Sex abuse scandals in sports likely to continue growing
Childhood sex abuse is the worst of any scandal in sports -- and it only figures to grow. (AP photos)
This is a different kind of scandal in sports. There are victims.
Steroids have exposed cheaters and diminished statistical achievements. Drugs and alcohol have ruined careers and knocked heroes off of pedestals. Recruiting scandals and academic fraud have reaffirmed the lost mission of college athletics.
But predators who molest young athletes — they ruin lives and cripple souls. It’s not about somebody trying to gain an advantage on the field or losing their moral compass. It’s about never having the compass. It’s being morally bankrupt. That makes this latest scandal to hit sports the scariest of them all.
What does it say when over 400 Penn State football players, rather than merely focusing on the 52 alleged counts of sexual abuse in the Jerry Sandusky child molestation case, seem more concerned about signing a letter in support of former coach Joe Paterno, who was fired amid perceptions that he did not do enough to stop his former assistant coach?
Heath Evans and his wife, Beth Ann, started foundation to help childhood sex abuse victims and their families. (HeathEvans.org)
“Their loyalty has become delusional,” former NFL fullback Heath Evans said. “Loyalty has crippled people’s judgment.”
Evans retired in August following a 10-year career, most recently with the New Orleans Saints (whom the Falcons play Monday night). He now runs the Heath Evans Foundation, which benefits victims and their families of child sexual abuse. Evans’ wife, Beth Ann, was a victim of abuse when she was in the third grade.
The foundation now has over 100 in active counseling and has
AAU fired president Bobby Dodd after allegations he molested two boys in the 1980s. (ESPN)
seen a recent surge in people finally coming forward about past abuse, likely in part because of several high-profile stories, including Sandusky, former Syracuse basketball assistant Bernie Fine, former AAU president Bobby Dodd (no relation to the former Georgia Tech coach) and long-time Philadelphia sports columnist Bill Conlin.
Evans said victims were slow to start contacting his foundation when it started in 2006 because, “People don’t want to talk about it. Ninety percent of the time victims know their predator, and they’re discouraged from speaking up.”
It’s happening more now. Brace yourself. More stories likely are coming.
Philadelphia columnist Bill Conlin retired after allegations he molested three girls, one boy, ages 7 to 12, in 1970s. (AP photo)
Two of the biggest college athletic programs in the nation – Penn State football and Syracuse basketball – have had major abuse scandals. Logic screams they are not alone.
“I think we’ll see more,” Evans said. “The good thing about what’s going on now with this situation is we’re turning garbage into gold. We’re bringing predators to justice.
“It can’t just be a coincidence that two big programs like this have had this come out. People are looking at this right now and trying to work up the courage to tell somebody about what happened to them. But some are thinking, ‘Well, there’s a statute of limitations [on legal charges] — nothing can happen to [the perpetrator]. The statute of limitations should never run out on sexual abuse. It stays with the victim. It’s like emotional cancer.”
Evans calls sexual abuse “an epidemic.” One out of every four girls and one out of every six males are victim of sexual abuse before the age of 18. Many of those cases occur in youth sports.
A presentation on the “Physical and Sexual Abuse in Sport” in Canada in 1999, quoting the U.S. Olympic Committee’s John Mair, said among those most at risk for abuse are young athletes “who take frequent trips or relocate frequently to be near coaches or authority figures.”
The report referenced a 1995 report from the University of Winnipeg that revealed 21.8 percent of athletes surveyed said they had sexual intercourse with “authority figures.” Of those athletes, 8.5 percent said it was forced, 20 percent said it happened when they were under 16.
Emotions fuel major college athletics. That causes some people to lose perspective. Evans said of the Sandusky/Penn State story, “The abuse and the cover-up didn’t surprise me at all. Joe Paterno being in the middle of it surprised me because of what we knew about his reputation. But if he had any concerns or just an inkling of what the grand jury report said, he was wrong [for not doing more].”
When accusations of Fine’s abuse of two former Syracuse ball boys came to light, coach Jim Boeheim initially accused the alleged victims of lying and extortion: “That’s what this is about. Money.” (Boeheim later backed off those comments.)
Evans’ response, “Those comments were a slap in the face for all victims.”
Chances are, we’ll be hearing from more of them.
You can help support the Heath Evans Foundation and win a trip for four, including tickets, airfare and accommodations, to the BCS championship game between LSU and Alabama. Go to HeathEvans.org for details.
