In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Reflecting on a riot

(Inside Higher Education) Wednesday night it was announced unexpectedly that Joe Paterno, head football coach of Penn State since 1966, would not be resigning at the end of the season as planned - he would be let go immediately. This all ties to a sexual abuse scandal that has recently rocked the school. Paterno is being held responsible for his inaction to report the sexual abuse of young boys by assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, to police. Students struggled with their reaction to the news; later that night there was reported rioting and protesting. Afterward, the campus was reported as quiet and sullen. Many student affairs professionals are reflecting on the episode, and sympathizing with students at the school about the emotional and psychological effect of the scandal.

1.

Campus Sexual Assault Study

National Institute of Justice
A 2007 report prepared for the National Institute of Justice looks into sexual assault on university campuses. The report was federally funded by the U.S. Department of Justice. This fairly thorough report looks at context, risk factors, reporting and perpetration of campus sexual assault. All research methods are fully disclosed and outlined in the report including data collection, sampling, selection and survey design. The findings are clearly presented. There is a section on reporting and non-reporting of sexual assault on campus which sheds light on the issue of how many sexual crimes go unreported.

2.

Bloomsberg U memo on sexual abuse

Bloomsberg University
In light of the Penn State sexual abuse scandal, another university has decided to make their voice heard on the issue of campus sexual assault. The president of Bloomsberg University in Pennsylvania released a memo dated Friday Nov. 11, 2011 with an address to the "campus community". The memo is essentially an overview of the policies and procedures at Bloomsberg regarding sexual harassment, sexual abuse, unwanted sexual activity and illegal activity. There is a phone number provided to report possible abuse. It is important to see how other schools (particularly those nearby) are reacting to the scandal.

3.

Complying with the Clery Act

Security on Campus, Inc.
A national non-profit organization called Security on Campus, Inc., has a section on their website under "Get Informed" about the Jeanne Clery Act. This act is a federal law, and was started in 1990 and is named after a female freshmen who was brutally raped and murdered in her dorm room in 1986. The act required schools to report campus crimes to police, deals with registered sex offender notifications on campus, and emergency responses. It is this law that the Education Department will be using to investigate Penn State.

4.

Timeline of Paterno's career

USA Today Sports
In order to put into context the reaction to Joe Paterno's firing, here is a bountiful resource of Paterno's career. The USA Today Sports section has put together slideshows, timelines and other information on 84-year-old Paterno's career in football, specifically his tenure as Penn State head coach since 1966. The public and student reaction to the the sudden firing of Paterno can be better understood by looking at his impressive career and accomplishments.

5.

Penn State Counseling & Psychological Services Website

Penn State
The Counseling and Psychological Services for Penn State has an online resource that offers a guide for student crisis. This includes information on suicide, homicide, sexual and physical assault, mental illness and grief. There are numbers listed as well as medical centres for students to go to. With students at Penn State struggling to deal with the sex abuse scandal, it is important to look at how readily available the school has made getting help and counselling, for students.