. His banishment came out as a big blow to the athletics. Political factor has also been
a reason for the change in society. The president has commented on the case as it came to a
shock as such an unbelievable event occurring in Penn State (Stripling, 2017).
After the incident, Penn State has gone under several changes. The university has taken
the task seriously to promote its public campaigns to gain the trust of the people again. The
university has separated himself from their idolised figure Joe Paterno. It has appointed new
coaches for their Nittany Lions football team. The university has set a strategy on
communication at every level possible. It has established it as their former facilities to conduct
feedback from every student regarding the behavioural aspects of the teachers and other
authorities (Hamilton, 2017).
The culture of Pennsylvania State University has been on trials after the occurrence of the
scandal. The grand jury report stated that the response from administration sat on the ground of
disturbing allegations. A statement from the state police commissioner said that the case is not
only about football or the reputation of the university, but it has also exploited the innocence of
the children and the culture that revolves around the university did nothing to prevent it from
happening. Another statement from a professor stated that the university has a culture of

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portraying itself as a prime institute but not resolving its issues inside the management (Nichols
& Cunningham, 2017).
Response regarding the event from the authorities
After the incident took place, the board of members of Penn State University fired their
legendary head coach Joe Paterno and president Graham Spanier, four days after the conviction
of Sandusky. Tim Curley, who was the athletic director and vice president Gary Schultz resigned
from their posts. They have been accused form perjury and the felony of not reporting the
suspect to police authorities (John & Miller, 2019).
Mike McQueary has played a vital role in the conviction of Sandusky. The then graduate
reported to that grand jury that he saw Sandusky molesting some boys in the locker room. The
child protection policy helped the university in solving the sex scandal issue. The primary
purpose of the system was to guide the university employees, volunteers and associates regarding
the Pennsylvania Child Protection Service Law. It clearly stated the boundaries of involvement
of the teachers and professors with the students (The Pennsylvania State University, 2013).
Some recommendation can be drawn to help Penn State University rebuild its lost image
and reputation in society. After the incident, scholarships of many aspirants were cancelled by
the NCAA. The university should look forward to getting back those scholarships on a previous
list. NCAA fines also should be paid as soon as possible. To rebuild the reputation, the university
should develop a more integrated system to sustain the approaches for communication. Penn
State should also provide a plan of action that would include probation that is self-orchestrated
for a more extended period (Triangle, 2014).

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Conclusion
Thus, the report can be concluded with the insight of child sex abuses. The report
provides a brief overview of the case, its impact on the society and well as the reputation of Penn
State University. It also discusses the perception that was developed in the organisation after the
incident came up in front. The impact of the conflict has changed the sociocultural norms of the
organization and also have taken a toll on the economic status of the university. However, the
university is slowly gaining its pace on regaining its image and reputation.
References
Abel, G. G., Jordan, A., Harlow, N., & Hsu, Y. S. (2018). Preventing child sexual abuse:
screening for hidden child molesters seeking jobs in organizations that care for
children. Sexual Abuse, 1079063218793634.
Adams, K. J. (2018). Heroes and Villains: A Cultural Analysis of the 2011 Penn State
Football Child Abuse Scandal.
Eury, J. L., Kreiner, G. E., Treviño, L. K., & Gioia, D. A. (2018). The past is not dead:
Legacy identification and alumni ambivalence in the wake of the Sandusky
scandal at Penn State. Academy of Management Journal, 61(3), 826-856.
Hamilton, M. A. (2017). The barriers to a national inquiry into child sexual abuse in the
United States. Child abuse & neglect, 74, 107-110.
Holland, A. R. (2015). The Pennsylvania State University child sexual abuse scandal: An
analysis of institutional factors affecting response. Widener University.

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Huge, M. E., & Glynn, C. J. (2015). Perceiving Penn State: The formative role of
interpersonal discussion in third-person perceptions in the wake of a sexual abuse
scandal. Communication Research, 42(7), 922-938.
John W. Miller, D. (2019). Child Sex-Abuse Case Rocks Penn State. Retrieved from
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203733504577022481746095636
Ketchen Jr, D. J., Snow, C. C., & Pope, A. W. (2015). Flawed by design: Why Penn
State's recent governance reforms won’t work and what should be done
instead. Business Horizons, 58(1), 5-15.
Nichols, A. H., & Cunningham, E. L. (2017). Protecting the Pride: The Penn State Jerry
Sandusky Child Sex-Abuse Scandal. In Scandals in College Sports (pp. 187-204).
Routledge.
psu.edu, h. (2019). PSU Homepage | Penn State University. Retrieved from
https://www.psu.edu/
Stripling, J. (2017). Seeking closure in verdict, Penn State finds more discord. Chronicle
of Higher Education.
The Pennsylvania State University. (2013). Reporting Suspected Child Abuse | Penn
State Policies. Retrieved from https://policy.psu.edu/policies/ad72
theguardian.com/us-news/penn-state-sexual-abuse-scandal, h. (2015). Penn State sexual
abuse scandal | US news | The Guardian. Retrieved from
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/penn-state-sexual-abuse-scandal

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Triangle, A. (2014). How can Penn State University rebuild its brand after Sandusky? |
Triangle AMA. Retrieved from http://www.amatriangle.org/how-can-penn-state-
university-rebuild-its-brand-after-sandusky/
Weatherred, J. L. (2015). Child sexual abuse and the media: A literature review. Journal
of child sexual abuse, 24(1), 16-34.