Penn State 2011 Abuse Scandal

1. Penn State 2011 Abuse Scandal Kerene M. Nelson PR Research and Strategies, Florida A&M University March 27. 2011

2. Former Pennsylvania State University football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky sexually assaulted or had inappropriate contact with at least eight underage boys on or near university property. After an extensive grand jury investigation, Sandusky was indicted on 42 counts of child molestation dating from 1994 to 2009, though the alleged abuse may date as far back as the 1970s. The Event

3. The former defensive coordinator is charged with sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period. Sandusky, 67, maintains he is innocent. Backstory

4. Penn State started full investigation of all persons involved and that knew about incidents. • Sandusky is arrested and released on $100,000 bail after being arraigned on 40 criminal counts. Media Highlights

5. In 1977, Sandusky founded The Second Mile, a charity formed to help troubled young boys • In 1998, he was investigated for sexual abuse of a child by the University Police • Sandusky was considered for spearheading a football program at Penn State Altoona in 1998–99, but the idea was scrapped and he retired in 1999. The story …

6. 1994 – Boy known as Victim 7 in the report meets Sandusky through The Second Mile program at about the age of 10. • 1994-95 – Boy known as Victim 6 meets Sandusky at a Second Mile picnic at Spring Creek Park when he is 7 or 8 years old. • 1995-96 – Boy known as Victim 5, meets Sandusky through The Second Mile when he is 7 or 8, in second or third grade. • 1996-97 – Boy known as Victim 4, at the age of 12 or 13, meets Sandusky while he is in his second year participating in The Second Mile program. • 1996-98 – Victim 5 is taken to the locker rooms and showers at Penn State by Sandusky when he is 8 to 10 years old. The story continues…

7. Summer 2000 – Boy known as Victim 3 meets Sandusky through The Second Mile when he is between seventh and eighth grade. • Fall 2000 – A janitor named James Calhoun observes Sandusky in the showers of the Lasch Football Building with a young boy, known as Victim 8, pinned up against the wall, performing oral sex on the boy. He tells other janitorial staff immediately. • Fellow Office of Physical Plant employee Ronald Petrosky cleans the showers at Lasch and sees Sandusky and the boy, who he describes as being between the ages of 11 and 13. • March 1, 2002 – A Penn State graduate assistant enters the locker room at the Lasch Football Building. In the showers, he sees a naked boy, known as Victim 2, whose age he estimates to be 10 years old, being subjected to anal intercourse by a naked Sandusky. The graduate assistant tells his father immediately. The story continues…

8. Early 2009 – An investigation by the Pennsylvania attorney general begins when a Clinton County, Pa. teen boy tells authorities that Sandusky has inappropriately touched him several times over a four-year period. • September 2010 – Sandusky retires from day-to-day involvement with The Second Mile, saying he wants to spend more time with family and handle personal matters. • Nov. 5, 2011 – Sandusky is arrested and released on $100,000 bail after being arraigned on 40 criminal counts. • Nov. 8, 2011 – Possible ninth victim of Sandusky contacts state police as calls for ouster of Paterno and Spanier grow in state and beyond. Penn State abruptly cancels Paterno's regular weekly press conference. The story continues…

9. Nov. 8, 2011 – Possible ninth victim of Sandusky contacts state police as calls for ouster of Paterno and Spanier grow in state and beyond. Penn State abruptly cancels Paterno's regular weekly press conference. The story.

10. PR Lessons learned Do’s: Suspend/Fire persons involved and start full investigation Keep open communication with media and publics so it does not seem as though your organization is hiding things. Don'ts: Keep things quiet until it hits the media.