LANCASTER NEW ERA

Editorial “The Saga that is … Penn State” states “Under legislation introduced earlier this month by two Pennsylvania lawmakers… witnesses of child abuse would be legally obligated to report it to authorities, not merely to supervisor.”

WATCHDOG: What is it about Pennsylvanians and especially Penn State alumnae that they continue to blame Coach Joe Paterno and the University for what ultimately will be seen as a break down in the offices of the Centre County district attorney and the state’s attorney general, then headed by now governor Tom Corbett?

Some readers will recall how Franklin and Marshall security guards, in the presence of its former president John Fry, assaulted and battered reporter Ron Harper who was innocently standing across the road from Fry’s residence on Marietta Avenue. The episode was caught on video until the point that Harper was picked up and thrown to the ground, resulting in long term aggravation of a chronic back problem and long term mental anguish.

As part of its investigation of the powers of the F and M security force, NewsLanc discovered, much to its horror, that the campus security forces have the same powers as the city and township police forces within half a mile of any property owned by the college or university.

In reporting what took place to Penn State security, the accusations were relayed to one of two appropriate police forces and presumably to other authorities. Joe Paterno had done the right thing, passing along precisely what he had been told. Yet Corbett led a lynch mob as a member ex-officio of the Penn State board of trustees to have Paterno fired. Why? Was it to deflect attention?

Here is a theory for why alumnae have acquiesced to the demonizing of Paterno. He had long outstayed his welcome.

The real story is what discussions took place between the Penn State police force and the local district attorney and state authorities. Expect to hear more about this in 2012.