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Subscribe to RSSOne Pennsylvania lawmaker called Tuesday for the federal government to get involved in the sex abuse scandal at Penn State University.
Republican Rep. Patrick Meehan, who represents suburban Philadelphia, sent a letter today asking Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to investigate whether the university sought to cover up alleged sexual abuse of minors by former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
Meehan, a former U.S. Attorney, cites The Clery Act as grounds for the feds to get involved. Passed in 1990 as part of the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, the Clery Act states that “Institutions must publish an annual report disclosing campus security policies and three years worth of selected crime statistics.” It goes on to say, “Institutions must make timely warnings to the campus community about crimes that pose an ongoing threat to students and employees.” Jurisdiction to enforce the law falls to the Department of Education.
"Aside from the charges against individuals -– we need to look at whether a federal law that requires colleges and universities to report crimes on campus was broken," Meehan wrote. "The failure to report the incident in 2002 appears to violate this law and breaks Penn State’s own reporting methods for sexual abuse on campus. Even more upsetting is the fact that had university officials reported this to authorities, additional abuses could have been prevented."
Sandusky has been charged with counts related to the alleged abuse, while the school's athletic director, Tim Curley, has been charged with perjury. But the scandal has grown to prompt calls for the resignation of University President Graham Spanier and possibly legendary head football coach Joe Paterno.
It’s unclear at this time of the Department of Education will take up the matter.
Below is the complete text of the letter sent to Secretary Duncan:
The Honorable Arne Duncan
Secretary of Education
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202November 8, 2011
Dear Secretary Duncan,
I share your sentiment that the allegations of misconduct at Pennsylvania State University are heartbreaking. Given the disturbing nature of these allegations, I am writing to respectfully urge you direct the Department of Education to conduct a full investigation into whether federal law was broken in the failure to properly report allegations of sexual abuse at Penn State.
According to grand jury documents made public over the weekend, a graduate student reported to Penn State football coach Joe Paterno that he witnessed assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually assaulting a minor in the locker room shower in 2002. This report made its way to senior Penn State officials, including Athletic Director Tim Curley, Senior Vice President Gary Schultz, and University President Graham Spanier, though no law enforcement agencies or campus security authorities appear to have been notified. Moreover, in part because the only apparent action taken in response to this allegation was to bar Mr. Sandusky from bringing minor children into the football locker room, serious questions have been raised into the university’s internal response to this matter.
As you know, the Clery Act (20 USC § 1092(f)) requires colleges and universities to prepare, publish and distribute an annual security report in which there is a disclosure of all criminal offenses reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies. University officials are required to report suspected criminal offenses to campus security authorities. Additionally, each institution of higher education is required to develop and distribute a statement of policy regarding the procedures followed once a sex offense has occurred. Clery Act compliance is the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Education.
The failure to report the 2002 allegations would appear to break Penn State’s own reporting methods for sexual abuse on campus. According to the publication “Policies, Safety, & U” at Pennsylvania State University, 2011-2012, the University Police are responsible for compiling the annual report required by 20 USC § 1092(f). The report further states that “this document is prepared by information provided by University Police, local law enforcement agencies surrounding main campus and alternate sites such as, Student Affairs, Residence Life, and the Athletics Department. Each entity provides updated statistical information.”
It is clear that while not all employees have to report crimes to the University Police, under the Clery Act, those who would be considered a “campus security authority” would be required to do so. The grand jury report alleges Sandusky engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a total of 8 boys over a span of years that lasted until 2009. Had the 2002 allegations been properly reported, investigated and disclosed, the later instances of abuse could have been prevented and future victims protected.
Thank you in advance for your timely consideration of this request and your support of a full investigation into possible Clery Act violations at Penn State.
Sincerely,
Patrick Meehan
Member of Congress
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Isn't it a bit odd that the party that says it hates government (the Republicans) always wants the government to solve all the problems?
Only if it involves *whisper*..s e x, there nisl.
