The Pennsylvania Sexual Assault Scandal, the Second Mile Foundation, and Penn State

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The Pennsylvania Sexual Assault Scandal, the Second Mile Foundation, and Penn State

By Michael Collins


Trauma and Recovery

The current focus on Pennsylvania State University, its football program, and former coach Joe Paterno will be replaced by a more pervasive sexual assault scandal in the coming days and weeks. At-risk children and their often disadvantaged single parents were delivered up to a relentless sexual predator with exhibitionist tendencies as described in the findings of a special Commonwealth of Pennsylvania grand jury.

The relentless deviant, former PSU defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, is accused of sexually assaulting children for years. According to the grand jury, he gained easy access to children and early adolescents through a foundation he founded in 1977, the Second Mile Foundation. He continued the assaults at his home and in the PSU showers on at least one occasion. The foundation serves over 100,000 at-risk youth. Sandusky started the foundation as a group home for "troubled boys" in 1977. Since hiring Jack Raykovitz, PhD, a licensed psychologist, as president, the foundation has grown into a multimillion enterprise serving over 100,000 children throughout the state.

What about Victims 1 through 8 (and more)?

We have no way of knowing the level of help received by the reported Sandusky victims reviewed by the statewide grand jury. Any delay to much needed evaluation and treatment is a true shame.

There is a wealth of data concerning the mid and long term impact of adult sexual assaults on children. In summary, victims of childhood sexual abuse have a much higher incidence of depression (major depression, dysthymia), anxiety disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance related disorders. Bipolar youth are more likely to have their first mood episode earlier as a result of sexual assault as are youth with schizophrenia.

Long term problems trusting any authority (Judith Herman, MD) are common if the assailant is a trusted individual, as Sandusky was at the start of his alleged abusive relationships.

Link: http://www.apj.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3846&Itemid=2

[RagAss]

1. Evil Personified. Even Dante could not conceive of this.

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5. It baffles nearly everyone

That's one reason that I used the Herman quote. It is simply unbelievable and seems that way even when the evidence is there. Nevertheless,
there is a responsibility to stop abuse when it's suspected or known, regardless of the trouble digesting it. Mike McQueary's reaction to the
2002 incident was typical but he paused too long and failed to take direct action to stop it, e.g., "Take your hands off that kid." It's a
shame all the way around, especially for the victim whose abuse continued after it was seen.

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30. Look what happens when you Google "second mile foundatoin" ?

"second mile foundation"

At this time, the full story at OpEdNews and the this DU post are at number 4 and 5 on the first page. :)

[Fumesucker]

2. I can vouch for the truth of this part at least..

Long term problems trusting any authority (Judith Herman, MD) are common if the assailant is a trusted individual,

I was molested at thirteen by someone I had been raised to call "uncle" (not an actual relative).

To this day, over forty years later I'm highly suspicious of all authority.

Thanks for posting this, I learned something about myself.

[autorank]

6. Thanks for making that important connection!!!

I'm really glad you took something very important from the Herman quote and the rest of it. Her book is terrific.

I'm sure it helps others to see what you said.

One thing stories like this do is activate old trauma, aggravate old wounds. It an happen so quickly, the individual isn't even
aware of it. Awareness is a key ingredient.

This one will get uglier in the power abuse department. When I first read about that foundation I thought, damn, makes perfect sense.

[Fumesucker]

7. The distrust becomes self reinforcing..

The more you distrust authority the easier it becomes to see authorities abusing their power, even if they're really not.

I think this is going to end up a cesspool the depth of which has seldom been seen and it wouldn't surprise me at all if it eventually spreads to other schools, the adulation in young boys for these people is not healthy IMO and it's going to be exploited by those who want to rape young boys.

[coalition_unwilling]

14. When I was 14, I witnessed a child sexual assault take place by a trusted authority figure and

said and did nothing (to my everlasting shame and regret). The perpetrator was subsequently exposed and fired from the school in disgrace after I had graduated. I have subsequently (prior to the PSU scandal) apologized to the victim for my failure to speak up at the time. In my own defense, I barely understood what I was witnessing at the time, but I still had an obligation to speak up b/c I knew something was wrong.

So I can personally attest to the accuracy of your point that stories like this activate old traumas and aggravate old wounds.

[renate]

22. I think perpetrators *count* on young kids' being unable to process what is going on

He (or she?) knew perfectly well that you would be as reluctant to tell on an authority as his victim was. You were manipulated, too, in a way.

I understand how you, as an adult, would feel "shame and regret," but you were just a child at the time--relatively powerless, and only just beginning to understand that authority figures are flawed. You were forced to deal with a situation with a child's capabilities, not the adult awareness that you have now. It's not fair that you've also suffered because of the crime you saw. :hug:

[coalition_unwilling]

25. An entire highschool concert band (60+ members) sat around

and watched it go down and no one said anything. It was not until years later that I realized just what it was I had seen that day. I subsequently verified that it had happened the way I remembered with another member of the brass section, so I know I wasn't imagining things. But I think you have perfectly captured the reality as I understand it now. However, I think I knew something really awful was going down in front of me at the time, but still couldn't summon the presence of mind to speak up.

