Things Done In Secret – The Mess at Penn State

The happenings at Penn State are another reminder to us all that things done in secret will be shouted from the housetop (or in this case from every housetop).

Joe Paterno’s handling of the events around his assistant coach are at best disgusting and at worst criminally negligent.  His graduate assistant bears the same responsibility and should be dealt the same set of cards.  Both knew about it and effectively did nothing.  Regardless of how great a coach he was, or how clean of a program he ran, by any measure Paterno’s legacy is forever tarnished (and rightfully so).  I hope that Penn State continue to do the right thing and compensate all of the victims in this sordid affair.

It is humbling to realize that one can work their whole life at something and have it disappear in an instant.  It has happened so often over the last few years that it becomes easy to dismiss.  Tiger Woods, Anthony Weiner, Joe Paterno.  The temptation is to say that these things happen to other people.  The reality is that every decision made every day carries this kind of potential outcome.  Integrity is a minute-by-minute fight to the death.

Question:  Did Penn State do the right thing here?  What else should they do?