By Jeff Schultz
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135 comments Add your comment
Doug
December 23rd, 2011
8:55 am
The focus here has been on sexual abuse. The brutality of physical and emotional abuse has to be considered as well. Coaches are allowed to mistreat athletes in ways that most professions won’t tolerate. Yet, it is seen as good coaching when athletes have to run until the puke, or get cussed out for dropping a ball, or belittled for making a mistake. Google positive coaching for further contrasts.
SG
December 23rd, 2011
9:25 am
Nice article Jeff.
Justin
December 23rd, 2011
9:39 am
@ Realistic
December 23rd, 2011
4:55 am
Molistation, just like any other crime is a big issue. Stuff happens. Its as bad as pople who run Wall Street that has, pretty much, ruined our ecomony. Let jut not ‘band wagon’ this issue just because its the topic now. Let’s not forget about all other crimes and lessen the grip on robery, bulgary and even our city and state laws that alow politicians get away with stuffing silly bills and laws down our throats.
Yes molistation is a big issue, bur please be careful not to overlook or forget about the other victums and what they go through every single day.
WTF?!!! What is molistation? The word is spelled “molestation”.
RedandBlackDAWG
December 23rd, 2011
9:45 am
They will have their day in court for sure. However, peoples opinions on here have just as much right to be on here as anywhere. After all, the case would appear to be very strong against the Penn. State guy, if they have let JoePa go, the former AD and a few other higher ups already. It would appear to me, that they have stoked the fire, more than any media outlet reporting this sad case could ever do.
Has our country reached the point where crimes like this are easily covered up, so that a team can play football, and maintain a image of a good clean upstanding university, at the price of those victims lives. The moral decay in this country is pretty sad.
CTG Punches Himself in the Face
December 23rd, 2011
10:03 am
Sorry. Thought this was the blog about self abuse scandals.
Jay
December 23rd, 2011
10:06 am
More legislation that is enforced could help, but it is toothless legislation unless The People clean up their acts. Whether it’s drugs, sex or any other illegal activity, the user must take responsibility. To note: The CDC’s recent report that one in four women is sexually assaulted has gotten little media play – nothing compared to Penn State’s scandal because that involved males being abused. Last week a University of Vermont fraternity published a “Who Would You Most Like to Rape List”? It’ll probably be a hand-slap for those silly college boys … being boys.
bulldog steve
December 23rd, 2011
10:31 am
“Their loyalty has become delusional,” former NFL fullback Heath Evans said. “Loyalty has crippled people’s judgment.” This is just proof that you can twist anything to make it into what you want it to be. Did he not read the letter? Is he just trying to throw a little media attention to his foundation, maybe raise a little money so he can put some more friends or family on the payroll? The letter did state compassion for the victims. Could Paterno have done more? Probably. Do we really know what he was told? No. Do we know what he did and what he was told by his superiors? No. Do we know if he followed up with his superiors about what was going on? No.
I think the only thing they were trying to do is save some of the good that Paterno has done during his time at PSU. Has Saban or Miles given millions of dollars back their schools? No. Did Miles give a scholarship to a player that was kicked off another team for molesting a female student? Yes. Does Saban over sign recruits? Yes. Are they worshiped by the masses? Yes. Why?
Give Paterno a chance to get healthy so he can have his say. He deserves that much.
bigdon
December 23rd, 2011
10:33 am
As a court reporter I have sat in on many child abuse cases in various superior courts. Believe it or not, some of these guys were guilty by ex-wife and step daughter. I saw one guy facting 20 get off because of that very same accusation of he “touched” me while in the pool. 20 years for that. Thank godd they jury knew it was bs and he was acquitted. I also saw a guy get 60 to serve for molesting a child with downs syndrome. Man, there wasn’t a person in the courtroom that wouldn’t have shanked that SOB including the judge. I’m sure he’s in prison pooping doughnuts now, if you know what I mean. If there’s a Santa, and most surely there is, our Christmas present will be the front page headline reading “Sandusky found dead in rancid hotel room with self-inflicted gunshot wound.” I simply don’t think a coward of this kind has the ability to face his multiple accusers and if he does and is sent to prison, you can bet your life that he will get “Jeffrey Dahmered” within a short period of time as there’s lifers in those places who have nothing to lose that have children and in many cases were victims themselves. wouldn’t be surprised if there was some kind of wink wink job with the guards and inmates alike about leaving a door unlocked or Sandusky unprotected for just enough time to get it done. Either way my friens you may be assured this guy is a dead man walking. Hell, it would be more dangerous for him to walk into a Wal-mart than walking into GenPop and there’s lots more folks with guns on the outside than the inside and if somebody capped him, I doubt very seriously a jury would convict the perpetrator of anything more than manslaughter. Folks, the world is full of these wackos, believe me. Every criminal calendar call just in my courtroom alone for one week has probably 20 percent charged with child abuse of some sort. That’s one court room in one courthouse in one county in one state. You do the math. I agree with making a law of capital punishment for child rape or in Texas “a hangin” offense.