Now I'm repeating myself to no useful purpose, so I'll shut up.

Thanks for listening. I've read your posts in other threads and find your insight is incredibly powerful.

[Junkdrawer]

3. IF Sandusky provided victims for wealthy and powerful men, did he get protection....

in exchange? Is this part of how he was able to operate so long with so many knowing what was going on?

And, since that protection is now gone and Sandusky now has nothing to lose, will he talk? Will he run (he's out on a mere 100K bond)? Will he be "Suicided"?

[Fumesucker]

8. He.didn't.even.make.the.bond.

It didn't cost him a red cent to get out of jail.

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10. I believe so to question one and damn fine point on point two

Here's what struck me hardest about this entire story. Sandusky was raping a 10/11 year old in the PSU showers, the athletic department.
He was involved in sadistic, exhibitionist behavior. That's a pretty bold setting even with those characteristics. So why was he
unplugged, so to speak, confident enough that he could act with impunity. Tke reckless acts indicate that he thought he had total
impgnity...and he did. If we make the assumption that his protection was his vast knowledge of the well heeled deviates, then there you
go.

I thought about him talking after I published this and asked the same question. He's a nihilist with no respect for anything (the showers
prove this). He has no loyalty. Look how he compromised Paterno. So why now tear down the pillars and expose everybody.

Sandusky is at real risk for what he did in any holding facility or prison. Will he talk before he's assaulted?

[Junkdrawer]

18. The man continued to operate as a PEDOPHILE, with authorities in the know, for 14 years....

at least.

I don't think the power of college football is sufficient explanation.

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31. It doesn't come close

Sandusky acted like he was beyond any sanction and he was for a long time.

They tried to get rid of him but he forced himself on the university with powers far beyond those that Paterno or even the university
president could access, I suspect.

This will be an amazing and highly instructive story on the corruption of power by the very sick and very powerful.

[lunatica]

4. Victims of sexual molestation tend to blame themselves

The person assaulting the child will tell them that they made the sexual abuser do it by being so cute or whatever. It takes a very long time, if ever to realize that's not true. Even a person's parents who don't know what's happened can contribute to the feelings of guilt by saying something about protecting themselves after the molestation has happened. It's terrible.

I was six years old when I was molested.

One day I realized I had spent my entire life judging myself harshly over something that happened when I was six years old. It occurred to me that I would never in a million years blame a six year old for being molested by an adult man. It literally changed my life. I actually forgave that six year old who I had blamed unwittingly and unconsciously all my life.

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11. That's an extremely powerful, consice statement

One of the clearest and most positive messages I've seen on DU or any forum, period. You didn't use a word more than needed and the words
that you used were perfect for the lesson. Thank you!

[coalition_unwilling]

15. That is some story. I hope you will consider making it an OP of its

own and elaborating on the themes.

Thank you. Must run to wipe my eyes.

[TBF]

9. Excellent article - I especially like your summarizing sentence

"The focus needs to shift to immediate identification and help for all victims and prompt investigation and prosecution of perpetrators."

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29. Thank you!

It's time to act.

The university floated Tom Ridges name and got their ass handed to them. They'd better pick the right person or there will be
some serious repercussions in short order.

The next president of Penn State - now that Graham Spanier has resigned - can't be another deal-maker.

He or she needs to be, pardon my language, a total ass-kicker, someone who will cast the money changers out of this former temple of college football.

Tom Ridge, the former governor of the Keystone State, was floated as a pick in news reports yesterday.

He would be the worst person you could think of to clean up the mess at Penn State, and so would anyone else who fits his profile.

Ridge is the guy who most recently has been pocketing $75,000 a month to tell you that the fracking gold rush pillaging its way across rural Pennsylvania is good for your environment, and to pay no attention to that man lighting his tap water on fire.

http://articles.philly.com/2011-11-10/news/30382366_1_joe-paterno-penn-state-new-psu

I don't know who they will get but thank God Ridge is out of the picture.

[cayanne]

12. It's not sexual assault

It is child rape!

[evrstrong]

27. ...and he's not a pedophile...

he's a low down dirty skinner!

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13. Sandusky says it's all lies

Friday evening Anderson Cooper interviewed local media in Centre County, home of Penn State. Sandusky is saying, through his lawyers, that
the charges in the grand jury findings are ALL false and that he looks forward to defending himself in court.

If that's the way they're going to play it, attack the victims, then all Hell will rain down upon their heads. With the exception of PSU,
there is universal disdain for Sandusky and the whole affair and, more importantly, demands for justice (and this is onthe sports blogs!). I'm
sure the PSU students who held vigil for Sandusky Friday night will experience a profound betrayal as this is sorted out.

Pennsylvania is home of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF), a 90's organization of accused child abusers and the academics who supported
them. The group lost credibility (despite MSM attempts to bolster it) but I'm sure that there are some of the old crew around to give
false hope to Sandusky or his lawyers. The darling of the FMSF expert witnesses against victim claims for damages due to sexual abuse, Elizabeth
Loftus, PhD (a forensic psychologist) was utterly blown away when she tried to offer a false memory excuse for Scooter LIbby. Patrick
Fitzgerald buried her so badly, the federal judge would not allow Loftus to testify as a witness. Loftus has barely been seen since.

