News article

As many people already know, the head coach of Penn States football team, Joe Paterno, was recently fired due a child sex-abuse scandal.  The firing of Paterno caused a huge uprising at Penn State.  The students at Penn State were especially upset because many of these students idolized Paterno and saw him as “a major symbol of Penn State.” 

After the news got out that Paterno was being fired right before Penn States last home game students were angry.  Penn State went into a state of chaos.  Students were ripping things down, putting things on fire and even tipping over news vans.  The riots were out of control.  I can only imagine being a student at Penn State during this time.  One of the best parts of college is the school spirit and going to the football games, both of which students at Penn State take very seriously. 

Many people are criticizing the reactions of Penn State students and fans, saying they should focus their attention on the victims, not the football coach.  I agree with them.  There is no debating that what happened to these children was horrible and will stay with them for the rest of their lives but because I am not a student at Penn State I don’t understand how they feel. 

When I first heard about what was going on I immediately called my two best friends, who are freshman at Penn State, to hear what was happening.  They were shocked and overwhelmed.  They expressed to me that they knew what had happened was wrong and awful but they were so upset because football and the coach meant so much to them.  Penn State students have such a strong bond and sense of community that outsiders may not understand.   

I could not image having this happen to a person who I looked so highly at and to something I loved so much.  When you come to a school as a freshman you are so proud of it and what it has accomplished and when something bad happens you cant help but be upset.  All the students at Penn State have just had their college experience altered or changed in someway.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/11/penn-state-scandal-bewilders-outsiders