Christopher Weddle/Centre Daily Times, via Associated PressWorkers removed the statue of Joe Paterno early Sunday morning.Updated | 8:58 a.m. The president of Penn State announced on Sunday that the statue of the late Joe Paterno, the university’s football coach for 46 years, would be removed because it would be a “recurring wound to the multitude of individuals across the nation and beyond who have been the victims of child abuse.”
It was gone before 9 a.m.
The statue is no more. http://t.co/tgTll1WW
Rodney Erickson, the university president, said that the decision was made after the release of the Freeh report that concluded Mr. Paterno and other top university officials failed to pursue child abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator who was convicted early this year of multiple charges of child abuse.
Mr. Erickson said that the bronze sculpture, located outside of Beaver Stadium, had become become a focus of controversy after the release of the report as well as a gathering spot for Penn State students and alumni, angered that Mr. Paterno, 85, was fired after Mr. Sandusky’s arrest last November and saddened by his death in January.
With the release of Judge Freeh’s Report of the Special Investigative Counsel, we as a community have had to confront a failure of leadership at many levels. The statue of Joe Paterno outside Beaver Stadium has become a lightning rod of controversy and national debate, including the role of big time sports in university life. The Freeh Report has given us a great deal to reflect upon and to consider, including Coach Paterno’s legacy.
Throughout Penn State, the two most visible memorials to Coach Paterno are the statue at Beaver Stadium and the Paterno Library. The future of these two landmarks has been the topic of heated debate and many messages have been received in various University offices, including my own. We have heard from numerous segments of the Penn State community and others, many of whom have differing opinions. These are particularly important decisions when considering things that memorialize such a revered figure.
Mr. Erickson said the university had decided to keep Mr. Paterno’s name on the library because it “symbolizes the substantial and lasting contributions to the academic life and educational excellence that the Paterno family has made to Penn State University.”
Gene J. Puskar/Associated PressA statue of Joe Paterno, the coach at Penn State for 46 years, outside Beaver Stadium.The Centre Daily Times reports that 30 police officers and construction workers arrived just before dawn to begin removing the statue.
By 7:45 a.m., the Centre Daily Times said, the statue, covered with a blue tarp, was tied to a forklift as a small crowd of people gathered to watch. The paper’s Web site offered a live video.
Ben Jones, who covers Penn State football and basketball, for StateCollege.com, posted live updates from his Twitter account.
Police have set up a barricade around the Joe Paterno statue, presumably for its removal. http://t.co/qjIrR6F4 (via @Ben_Jones88)
Paterno statue will be hard to see during removal. http://t.co/Sz8QmZwq
Paterno statue will be hard to see during removal. http://t.co/Sz8QmZwq
Jackhammers have started. Statue being held up by a forklift.
About twenty minutes deep in to jackhammers. Both making a pretty big cloud of dust.
The reaction on Twitter, including from Penn State alumni and students was mixed, with most people in agreement with the university’s decision.
Pres got it right! “@astockey #PSU President statement regarding today’s removal of #Paterno statue. http://t.co/nQYYu2TQ”
Unsure if this aids healing process & seems to be a hasty PR move by embattled univ. Interested to see fallout when world wakes this AM #psu
Sell the statue for scrap, give the $$ to a relevant charity. #PSU #JoePa
Your thoughts? Did Penn State’s president make the right decision?
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