Penn State removes statue of former coach Joe Paterno
Posted July 22, 2012 9:34 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
After more than a week of debate, Penn State has decided to remove the statue of Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno from the University campus.
The president of Penn State ordered the removal, which comes in the wake of a report that found Paterno and other top school officials concealed claims of sex abuse against assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
The statue had turned into a target for critics of the late Paterno. Once a beloved figure on the campus, Paterno’s alleged complacence in the Sandusky allegations has tarnished his once glistening reputation.
On Sunday morning the statue was removed by a forklift, as approximately 150 students watched on.
In a statement, University President Rodney Erickson said, “I fully realize that my decision will not be popular in some Penn State circles, but I am certain it is the right and principled decision.”
