Moral compass

In the wake of former Asst Coach Jerry Sandusky’s conviction for child abuse, and the subsequent cover-up by top officials at Penn State, the NCAA has taken harsh actions.  NCAA President Mark Emmert announced this morning that it will impose a four-year ban on post-season play at Penn State, the loss of forty scholarships over four years, and a $60 million fine.  The money will go into a fund to aid victims and to prevent further abuse.  In addition, all Penn State football victories from 1998 to 2011 will be “vacated,” effectively erasing Joe Paterno’s record as the most successful football coach in division 1 history.  Needless to say, the financial impact on Penn State’s entire athletic and academic program will be severe.  Good!

The NCAA’s actions should stand as a beacon of light to other institutions.  Once the crime became apparent, instead of searching for some legal nuance that might let them off the hook, they imposed penalties harsh enough not only to punish the guilty parties but to serve as examples to others.  This is how we prevent crime, by letting people know that if they commit a crime and are caught, they will be punished.  The SEC, the FDA, the US Congress, the Catholic Church, would do well to take note.