“…the fundamental chapter of this horrific story should focus on the innocent children and the powerful people who let them down.”  Ed Ray, Chairman of the NCAA’s executive committee

A months-long coma would have been the only way to have escaped hearing of the tragic events at Penn State.  At first, the sickening realization that former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky sexually abused at least eight underage boys on or near university property.  The deep disappointment in learning an investigation by former FBI director Louis Freeh found school officials, including the school president and vice president, head football coach Joe Paterno, and athletic director had known about the allegations of child abuse as early as 1998, but failed to disclose them.

Now the NCAA has handed down penalties that some say are close to a “death penalty” for the school’s football program including a $60 million fine, four year bowl-ban, loss of some scholarships and withdrawal of wins dating back to 1998.  The statue erected honoring Joe Paterno has been removed by the university.  Sadly ironic, the statue’s inscription reads, “Educator, Coach, Humanitarian.”

These appalling events and revelations have shed light on behaviors most people would rather not examine.  Yet it also creates awareness of deep-seated cultural attitudes and hopefully a willingness to learn more about ourselves, our society and what we value.  If we continue to value power over people, money over individual well-being and the celebrity associated with sports, politics and the entertainment industry, we will continue to fall victim to the reprehensible effects of power, privilege and entitlement.