T We as grad students who had nothing to do with it go thru mandatory training where we get the legal implications . It's mandated by Penn state ever since it happened
So
One as a person in authority ( complicated definition but as a ta I am one ) we have to report things and it's drilled as a Penn state student in any sort of authority .
Two
We have now a clear definition on what is legally your fault if you're in a position of authority if you don't report you can be prosecuted . And this is what a lot of need to realize Paterno was in a position of authority and if he isn't being prosecuted that's the law .not enough evidence .
1. The mandatory training came after the fact, and to be honest I would not be shocked if this kind of insistence and training is just standard code of conduct stuff.
2. If this is a new thing it happened after the case and honestly should not have needed a case to be implemented.
3. You keep referring to it as you, a TA, but the people involved in this were not TA. They were coaches, coaches kids are supposed to trust. Coaches who are, by football standards, meant to help these kids grow, learn and become better individuals.
4. The cases were around Sandusky's second mile program. The program took place on PSU campus and when people brought stuff forward to appropriate channels it got squashed. Somewhere in the chain of command things would get pushed aside. This is/was a top down institutional issue and endemic of problems with NCAA sports (ignoring problems).
5. Unfortunately the NCAA needs to do something to send a message.
I defended the current crop of coaches and athletes before, but if the death penalty was enacted I would not be totally upset over it. The death penalty will only impact the football program, all other programs should be able to function. Paterno's legacy also needs to be wiped.
And lastly, fuck the B1G Conferences
Why was Sandusky worth protecting? What did he know?
He didn't know anything, but it's a thing of image. Penn State has, for as long as JOEPA been there, had this image of greatness and prestige school. Burying the allegations helps maintain PSU and JoePa's image. If the stuff got out it would make Paterno look bad (it really wouldn't, but cult) and thus could have hurt his recruiting, the school and his legacy.