[freedom fighter jh]

17. False memory syndrome!

Sounds like an easy way to neutralize an accusation about anything!

[Patiod]

19. I'm all for "innocent until proven guilty"

but I wouldn't bet on Sandusky, that's for sure. Once everything is out in the open, I bet we're going to find out it's way worse than anyone thinks - lots more kids over many more years.

But as for false memories, there certainly are such things. What about the McMartin Preschool Case? Nothing there, as it turned out, EXCEPT false memories. I remember a lot of similar cases in the 80's where people "remembered" satanic rituals, eating babies, etc, etc. A young man "remembered" being abused by Cardinal Bernardin of Chicago, but then later recanted (no one else had ever accused Bernardin of anything similar).

So accepting all memories as true can be just as dangerous as accepting none of them.

So that's why, when things are working right, people report suspicions or memories of abuse to the authorities, the accusations are investigated, and then charges are brought if they are substantiated or not brought if they're not.

The Penn State administration clearly screwed up step #1.

[freedom fighter jh]

23. Yes, false memories do happen.

At the same time, though, screaming "false memory" sounds like an all-purpose lie.

I guess it's not always easy to get at the truth.

[fishwax]

21. "the PSU students who held vigil for Sandusky Friday night"

I have not heard of any students who did that. There was a large candle-light vigil for the victims on Friday night, and a large group of students protesting the firing of Paterno (not Sandusky) earlier in the week, though.

Regarding attacking the victim, it's already started. I saw a quote from Sandusky's attorney that said the charges were a result basically of troubled, low-income kids acting out :puke: :grr: :nuke:

[autorank]

34. Attacking victims can work, has worked

But it's the wrong time to do that, just like it is the ery worsttime to be a wealthy perv going after young boys.

These lawyers re falling back on their old tricks. They'll be spectacularly unsuccessful.

[Patiod]

26. 10,000 students held a vigil for the victims, not for Sandusky - big difference

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/12/us-usa-crime-coach-vigil-idUSTRE7AB05H20111112

Then today, students and other fans normally wear white to Penn State games; they were asked to wear blue today in support of Sandusky's victims. I don't know if you saw the news coverage, but the stadium was a sea of almost solid blue. People have listened and learned.

There were a lot of knuckleheads rioting earlier this week. But plenty of other young people were horrified, and were NOT supporting any of the abusers or the enablers.

I went there, my friends went there, and now their kids are going there. Like any other university, the student body is a mixed bag: liberals, conservatives, moderates, dunderheads and great kids (Last year alone, the students raised $9.5 million for a fund for the families of kids with cancer - the largest student philanthropy in the world).

I understand everyone's anger (and I cheered John Stewart's righteous and well-deserved tirade a few nights ago). But I've seen so much vitriol on DU this week spilling over into a condemnation of the whole university. The good kids who are studying up there are not to blame for this. Coaches (including Paterno) and administrators who are totally focused on big-bucks sports and protecting "the brand" ARE to blame.

[freedom fighter jh]

16. Rape seems to be a power thing.

When you hear about these things, sometimes it seems like these guys are trying to scream "I'm doing this because I *can*. I'm so powerful that I can get away with violating society's most basic rules. I'm so important that I don't have to stop to think about a child's feelings." It seems Sandusky was almost right: He got away with it for a long time.

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33. You're right on that

Perpetrators don't stop to think, at any depth and with any degree of perspective. That would deny them what they crave.

[Liberal_in_LA]

20. Second mile foundation donations are down...no shit..they should drop to $0

Scandal Exacts Toll on Second Mile Donations .

The charity associated with the Pennsylvania State University sex-abuse scandal, Second Mile, is coming under fire from donors and state lawmakers.

A major donor is pulling back support, and a state senator is calling for the charity's chief executive to step down as well as raising questions about consulting fees paid to the founder, who is accused of sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year period.

wall street article - forgot to copy the link. google it.

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32. Good one, here's the link

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203537304577032451854683634.html

[mzteris]

24. I think every adult associated with this

"association" - and coverup - should be thoroughly investigated for possible involvement in child sexual abuse as well.

edit typo

[autorank]

28. Agreed!

Kids are reluctant to report these events and often threatened should they do so.

Responsible adults are the only line of defense.

How hard is it to figure out that a child being raped needs help, the case of the 2002 shower ape witnessed by McQueary?

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35. Let justice be done swiftly

I see the Sandusky lawyers are starting up the same nonsense that perpetrators have used so extensively in the past - the victims are
recanting. That will change to the victims have false memories. Then we'll hear that the victims were at fault.

There are a few problems with this. It's been heard before and we know it's crap. The grand jury and Pennsylvania AG's office were so
convinced they are diving into the hornets nest. Also, people are sick and tired of those with privilege taking gross advantage of it.