When we learn that children have been sexually abused, we sometimes feel the need to do something with our anger. We want to blame someone, to have them somehow “pay” for what they have done. In our desire to seek justice for the victims, we can mistake association with guilt; anyone who is even remotely associated with the perpetrator can become the target for blame.
I think that Penn State, its students and alumni have suffered that fate. Rather than directing their anger toward the perpetrator and those who attempted to cover up the abuse, some people have lashed out against anyone associated with the university. The integrity of the university has been questioned along with its academic and moral standards, and this is not fair.
My own comments were no exception and were perhaps too broadly directed. I heard from one Penn State alumna who felt hurt and angry about the ill treatment she has received as a consequence of her refusal to disavow her alma mater in its entirety. To her point: one bad apple (or three or ten) does not spoil the whole bunch. Students, faculty, and staff who were not involved should not be made to pay for the acts of a few.
Penn State has done some really good things in the wake of this tragedy. Students and supporters held a candlelight vigil for the abuse victims that stretched as far as the eye could see. Fans at the Penn State football game against Nebraska wore blue instead of their usual home game white in honor of Pennsylvania’s Blue Ribbon Campaign against child abuse. Alumni have joined forces to raise nearly $500,000.00 for RAINN, the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network for survivors (http://www.rainn.org/news-room/alums-unite-to-show-what-penn-state-is-really-all-about). We have heard very little about those things in the media, which is also unfair.
I would suggest that we use the energy of our anger to do something positive. One way is to donate money or time to organizations that support survivors of child abuse and that work to prevent it. (A list of them follows this post.*) We can speak out against child abuse by writing letters to editors and by advocating for services for abuse survivors. We can act when we see, know of, or suspect abuse by reporting it to police or child protective services, and by intervening when we can do so safely. This story has at least thrust the ugly reality of childhood sexual abuse into the public eye. Perhaps one or several children will be helped because more people will be paying attention and will be willing to report abuse when it occurs.
*(Please note: the partial list of resources that follows does not represent the author’s endorsement of or affiliation with any organization.)
Rape Abuse and Incest National Network, www.rainn.org
Love Our Children USA – www.loveourchildrenusa.org
Child Advocates.org - www.childadvocates.org
Childhelp.org – www.childhelp.org
National Council on Child Abuse and Family Violence – www.nccafv.org
American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children – www.apsac.org
Stop It Now! – www.stopitnow.org
Stop Child Abuse – www.stopcsa.org
Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children – www.casaforchildren.org
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests – www.snapnetwork.org
