Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault Unfurl Your Ribbon ~ Together We Can End Sexual Violence!

  The Sandusky Case illustrates well the prevalence of child sexual abuse and the pervasive culture of silence surrounding these crimes.   The American Medical Association refers to sexual abuse as a “silent, violent epidemic.”  The filing of charges against formerPennStateUniversityfootball coach Jerry Sandusky has led to a mass influx of media coverage.  Tragically the ongoing rape and molestation of numerous children, whom Mr. Sandusky accessed through his charity for troubled young boys is now being referred to as a “Sex Scandal.”

It is regrettable that it takes a high profile crime to draw attention to an issue that impacts thousands of children each day.   Even more tragic is the fact that a coach, in a position of respect and authority, as well as a university with a football legacy are involved and are defying the societal myths about perpetrators of child sexual abuse.

Perpetrators of child sexual abuse gain access to children and use their positions of trust in many instances to be able to abuse and molest without detection.   Perpetrators are skilled at creating a false sense of trust and often continue committing crimes just below the radar.   What makes this case unique, however, is the attention focused on the inaction of many individuals and university officials who could have intervened more than a decade ago to prevent further abuse and address the needs of those who had already been victimized.  Indeed, their silence served as a message condoning the abuse to the perpetrator, the victims, and the community.

Sexual abuse against children, as well as adults is preventable.  Our challenge as a society is to shift the responsibility for these crimes firmly where it belongs, with the offender!   Until we truly step up and speak out against sexual abuse, and hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of their position or status in the community, we cannot truly begin to address the root causes.

The following testimony is taken from the findings of the Investigating Grand Jury:

• The assistant principal at a local high school testified that several students were left alone with Sandusky, who was “clingy” and “needy” when a young man broke off a relationship with him.

We must educate adults about red flags and grooming tactics and give them the tools and confidence to question inappropriate behavior, regardless of criminality. 

• Testifying about the report of rape made to them by a witness, Athletic Director Timothy Curley and Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz characterized the assault as “horsing around” and “inappropriate sexual conduct.”

We must address attitudes that minimize the occurrence and severity of child sexual abuse.  We must challenge those systems that allow these types of abuse to continue. 

• A janitor who witnessed Sandusky performing oral sex on a child told his co-workers what he saw.  When discussing what they should do, the employees voiced concerns that they might lose their jobs for reporting.  The janitor did tell his supervisor, who gave him the choice to report or not.  No report was made by the janitor or his supervisor.

We must actively address real and perceived barriers to disclosure and reporting.  Our institutions and organizations must make it clear that protecting children and doing what is right is more important than reputation and politics.

• Though Pennsylvania’s Attorney General has said that it appears Joe Paterno met his obligations under state law by reporting to his boss, he did not report the suspected abuse to police.  None of the university officials made an attempt to identify the victim and protect him from further abuse.  Paterno has now said that “With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.”

We must instill in our communities that everyone has an obligation to report suspected child sexual abuse to law enforcement.   It is their job to investigate and determine if criminal acts were committed.   Every individual plays a role in preventing child sexual abuse and supporting survivors.

In Indiana, one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18. It is everyone’s responsibility to take action to end sexual violence.

To learn more about sexual violence towards children and to find resources on prevention and response, visit INCASA’s website at www.incasa.org as well as contacting a local rape crisis center in your community.  Find out how you can get involved and make a difference!

To learn more about the Sandusky case:

Investigative Grand Jury Report (Please take care in reading this, as it includes some graphic details that may be triggering.)

CNN Justice–Trustees:  Penn State president removed, Paterno out immediately

CBS News–The Penn State Scandal

The WashingtonPost–Penn State Abuse Scandal and What Parents Can Do

Talking Points from thePennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR)

Anita M. Carpenter, INCASA CEO