Penn State Scandal: Students to Hold Vigil for Victims
Penn State students will hold a vigil tonight in honor of the victims of the sex abuse scandal that has rocked the nationally acclaimed university.
This announcement comes as the board of trustees and university officials outline a course of action in the investigation surrounding the allegations that former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky sexually abused several young boys.
The fallout of the scandal has already cost the jobs of four university officials including beloved long-time head coach Joe Paterno.
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They were removed after outrage from the apparent lack of communication and failure to report the incidents when the accusations first came to light.
"This is a tragedy for many lives, and it will take all of us some time to come to grips with the full magnitude of all the damage that has been done," the university's new president, Rodney Erickson, told the board of trustees.
The university’s board of trustees on Friday selected members that would participate in the special committee developed to investigate the claims of sex abuse.
Kenneth Frazier, a Penn State trustee, will chair the university's special committee looking into the child sex abuse allegations at the school. Frazier told the board of trustees on Friday that the inquiry will be "rigorous, objective and impartial."
A candlelight vigil in support of victims of child abuse will be held at 9:30 p.m. Friday. The event was organized by students.
One of the speaker’s scheduled for the vigil will be a victim of sex abuse in another case. There will also be performances by the Penn State Blue Band and marching band.
The Old Main building on the Penn State campus will observe a moment of silence when the clock strikes 10 p.m.
One of the vigil organizers, Kyle Harris said, “We are just as horrified, if not more than a lot of people. We want to make an impact. We want to show these kids we care."
Tammy Lerner, director of the Foundation to Abolish Child Abuse, plans to hold another vigil around 7 p.m. Saturday to promote awareness about abuse and other issues. "This whole thing has not been victim-centered," she said in response of how people have been reacting to the scandal.
