Lessons taught by Arthur Miller, but not learned a

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Lessons taught by Arthur Miller, but not learned at Penn State University

The recent Penn State scandal brings to life an inherent wrong in our society: the willingness of others to turn a blind eye to actions they know to be morally wrong. Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky is being tried for sexually molesting young boys, most notably a ten-year-old boy in the Penn State locker room. This act was witnessed by assistant coach McQueary who did nothing to stop the molestation but did report it to his superior, head football coach Joe Paterno. He, in turn, reported it to university officials. Paterno did not confront Sandusky; he did not lobby that Sandusky should be fired, and Penn State officials did nothing. The tolerance by those involved in this scandal for such misconduct shows a moral corruption, a corruption that Arthur Miller explored in The Crucible. People who hold power in society often choose to practice unethical behavior simply because they risk their position—and all the benefits their position affords—should they speak out against injustice; however, these people fail to realize that a corrupt society results in consequences to all, no matter their status.

The lack of action by officials at Penn State University continues to have a widespread impact. Young boys who attended the Penn State summer youth football program put their trust in the coaches whom they idolized. Joe Paterno, a football legend, would train and teach them. These boys would play on the Penn State field, the site of so many great school victories. These boys' families also put their trust in Paterno and Penn State University, trusting them to protect their sons. But Paterno and Penn State failed to honor this trust, leaving families with guilt and anger and young boys traumatized and violated.

Coach McQueary eyewitnessed Sandusky's misconduct yet only reported it to his superiors, both the coaching staff and university officials, who chose to do nothing; Sandusky was thought too great an asset to the Penn State football coaching staff to lose him. Therefore, their inaction demonstrated that Sandusky's status within the football program was thought more important than the truth. Further, these same officials hushed up the multiple incidents in which Sandusky assaulted young boys, hushed up in an effort to preserve Sandusky's reputation, and thus the reputation of the entire football coaching staff. Had an unimportant member of society or person who was not an asset to the football program been caught in the shower with a young boy, just as Sandusky, it is more likely McQueary would have taken matters into his own hands to stop the abuse and would have most certainly contacted police. If he had not, Penn State officials definitely would have. Now, due to the staff's transgressions, many of them have been or are in the process of being fired. Penn State University has lost their school president, Graham Spanier as well as legendary football coach Joe Paterno.

The incident at Penn State demonstrates how badly things turn out when one person's well-being takes precedence over the welfare of the majority, journalists are reporting on the disgrace of Penn State coaches and officials, but they are not the true victims in this scandal. They are the boys and their families who Sandusky betrayed. Our society will always be the victim of a morally corrupt elite few whom we unknowingly empower, be it during the time of the Salem witch trials or twenty-first century football.

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