Column: Really, Penn State Rioters? ⋆ College Magazine

Just when you thought the media circus surrounding this Penn State disaster was finally dying down, it heated up last night when angry students rioted in downtown State College after Penn State officials announced the firing of Nittany Lion icon Joe Paterno (and President Graham Spanier, though I doubt any students were calling for his reinstatement).

The firings are a result of the scandal surrounding sexual abuse and child molestation charges filed against former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and the ensuing cover-up by Penn State authority figures (and arguably Paterno, though you know my opinion on that matter already).

Student opinion was split on how Penn State should proceed from here, but Paterno supporters voiced their disappointment and anger concerning the loss of their legendary coach loudly and violently last night.

The angry mob, equipped with signs like “WE Heart U JoePa” and “Please Don’t Go Joe!,” vented their frustration by tearing down lampposts, throwing rocks and cans, and even flipping a news van.

“I think the point people are trying to make is the media is responsible for JoePa going down,” Penn State freshman Mike Clark told The New York Times, echoing the common belief that the news media hyperbolized Paterno’s involvement in the scandal.

Police were forced to respond with tear gas and riot gear.

““We got rowdy, and we got maced,” 19-year-old Jeff Heim told the New York Times from personal experience. “But make no mistake, the board started this riot by firing our coach. They tarnished a legend.”

It’s sentiments like these from Penn State students that have brought me to two conclusions:

1.) Joe Paterno was clearly the most important person employed by Penn State, a school whose cultural identity is directly tied into its football team’s storied tradition.

2.) Penn State student rioters seemed to be so blinded by their loyalty to Paterno (which he has justifiably earned over his 62-year career) that they either refused to accept his role in this scandal or they couldn’t look beyond the football aspect of this story.

Here's how I see it: Paterno, upon hearing a report from a witness who claimed to have seen Sandusky engaging in illegal acts with a young boy, told his superiors what he knew, doing the bare minimum amount of work to draw attention to the incident. When nothing was done, everyone just acted like nothing ever happened. Not only did they cover up the incident for over a decade, but they allowed more young boys to be victimized as Sandusky continued his molestation spree.

I honestly don't understand how these rioting students, no matter how much they love Paterno, can look past the fact he is partially responsible for not stopping an alleged child rapist when he had the chance. SportsCenter and ESPN radio host Scott Van Pelt described the rioters as “cult-like” in their misguided support of Paterno. These students (and Ashton Kutcher, who tweeted last night “How could you fire Joe Pa?!”) appear to be either misinformed, under-informed, or just can’t accept the fall of their hero.

Not all Penn State students were rioting last night, however. Some were planning a candlelight vigil to support Sandusky’s eight victims and their families for Friday night and even urging those who can’t attend to change their Facebook profile pictures to them lighting a candle.

This beacon of light in a sea of ignorance provides hope that Penn State will hopefully be able to move on from this fiasco and continue to say, “We are!” with pride.

Photo: Pat Little of Reuters