Communications

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Communications

The Penn state Scandal dates back to the year 2011 when after reports emerged that Jerry Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator was responsible for sexually assaulting eight boys during a period of 15 years whole working at the university. In addition, it was also alleged that some university officials also aided cover up for the events and providing an environment for continued assault on the young boys. The scandal has had far-reaching effects on the institution.

The report provided by an independent board on investigations by the Penn State University with the support of FBI director Louis Freeh together with his law firm. He noted that Paterno, Spanier, Curley, and the institution’s vice president Gary Schultz were aware of allegations made against Sandusky with regard to incidences of child abuse claims dating back to as far as 1998. The report also noted that the institution’s management was complicit in its failure to provide adequate disclosures on these incidences. Freeh also noted that the management and leaders at the university aided and empowered Sandusky to continue with his abusive behavior (Moushey and Dvorchak 27).

In the year 2012, the NCAA punished the university through its football program that was inclusive of a $60million fine, vacation of all prior victories dating back to 1998-2011 and a four-year ban on football activity. The punishments may be termed as unfair given that a large number of honest and high integrity students and workers were subjected to losses associated with the fines and discontinued support for the football program. In addition, investigations in 2013 included the need to establish if the institution had adhered to legal provisions in reporting abuse of students in the institution.

The scandal has affected the institution’s image in society given that the scandal has been associated with incompetence and unethical standards of instruction and operation at the university. Media is one of the main avenues and tools that were used to highlight the scandal to the American population. The institution may redeem its image in the public domain through positive media campaigns to provide a transition from its disastrous past into a new era. Fostering security, installation of human resources information systems and improving the ethical standards adopted at the institution could enable a transition into an acceptable culture within the school.

Creating awareness on the importance of ethical conduct in the institution with the support of media entities such as ESPN, the NCAA and the PSU board would provide avenues to redeem the schools image in the public domain. In addition, new positive initiatives can also be established such as the use of famous personalities who were Penn State alumni with an aim of reestablishing lost glory and reaffirming the values of the university in terms of high ethical conduct and nurturing talent for the greater good of the American society (Prato 43).

Activism in the university should be launched with an aim of sensitizing the students and including them in the efforts to redeem the institutions’ credibility in the public as well as enhancing the understanding of ethics and sexual abuse in the modern institutions. In addition, this would also provide students and the public with avenues to gain skills and knowledge on issues and signs of sexual abuse. In addition, this would ensure that the institution engages in active discussions on the sexual abuse scandal and the procedural lapses by the management that resulted in abetting the behavior exhibited by Sandusky before his arraignment in a court of law. Furthermore, this would ensure a collective approach in moving to the council to drop the suspension to provide other talented and dedicated students with an avenue to engage in football, which is an important activity for physical, social, and educational development of students.

Works Cited

Moushey, Bill, and Robert J. Dvorchak. Game Over: Jerry Sandusky, Penn State, and the Culture of Silence. New York, NY: William Morrow, 2012. Print.

Prato, Lou. We Are Penn State: The Remarkable Journey of the 2012 Nittany Lions. Chicago, Illinois: Triumph Books LLC, 2013. Print.