Distant assignment

The media focused on the students rioting and the disappointment that their coaches and faculty were being fired. It brought little attention at first to the seriousness of the crimes Sandusky had committed. It also didn’t make it very clear why the head coach Paterno and other faculty were being fired. It also neglected the feelings of the victims. The PSU scandal has been portrayed by media as a series of immoral choices that went about to protect their prestigious community.

Sandusky has a large amount of power because he has a prestigious organization behind him and is working with underprivileged children who have less support from trustworthy adults. The social media spreads a dissenting viewpoint by expressing various outlooks such as the students outrage at the loss of their coach and the disappointment that Sandusky was able to get away with child abuse for so long. This is a good example of how power can allow deviance to happen while their power structure was trying to be kept intact. When sports become more powerful than its value these situations are bound to happen.

Coming from a constructionist framework I would blame the way the power structure was set up. Because no one sought to go outside this power structure and call the police. This is based on over conformity. In this case people ignored innate reactions to such immoral behavior and followed rules of their interior power structure.

I personally think this scandal could of easily been avoided if someone stepped up from any position who was aware of Sandusky’s wrong actions and called law enforcement. I believe there is no excuse to ignore his wrong behaviors and people should be punished for their actions and not be excused for their position in power.

Brittany Hayden

kin 3321, sec. 310767