The statue of late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno outside the campus' football stadium will be removed, the university's president said Sunday.
The tribute to Paterno had become an object of contention after the child rape scandal involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
Paterno's statue and legacy came under fire after the release of the Freeh Report, the scathing investigation led by former FBI Director Louis Freeh.
The report found that several Penn State officials concealed evidence that Sandusky had sexually abused boys. Freeh concluded that Paterno could have prevented further s-xual abuse had he taken action. Sandusky was convicted of 45 counts of child s-xual abuse involving 10 victims.
"I now believe that, contrary to its original intention, coach Paterno's statue has become a source of division and an obstacle to healing in our university and beyond," University President Rodney Erick son said in a statement.
The 900-pound bronze statue, outside Beaver Stadium, will be stored in a "secure location." Ref. CNN
$30 million in penalties
Penn State will be hit with fines in excess of $30 million as part of penalties expected to be announced Monday by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, a source familiar with the case told CNN Sunday.
The penalties are part of the continued fallout from the sex abuse scandal involving former football coach Jerry Sandusky. Ref. CNN
Higher Fines
The NCAA announced a $60 million fine today against Penn State University as part of the fallout from the child sex abuse scandal involving former coach Jerry Sandusky. The university also is banned from bowl games for four years. Ref. CNN
Exclusive: Ex-Penn State pres. reveals his own abusive past
Spanier Was So Badly Abused He Needed Surgeries to Correct Damage
Source: Yahoo! News - Latest News & Headlines
Researchers claim sports journalists using Twitter to promote their biased theories
Kentucky Local News
Sports journalists covering the Penn State sex abuse scandal posted commentary on Twitter that was inherently biased, according to the Clemson University and University of Louisville researchers. ...
Source: Kentucky News
Former Penn State President Graham Spanier has been charged with several counts in the child rape scandal at the university, including perjury, conspiracy and endangering the welfare of children. Ref. CNN
State auditor recommends changes at Penn State
State auditor recommends changes at Penn State
Report says university culture shunned transparency
Source: American School & University