Alleged Jerry Sandusky victim leaves school because of bullying, counselor says

[Are_grits_groceries]

Victim One, the first known alleged victim of abuse by former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky, had to leave his school in the middle of his senior year because of bullying, his counselor said Sunday.

Officials at Central Mountain High School in Clinton County weren’t providing guidance for fellow students, who were reacting badly about Joe Paterno’s firing and blaming the 17-year-old, said Mike Gillum, the psychologist helping his family. Those officials were unavailable for comment this weekend.

The name-calling and verbal threats were just too much, he said.

Other alleged victims are turning to each other for support, since they fear others will out them and cause a media swarm. The only encouragement for Victim One, Gillum said, is watching other alleged victims come forward because they felt empowered by his courage.

“He feels good about that,” Gillum said. “That’s the one good that’s come of all this.” 

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/11/alleged_jerry_sandusky_victim.html

And the beat goes on...

It never stops because people don't want to talk about it and face it. The story is considered old news. It couldn't be more important right now. We won't hear about it again nationally unless PSU, the FB program, or 'important' people are affected.

BTW I think PSU should turn down any bowl bid. I know the argument- "But you'll just hurt the players who had nothing to do with it."

Why do you think this mess went so far? At every point, somebody probably rationalized that the school and innocent students would get hurt. Well guess what? A lot of innocent people have already been hurt. It's time to find out who knew what, when and for some more cleaning out. Giving up a bowl bid would see to be a small penance to pay for the damage done already.

[Zoeisright]

1. I hope that student and his parents sue the fuck out of the school.

There is NO excuse for bullying. NONE. And the only thing bullies understand is being hurt back, whether it's physically, verbally, or in the wallet.

[Aerows]

10. I feel so terrible for that young man

He got victimized all over again. The school NEVER should have let that happen - they should have immediately stepped in.

[Tansy_Gold]

2. K&R

I agree -- there should be no bowl bids for PSU.

The point is, the football players have already benefited from Joe Paterno's coaching, and he only got to stay on as coach because he was a bully to the PSU administration. The football players are only "innocent" to the extent that they didn't participate in the abuse or directly participate in the cover up. But they still benefited.

There are innocent victims to everything, including life in general. Innocent people die in car accidents. Innocent family members suffer for another's crime. "Innocence" is no protection in life, and it shouldn't be protection in football either.



TG

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. But stopping Penn State playing in a bowl won't help anyone

It is just a punishment; so you'd have to reckon if it's the most appropriate punishment. Are you punishing PSU for the number of students who tastelessly rioted in support of Paterno the night he was fired? That's the only act for which I can see a collective punishment is needed. If it's the senior management of PSU you're after, then something a bit more personal would be more appropriate.

By the way, the football players are completely innocent, if they had no knowledge of what went on before the general public, and if they did not try to excuse it when they found out. It's absurd, and illogical, to say that anyone who ever benefited from a person's actions should be punished if that person is punished for past acts. I'll give you an example: Harold Shipman was a British doctor who killed many of his elderly patients. But he still treated other patients successfully, even after he'd started killing. So they benefited from him doing his job. Surely you wouldn't say 'they were only "innocent" to the extent that they didn't participate in the murder or directly participate in a cover up. But they still benefited', and you wouldn't call for any sanctions against them, would you?

[Tansy_Gold]

7. You're entitled to your opinion

I'm entitled to mine.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. So what's you opinion on the innocence of Shipman's patients who lived? (nt)

[LuvNewcastle]

3. Those are some truly wicked people.

It's hard to believe that someone would treat a victim like that, all over a damned football team. I just can't get my head around that.:cry:

[riderinthestorm]

4. Being a sexual abuse victim is very tough in the US. Coming out publicly about it

is almost unheard of in our culture because we treat them so badly. It's why most abuse victims simply never report. They continue enduring the abuse, living with and/or associating with on a regular basis, their abuser.

These particular victims are going to have an even harder time. I really hope they have a strong support system around them.

[Spazito]

11. Very true...

they are abused, condemned, re-victimized if they dare to report. Until/unless we change the current culture, child abuse/rape will continue to be one of the most under-reported crimes.

[Fumesucker]

5. Some few naive DUers thought that this would not happen..

Then there were those of us who live in the real world where football is a religion in all but name.

[Tsiyu]

8. So Central Mountain High School students

are enablers of sexual predators.

Nice legacy, kids.