UGA- ZERO BCS titles
December 23rd, 2011
10:34 am
Well of course there’s sex abuse and molestation. Sports is just a microcosm of life and there is a lot of this in general in everyday society. Duh. You think you’re saying something people don’t already know Jeff?
GAgirl28
December 23rd, 2011
10:37 am
Anyone that has ever been abused understands. I have seen the long-term effects on abuse both as a victim and personal friend of ones that were abused as children. Hence the reason I am so tight about when/where and with whom my children are left or go with. Stopping the circle of violence is hard but starts with educating children early about what is right and wrong behavior. Letting them know that it is okay to tell if something happens and to let them know that they are the victims.
steverino
December 23rd, 2011
10:54 am
@ UGABugKiller…”sexual abuse is worse than murder, especially when it happens to a child”. Really? I can understand your desire to be strident in your outrage against child molesters, but be honest. Worse than murder? Do you mean the untold thousands of survivors of this wretched crime would have been better off being murdered by their molesters? Your post reiterates that sentiment, many times over. What if it happened to YOUR kid(s)?
In your zeal to paint child molesters in the worst possible light, (btw, words come up short in this quest), you minimize or completely discount the majority of victims who go on to lead happy, productive, (and in many cases, emotionally untraumatized) lives. It’s a lot to overcome, to be sure. And no child should have to ever find OUT how difficult the recovery is. But it happens. To equate molestation with murder leaves no reason for molesters to leave their victims alive. According to your post, they are better off dead anyway. Given the advantage of reconsideration, I’m sure you will agree with me that as long as there is life, there is hope.
Misty From Macon
December 23rd, 2011
10:56 am
This comment caught my eye:
Benjamin:Runner, the only eyewitness in the Sandusky case [McQueary] has visibly changed his story several times. I believe he’s guilty myself, but it’s not our place to judge him. The courts will do so in time
I beg to differ Benjamin, it IS our place to judge someone who abuses children. It IS our place to judge someone who exploits children for their own sexual gratification and it IS our place to judge a person who thinks their sexual predilictions take precedence over someone else’s physical and mental stability.
Joe Paterno didn’t judge — see where it got him and see where it’ll get Penn State when they have to open their wallets and pay for turning a blind eye.
Misty From Macon
December 23rd, 2011
10:58 am
Wanted to give you a big congrats Schultzie on your story. I would also like to see a bunch of you sports writers push for sanctions by the NCAA against PSU.
If a school can get a sanction because a kid sold his jersey for a tatoo, then there is no excuse for PSU to go scot free for this atrocity.
Dick Hodgetts
December 23rd, 2011
11:00 am
We have seen child sex abuse within the Church and currently among sports programs, each episode seems to make us a bit more jaded about predators behavior toward our youth. I can’t help but suspect that Cheerleading may be among the next categories that we read about. It is such a subjective activity as to who is “best”, it has lots of men with immense power over vulnerable girls, and there seems to be a lot of parental pressure by some to see their daughters succeed in the activity. All this seems to my jaded view to make it ripe for deviant behavior. I hope my suspicions are without merit. But, I would be surprised if it does not make headlines someday.
Misty From Macon
December 23rd, 2011
11:03 am
steverino: In your zeal to paint child molesters in the worst possible light, (btw, words come up short in this quest), you minimize or completely discount the majority of victims who go on to lead happy, productive, (and in many cases, emotionally untraumatized) lives
You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about. You need to spend some time in a rape / abuse therapy group. To say, “in many cases, emotionally untraumatized” with a straight face to me says that you know nothing about it.
Perhaps if you were ever raped, you would change your mind about that sentiment of how “untraumatized” you were.
Misty From Macon
December 23rd, 2011
11:11 am
Could Paterno have done more? Probably. Do we really know what he was told? No.
YES — Paterno himself has stated many times what he was told — and has also said he should’ve DONE something then.
Do we know what he did and what he was told by his superiors? No.
