Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and other university leaders "repeatedly concealed critical facts" relating to assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky’s child sex abuse from authorities, according to Louis Freeh, the former FBI director who conducted an investigation for the university in the Sandusky scandal.
Freeh also found that "although concern to treat the child abuser humanely was expressly stated, no such sentiments were ever expressed" by university officials, including Paterno and the university president, for Sandusky’s victims.
The report says that five boys were assaulted by Sandusky on university property after officials knew about a 1998 criminal investigation.
The report says the main cause of the university's failure was a desire to avoid bad publicity.
Also contributing:
-A striking lack of empathy for child abuse victims.
-Lack of oversight by the board of trustees.
-"A president who discouraged discussion and dissent."
-Ignorance of child abuse issues and laws.
-A football program that had opted out of university programs and training on reporting requirements.
-"A culture of reverence for the football program that is ingrained at all levels of the campus community."
Freeh's findings may affect the reputation of legendary coach Paterno, who died soon after the Sandusky allegations became public, as well as the university's standing with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which so far has not announced any punishments of Penn State.
The NCAA said Thursday it is studying the report.
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