Let's get the BS out of the way. Republican Congressman Patrick Meehan calls for an investigation saying this is "heartbreaking". What the hell does a Republican know about having a heart to break?
That said, this is an absolutely awful story. If - and this is the BIG if - the graduate student told Paterno about the assault in its complete graphic truth, Paterno has absolutely no defense. The allegation is too awful for him not to have followed it through.
I would like to know why the graduate assistant didn't stop this incredible attack right then and there. I would like to know the extent of the investigation after Paterno notified his superiors.
What kind of world do we live in that this is just now coming to light? Heads must roll.
It is unimaginable that school officials did not report this to the police. Didn't they learn anything from the scandals in the Catholic Church?
Apparently not.
Republican Rep. Patrick Meehan, who represents suburban Philadelphia, sent a letter today asking Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to investigate whether the university sought to cover up alleged sexual abuse of minors by former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
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Wait, wait Mr. Secretary before taking up this case. Since the GOP are pretty certain they are taking the WH in 2012 and they all despise the Department of Education and have vowed to abolish it, it will be nothing but a waste of tax payer dollars to perform this investigation knowing Penn State might drag their knuckles on this one.
And even if they don't win, the proposed budget cuts will surely need to come out of the investigative unit of the Department.
Stay on talking points GOP people..."THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS A BLOATED BUREAUCRACY THAT DOES THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD NO GOOD WHATSOEVER!!!!!"
The GOP hates government except....when it's convenient and there's a "righteous ring" to it especially for the one calling for the investigation. It seems to me there's already an investigation and that is why 3 people have been arrested. No doubt, there will be further investigation into who knew what and when. This isn't over. Expect the 2 associates caught in the middle for not telling the truth to sing like canaries.
The GOP?RNC want no part of any type of Government on any level. Now these GOP Clowns want the Government to investigate! What a joke! The GOP should have the Koch Brothers invesigate this instead, or they should a for profit investigative corporation to investigate this. The GOP/RNC have no need for Government Regulations, and they hate investigations. No Government is needed to regulate Wall Street. No Government has the right to tax the people, especially those making One Million or more a year. No Government has the right pass Environmental Laws. Only the friends of the Koch Brothers have that right, and these ignorant fools have never read a Science Book of any type. The Government does not need to provide Unemployment Insurance, because that just makes people weaker. The Government does not need a Department Of Educaion. No America! Why should the children be educated?? No way does any individual have the right to negociate their own salaries. In the eyes of the Tea Begger"s?? That is Socialism! The GOP/RNC Clowns in Congress believe in no type of Government Insurance at all. No Economic Safety Nets are needed in a Free Market Economy. That is just Socialism in the demented lack of thinking by the GOP/RNC. Instead, more tax breaks are needed for the very rich. They are hurting ecoomically in the eyes of the GOP/RNC. The Wall Street Bankers do not need any Financial Regulations. The should be allowed to openly gamble away the earned money of others. The American Workers will be given a very low salary, and will be expected to pay higher taxes. No tax breaks are to given to the Middle Class, the Working Poor, the disabled, and the elderly. The "Hoodlum's On The Hill" in the House have made it very clear. No policy that effects their present or future donations/bribes will be tolerated. My fellow citizens. Are you seeing just mentally ill, and very TREASONOUS the GOP/RNC have acted?? I hope so!
This is not a partisan issue. This is people entrusted with the care of children and young adults betraying that trust in the most reprehensible way possible - everyone who had knowledge of Sandusky's actions is as guilty as Sandusky himself. The money involved with college athletics has been out of control for a long time. The Penn State "incident" is nothing but the tip of the corruption iceberg. It is past time to remove the money from college athletic programs. The money professional athletes make later is of NO consequence. Clean up college sports programs!
For once I agree with a GOP lawmaker. This scandal is so horrific, the crimes alleged so sickening that it is worthy of more investigation. Joe Paterno is well loved in the state of Pennsylvania and he and the school might get a pass, just out of loyalty, from the local/state folks. So, in all seriousness, let the feds come in.