YES — because it’s in every paper. Also you can google the grand jury indictment if you just don’t wanna believe what they print in papers.
Do we know if he followed up with his superiors about what was going on? No.
Then he should’ve TAKEN IT FURTHER. If it were one of his grandkids in that shower with Sandusky, what do you think “JoePa” would’ve done then? I bet it wouldn’t have been to wait a whole day before telling the AD.
RxDawg
December 23rd, 2011
11:15 am
““Evans calls sexual abuse “an epidemic.” One out of every four girls and one out of every six males are victim of sexual abuse before the age of 18.”
Oh puuuuuuuhhlease. What a load of bull. Call me naive but there’s no way I’m believing that stat. Of course, what they like to call “abuse” these days sure can be stretched. If an 18 year old dates a 16 year old they might call it abuse when it’s really far from it. I’m sensing some self rightous agenda’s mixed in with actually accomplishing some good.
Boys don't tell
December 23rd, 2011
11:27 am
RxDawg – Ok, you’re naive.
RedandBlackPeachy
December 23rd, 2011
12:50 pm
There is a legal burden of innocent until proven guilty. That is what is required to convict someone in the court of law. But there is nothing wrong with private citizens arriving and expressing their opinion based on what they know. So Benjamin, although you are correct and I support what you say from a legal basis, I also do not fault, and would not admonish, people from arriving at an opinion. You can’t stop people from thinking, analyzing and concluding because it isn’t convenient or because of the dictates of the legal system. Actually, innocent until proven guilty is a buzz phrase. The idea is that someone cannot be convicted without the People proving guilt. There have been countless cases (OJ Simpson, Casey Anthony being the most prominent) where juries believed in the guilt of the defendent but acquitted because of lack of proof. The idea is not to act on pure speculation; not that there is no place for speculation.
Jim Austin
December 23rd, 2011
2:44 pm
I think its important to remind ourselves that it’s not just athletes that are victimized. Its childen in every walk of life, everywhere, that can be preyed upon by these sorry excuses for human beings. Perpetrators can, and do use any and every means possible to find vulnerable children. They attack the very values we instill in out children; values such as being polite to elders, do as they are told by elders etc. Perps exploit the realtionships children have, and then use those relationships to satiate their sinister desires.
As 1 of 200 men who appeared on Oprah last year, in an effort to get the issue of males being abused into the vernacular of today’s important issues, I can assure you that I have never, ever met man who would lie about being sexually abused. Never. To lie about this flies in the face of everything we experience as males growing up, and being men. We are supposed to be in control of our lives, including our sexual lives. To say otherwise challenges our sense of masculinity, who we feel we are, as men.
I applaud those who are coming forward now, and regaining their lives. That which was stolen can never be replaced. But being open about it, telling their stories, and getting the help or therapy that they need to feel better about themselves is a hell of a lot better then living with a secret that destroys lives and souls.
It was never my secret. It was His secret. The shame and guilt was never mine either. It was His to carry.I wasn’t an “athlete” either. I was a paperboy. I was the 1 in 1 in 6. To those coming forward, I say welcome to the rest of your lives.
Benjamin
December 23rd, 2011
3:57 pm
Misty, I want to respond to you, since you responded to me:
“I beg to differ Benjamin, it IS our place to judge someone who abuses children. It IS our place to judge someone who exploits children for their own sexual gratification and it IS our place to judge a person who thinks their sexual predilictions take precedence over someone else’s physical and mental stability.
Joe Paterno didn’t judge — see where it got him and see where it’ll get Penn State when they have to open their wallets and pay for turning a blind eye.”
—
Absolutely it’s our place to judge sexual miscreants that abuse children. You missed my point, though, apparently. Until it is KNOWN that Sandusky did what was alleged, and proven in court, I’m not going to condemn the man.
The court of public opinion + reports on Nancy Grace can be a dangerous thing, too. Scroll through the entire conversation to get full context of what I was saying…
JD
December 23rd, 2011
7:09 pm
Why not show support for Paterno. The man was thrown under the bus. Last time I checked he is not on trial. Schultz you are fool
steverino
December 23rd, 2011
7:13 pm
@ Misty from Macon…I chose the word “untraumatized” carefully, opting not to use emotionally “unaffected” or “unscathed”. Many do live without permanent emotional trauma. Trauma is a serious word.
