Joe Paterno has been unfairly tried and convicted by the news media

In defense of Joe:

I sense that Joe Paterno has been tried and convicted in the mass media. This seems very unfortunate. I did not realize that a person in his position was mandated to report to police a crime that he learned about second-hand and did not personally witness. It seems he reported what the graduate assistant told him to the athletic director, as I would have done. This seems reasonable.

The man has not been indicted, evidence has not been presented, a trial has not occurred, and a jury has not rendered a verdict. Until the legal process has been completed, it is my impression that an individual in America is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Of course, I feel compassion for anybody that has been sexually abused. I also feel compassion for Joe Paterno.

Robert Ward
Manchester