News Release
For Immediate Release:  July 12, 2012
Contact:  Diane Gramley  1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355

Freeh Report Exposes Lack of Concern for Sandusky’s Victims

(Harrisburg) — Today the Louis Freeh Special Investigative Counsel released its report on Penn State’s role in the Jerry Sandusky child molestation case listing 120 recommendations in eight areas.  The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) is pleased that the report did not try to whitewash the misdeeds, lack of oversight or culture that allowed the serial molestation of young boys to take place by former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

“There have been problems at Penn State for a long time and this report finally reveals it for the world to see.  Under the leadership of Graham Spanier and the free rein the Board of Trustees gave him, Penn State has been traveling down the wrong road and needs to get back on course.  The culture that was allowed to exist created the scandal, ignored the cries of innocent boys , and hoped to keep it under wraps to protect the school’s reputation.  Additionally, what cannot be ignored is the homosexual connection — all Sandusky’s victims were young boys,” noted Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

On November 7, 2011 the AFA of PA called for the removal of Graham Spanier listing in the news release warnings that others had voiced about his history and issues that have existed in recent years on campus.  The Board of Trustees simply demoted him and he still teaches on campus and has an influence there.  He needs to be removed from his teaching job and banned from campus.

On page 11 of the Freeh Report, it notes that the most important documents in the investigation were the emails between Spanier, Vice-President – Business and Finance Gary Schultz and Athletic Director Tim Curley.   Is there any wonder Spanier is trying so desperately to get his hands on those emails?

“The Penn State scandal is on a smaller scale than the Catholic Church scandal of sexual abuse by priests, but the story line is much the same.  For example in the Sandusky case all the victims were young boys and in the priest scandal the majority of victims were also young boys.  In both situations, both Penn State and the church tried to cover up the abuse to protect its culture,” Gramley further noted.

Gramley pointed out a 2004 survey by John Jay College of Criminal Justice found that, of 10,667 individuals abused by priests between 1950 and 2002, 81 percent were male.

The question is how will Penn State deal with the recommendations and end the culture that has allowed the molestations to go on.

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