After thousands of Penn State students took to the streets Wednesday night in reaction to football coach Joe Paterno’s firing, damaging street lights and tipping over a news van, the sister of one of the alleged victims in the scandal that led to his ouster expressed disgust at their behavior.
“If there was any pride left at PSU, it’s gone now,” the sister -- currently a junior at Penn State -- told the Patriot-News.
She said she was frustrated that students are focusing on football instead of on the boys allegedly sexually abused by the football team’s former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky.
Sandusky has been charged with abusing eight young boys between 1994 and 2009.
Read: Shocking details from the Penn State grand jury report
Two administrators were charged with perjury and failing to report an alleged incident involving Sandusky in 2002, but Paterno was not implicated in any wrongdoing after a grand jury investigation.
Despite the decision by the board of trustees late Wednesday to remove Paterno, the victim’s sister also told the Patriot-News she had mixed feelings about all of the protests and rallies supporting the man who led the football team for 46 years. Her anger was directed more at university President Graham Spanier, who was also fired Wednesday night.
“Joe, I think, did what he was supposed to do and was focused on the team,” the sister said. “I never blamed him.”
Paterno had already announced that he would be retiring at the end of this season amid criticism of his handling of accusations against Sandusky, but the board decided to remove him immediately instead. The Patriot-News did not identify the alleged victim's sister.
Check out more of HLNtv.com's coverage of the Penn State scandal:
Dr. Drew: This is not a sports story
Sandusky friend: Tough for me to call him a monster
'Devastated' Paterno announces retirement
Calls grow for Penn State's Paterno to quit
Shocking details from the Penn State indictment
Dr. Drew: I'm disgusted by Penn State scandal
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