Students Air Concerns at 1st Penn State Town Hall

Penn State community comes together for student forum about concerns stemming from the child sex abuse scandal that has rocked the campus

In the wake of the child sex abuse scandal that has brought down some of the biggest players in State College, Penn State University held the first of three town halls Wednesday night at Penn State.

The campus and surrounding community came under fire amidst multiple allegations of child sex abuse by former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

Students and high-ranking administrators participated in the town hall forum organized by students at Penn State's main campus in State College.

PSU president Rod Erickson promised the university would raise the visibility of ethics "to a new level" following the scandal, which has rocked the campus.

"So hopefully everyone in the university understands... we learn to do the right thing the first time, every time," Erickson said in opening remarks before an audience of about 450 students and employees at an auditorium in the student union.

Students said the forum, which was broadcast on the school's public television station, will help in the healing process.

Sandusky was charged on Nov. 5 with abusing eight boys, some on campus. A grand jury said the allegations were not immediately brought to the attention of authorities even though high-level people at Penn State apparently knew about at least one of them.

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The scandal has resulted in the departures of school President Graham Spanier and legendary coach Joe Paterno. Athletic Director Tim Curley has been placed on administrative leave, and Vice President Gary Schultz, who was in charge of the university's police department, has stepped down.

Schultz and Curley are charged with lying to the grand jury and failure to report to police, and Sandusky is charged with child sex abuse. All maintain their innocence.

Special Section: Penn State Child Sex Abuse Scandal

Sandusky’s charity for at-risk children, The Second Mile, is also on the hot seat amidst allegations he used the group that he founded to meet some of his victims.


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