Penn State Scandal: Why Students Must Keep the Peace Saturday In Happy Valley

If the student body at Penn State is intent to do right by Joe Paterno, the man who they seem to love and cherish unconditionally like a true family member, then it is imperative that they behave with honor and dignity at Beaver Stadium on Saturday when Nebraska comes to town to acquit themselves and the university as best they can amidst the tragedy of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

To be sure, the activities of a minority of students in State College on Wednesday night served to overshadow the mostly peaceful grievances, frustrations and questions that were being expressed en masse by the vast majority of those who took to the streets. These were not mobs of unruly students running around town, vandalizing property and flipping vehicles over at random.

Nonetheless, the images of vans being toppled, car windows being smashed in and young people rallying in support of a man who, though accomplished, admitted himself that he made a mistake, do not speak well of a university that Paterno had almost single-handedly built into a seemingly model public institution for higher learning.

The last thing they, or anyone in Happy Valley, want or need is for even the noble accomplishments of Paterno's career to be torn down right along with his now-tarnished reputation, for those who have come out in support of JoePa, like family members grieving for a lost or disgraced relative, to bring greater shame to the man's name with their own foolish actions.

After all, it was at least one foolish action (or lack thereof)—the failure to report child molestation to the proper authorities—that landed Joe Paterno and Penn State in this mess to begin with. Poor choices by those who admire Paterno would only serve to worsen the situation.

If anything, use this stage and the attendant media to come out in support of the victims and their families, to send a meaningful message about the safety of children.

This isn't about football. This is so much bigger than football. This is about adults not doing the right thing when faced with a harrowing situation.

It is crucial, then, that the students themselves do the right thing in this situation by behaving themselves well and representing the university honestly, respectfully and with integrity in these trying times.