How Penn State Students Can Regain Pride After Shocking Fall from Grace

If you have not heard of the Penn State fall from grace over the alleged sex abuse scandal centered around Jerry Sandusky, then you need to check out complete coverage by HLN. For most moral Americans, the shocking news of the Penn State alleged sexual abuse scandal that caused the Penn State fall from grace, immediately focused on sympathy and help for the underage child victims and their families. As the news spread, and we learned that other coaches and administrators knew for over 10 years and did nothing to stop it, moral Americans were in more than disbelief - we were outraged! So, why weren't the Penn State students outraged over more than Joe Paterno being fired?

Unlike the stupidity of Ashton Kutcher for tweeting his protest of Joe Paterno being fired, despite his wife running a charity to stop child slavery, why did Penn State students protest and riot as Joe Paterno was fired? Are they the "stupid" generation of Penn State future grads that were bred to be as morally clueless as their morally empty administrators and coaches? Each day, new facts about this story unfold that brings more shame to the history and pride of Penn State, and more heartbreak to the victims and families who trusted their educators.

I watched an interview that HLN's Vinnie Politan did with some Penn State students, where they declared that they should not be held accountable for something done by Penn State administrators that they had no control over. Only a few hundred Penn State students turned over vehicles during the riot, not the whole Penn State student body. Really? Is that all you have Penn State Students? Come on - what is the slogan? "We Are - Penn State." Well let's see how some of that Penn State student spirit can help you take your university back and regain your pride after your fall from grace.

I am a former high school teacher and once told my Business Law students to have their parents write a letter to the Superintendent in protest of cancelling all field trips except for sports activities. It was a perfectly legal, albeit radical approach to change a policy, but my students were upset that they could not go on our annual field trip to a courthouse to see a real trial. Maybe it is time for the Penn State students to cause radical change in America and save grace.

First: Penn State Students - you DO have control and power! You and/or your parents PAY big money for a service - education and a diploma that gets you a job! It is YOUR University - you are the customer! Without you and your money, there would be NO Penn State, NO football, NO Paterno, and no "We Are - Penn State" Pride! Consult with legal experts to find legal ways to demand that your administrators ignore the waiver for open records act and pressure them into revealing the truth once and for all. Demand that justice be served for ALL who covered up the shameful alleged crime that may ruin your career - merely by association. If you think Paterno is innocent - make them show it in public records! Start a petition and take it to your state legislators to overturn the "silent" treatment your University is using to hide the truth. That will gain you respect from those outside Penn State.

Second: Penn State Students - start a trust fund at a local bank to collect money for the victims and families who will need lifelong counseling as a result of these abusive acts by your educators. Your candle vigil was a start, but you need to gather the power of your We Are - Penn State Pride and turn it into real help for these Penn State victims. Do not allow this shame to tarnish your generation of grads! Take action to let victimized families know that Penn State Coaches showering with young children or students will NEVER be tolerated again!

Third: Delegate a group of Penn State Student Leaders to begin a new program of Students Against Child Abuse that serves as a powerful watchdog group over every action taken by administrators and others who chose to continue to cover up the truth. Request that your student leaders appear on every talk show and get interviews with every journalist to show what you are doing to get to the truth of this scandal.

Penn State students: you do have control and power. Talk to your parents about ways to exercise your control. Talk to legal experts, child abuse experts, law enforcement experts and learn all the ways you can organize to help victims and prevent this from ever happening again. Your University administrators are there to ensure you receive a quality education for the money you pay. Fight for legislation that requires your administrators, coaches, and students to report instances of alleged sexual abuse. Make your voice heard in ways that make a difference.

Penn State Students: you deserve more. This is your time to make a huge difference in the young lives of Americans and to make a statement to all educators that your generation has zero tolerance for this kind of behavior. This is your time to shine rather than hide behind the shame of what others did and say you had no control over it. Make America remember that it was the 2011 Penn State students that changed child abuse in America forever. Step up.