Injustice for All

Penn State student Marissa Herb attends a
candlelight vigil held in honor of the victims.

Penn State is experiencing a rare, altering event that, well...no person would ever hope their institution ever experiences. As a student, it's been a mind-numbing experience, which I hope no student ever has to experience outside of our realm at The Pennsylvania State University.

Outsiders cast their opinions on us; media, students of other institutions, and families of students all have their opinions on us as a student body. I have but one ounce of wisdom to offer to those who vilify us for our actions...more accurately, for our inaction (those of us who did not riot): Let not 2,000 individual actions define the remaining 93,000 of us who did not react in such a volatile manner.

How many of us could have ever imagined such a travesty as allegations of child rape and molestation would have ever occurred within what we believed to be the safe confines of our campus? And the core of the university which we hold so near and dear, would be shaken so badly as a result? Our campus and the image it once held, raped of its innocence and for now, its integrity.


I was attending a housing conference for Resident Assistants (RAs) at the University Park campus on Saturday November 5. The weather was beautiful, and it was a great day to be in State College. It was a typical fall day; the sun was out, leaves were turning, and the air was crisp. It was a great day to be a Nittany Lion, and to be sharing such a common experience which so many before me had experienced already. I was brimming with pride. In hindsight, what was to follow, I could have never imagined.

A mere month earlier, I was attending Penn State's "All-U Day," in which every Penn State campus in the commonwealth is recognized during halftime. I was one-of-two who received the privilege and honor of walking onto the field of Beaver Stadium for my campus, and carry its banner to be recognized by the 108,000 in attendance. To be not only on the same field, but the same sideline that had been shared by former great players and coaches, was overwhelming.

Two nights ago, I was watching video I had recorded of the pregame when the Nittany Lion runs out onto the field and does his backflips, then pumps up the crowd; followed by the grand entrance of the Blue Band...and I had to think to myself, were any of the events that were about to take place a month later weighing on anybody's mind? Were there any early warnings that stuff was about to hit the fan?

I still sit here; mind numb, and in shaken disbelief.

A legend's name is now tarnished in what might be the biggest scandal to ever soil a university's reputation and the four principles it has ingrained in us to live by. Those principles, while some failed to uphold, will still be upheld by the masses of students, faculty, and future administrators. Because in the end, what are principles? They are thoughts, put into words, and used as a guiding light to keep those who need it on a certain path.

In all of the blame cast around by the media centered primarily on Joe Paterno, and the sorrow and helplessness felt by students, and the poor choices made by a select amount of students. Broader, more important messages were lost. Thousands more students than those who chose to riot, assembled peacefully to recognize and honor not only the victims who suffered and were accosted -- wrongfully robbed of their innocence, but the youth who suffer such travesties on a daily basis, as well.

As of this morning, Penn State alumni and students have also raised $467,000 to RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network), in our effort to raise $500,000 by Thanksgiving Day! And let's not forget about the efforts of students and alumni who devote so much to Penn State's THON, the world's largest student-run philanthropy, to fight pediatric cancer. There truly is so much good that goes unmentioned by the media.

This social injustice is really a world and opinion created by the media and its agenda to draw ratings. The sad fact is, we all buy into it to some degree. In our society, the media plays the parts of judge, jury, and executioner. And I do question if the media's influence ever undermines the integrity of the judicial system.

The reputations of the innocent bystanders who, like those of any college or university, are here for one reason: To enrich lives in hopes of changing the world in what we believe to be  for the better. Faculty and students do not deserve the unjust, unfair labeling we are receiving for the actions of those involved. However, we are merely collateral damage.

I'm not writing this to cast blame on anyone in particular, no more than I am writing this to defend anyone alleged to be involved in a cover-up, other than the victims. They are what should be the focal point of the media. Instead of pointing fingers at who to blame, and what should happen to the perpetrator or the facilitator, we should focus on how to prevent future occurrences, by educating ourselves and others on how to identify and aid those who are in trouble.