Potential for the ultimate abuse of power... We're seeing it happen in sports, everywhere. For lack of a better example, I would like to reintroduce Joe Paterno, he's the first that comes to mind. It remains to be seen of what Paterno actually knew about Sandusky's alleged sexual abuse of those young boys. It would be difficult to believe that it went undetected all those years. Regardless of how much he knew or didn't know, he seemed to have known something. The chain of command at Penn State seems to be the most twisted issue I can not wrap my brain around. Even if the graduate assistant was supposed to tell Paterno and if Paterno was supposed to tell the athletic director - nothing happened! The athletic director used his position to keep things hidden. I think this argument could be made in different instances, Paterno abused his power by not saying anything as well - he did it to protect his football program. Sandusky (allegedly) used his power of authority to sexually abuse a young boys.
Especially with the video we watched with Rene Portland, she abused her power for decades and it was OKAY. She made student-athletes' lives miserable if their even perceived to be lesbians. Her prejudice was accepted and condoned for entirely way too long.
So, it is a little terrifying to see how authority figures in the world sport will do whatever it is they need to do to 'protect' their institutions.
Jennifer Chow (KIN 577)
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