STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State trustees say they decided to oust Joe Paterno in part because he didn’t meet a moral obligation to do more to alert authorities about a child-sex-abuse allegation against a former assistant coach.
Trustees interviewed Thursday also cited statements from Paterno in the days and hours leading to his dismissal Nov. 9 that they felt challenged the Board of Trustees’ authority. Board members saw that as inappropriate.
The head coach had testified before a state grand jury about a 2002 allegation against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky that was passed on to him by a graduate assistant. Paterno had relayed the accusations to his superiors, one of whom oversaw campus police. Board members didn’t think that was enough.
“There’s an obligation, a moral responsibility, for all adults to watch out for children, either your own or someone else,” trustee Mark Dambly said. “It was in our opinion that Joe Paterno did not meet his moral obligation, and for that reason — me, personally for that reason — I felt he could no longer lead the university, and it was unanimous.” The Associated Press
