Sandusky Sex-Abuse Conviction Expected to Impose Long Legacy on Penn State

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Lost amidst the cheering about justice being done in the Sandusky case is a conversation about just what went wrong at Penn State that allowed these horrendous crimes to continue long after the University became aware of the problem. The facts, as we know them, are currently clear: An Assistant Coach at Penn State observed misconduct, and reported it to his supervisor (the late Joe Paterno). Paterno, a half-century veteran leader of the University's football program "reported" the matter to the Athletic Department, which did NOTHING. Police were not notified; the University's compliance officer was not notified; and the crimes and abuses continued.

It seems to me that the Ethics and Compliance organizations of NCAA schools, and in fact at all colleges and universities, should follow the basic tenets of the Organizational Sentencing Guidelines, which require that (1) the Chief Ethics Officer report to the President and the governing board of the organization, (2) the organization operate an anonymous reporting hotline, (3) the organization conduct independent reviews and investigations of allegations, and (4) the ethics and compliance organization be periodically assessed by an outside consultant or advisor.  If this structure were in place, activities of the Athletic Department would be under the scrutiny of the University, and all allegations of wrongdoing would be investigated at that level, rather than be "squashed" by the Athletic Department to avoid "killing the golden goose" that is the University Football Program.

Just my opinion...any thoughts?