Kirkyshooter (Ryan)
December 23rd, 2011
7:23 pm
First off, It is no more of an epidemic than it was before, second, kids are more at risk, much more at risk, in their own home than in a sports organization, or any other organization that takes place outside the home, that does not mean it does not happen, clearly, it does, but articles like this, calling it an epidemic do nothing more than “fear monger” the general public and get them all worked up.
Most of these “incidents” of alleged abuse are from times past, not saying it doesn’t happen today, but if you go far enough back into history, you can make it look like the world is falling down around our ears. To the person who said that most abuse victims go on to abuse, you are a fool believing in delusions. The fact that most people who abused were abused themselves is pretty much correct, but that does not equal that most people who were abused go on to become abusers. there is no statistical proof of abused becomeong abusers, in fact there is statistical proof to refute this claim. Not to mention, how many abusers falsly claim to have been abused to try and take some weight off themselves.
Take Theo Fleury for example, the guy lays the blame for most, if not all the bad choices and mistakes he has made in life at the feet of Graham James, now, he is not going around abusing kids (as far as we know, and ignoring his “Calgary Hitmen” involvement, yet he used the fact he was abused as a free pass to avoid taking responsibility for many of his actions, not unlike a sexual abuser.
To the idiot who claims that abuse is worse than murder, I am quite glad to be alive thank you, and it is idiots like you that are calling for the death penalty or life imprisonment for sexual abusers that will one case there to be less sexual abuse survivors and more murder victims. The reality is, if the punishment for sexual abuse is near equal too, or greater than the punishment for murder, than the abusers will find it much easier to hide a body than to silence a living survivor.
Another point, people are using the word “pedophile” here in the wrong context, it is a mental illness that causes a person to be attracted to a pre-pubescent minor, what they have are thoughts, when they put those thoughts into actions, that is when they become criminals, it is the action, not the thought that makes them criminals and sexual predators. I must go on to say, that most people society views as pedophiles, are not actually pedophiles, but either ephebophiles or hebophiles, those mental illnesses deal with attraction to post pubescent youths and teens. again, they are not criminals until they put their thoughts into action, the actual illness do not make them into criminals.
This reminds me of the anomaly regarding homophobia, the most homophobic of people in society tend to be closeted homosexuals who are so hating of them selves due to confusion that they act on their self hatred in an outward violent manner towards homosexuals that are out of the closet, partly out of jealousy. I have to wonder how many of the anti-pedophile warriors out there are following the same methodology.
Anyone, and I mean anyone who says they have never appreciated the looks or been attracted to someone, even just under the age of majority, is lying trough their teeth, both to themselves, and to society. It is not the thought that is criminal, it is putting thoughts into actions that is criminal. that is ignoring the fact that most people who commit sex crimes against minors do so for the power, not because of any sexual attraction, which means that most abusers of children are not in fact pedophiles, hebophiles, or ephebophiles.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 23rd, 2011
7:48 pm
Well we know that CHOKE will never get caught up in a sex scandal, because chicks like winners
doc
December 24th, 2011
1:27 am
pretty poignant read here not absolving paterno just sayng only as captain of the ship he was properly dealt with. it does explain that he in FACT take it to the police in the steps he took and could not have handled it differently and seemed to put some distance between himself and sandusky. ultimately his legacy should not be any less than other men of similar fate who stayed too long like bowden and hayes.
http://www.thepostgame.com/commentary/201112/did-we-get-it-wrong-joe-paterno
btw the second most shared read of 2011 in the washington post and pretty legit newspaper.
jeff i hope you take time to read it and send it on to your colleague who dumped on paterno pretty good.
doc
December 24th, 2011
1:31 am
oh, the person paterno took it to was not a superior but the chief of police in the unincorporated town that penn state sits. he took it to his superior and the police. they ruled on it unilaterally and he had no voice in it.
doc
December 24th, 2011
1:35 am
legionaire you know nothing but speak only lies. read the article before you judge anymore on this subject. you are just plain misinformed.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 24th, 2011
11:15 am
Where is the Saints vs Falcants blog?
Something tells me the AJC is afraid of this game
k483
December 24th, 2011
1:17 pm
Where did you get that one out of every four statistic?
chrissy39
December 24th, 2011
3:20 pm
I need to add my input here.. and many wont like what Im gonna say.. we all agree messing whith children.. thats a big no no.. but now.. many places with sports encouagr sex affairs.. for one.. I joined MLB what do I get?? emails from sex sites… I checked the partners.. MLB… its some of their backers.. look at all the sport sites.. what do you see??? check out the babes… cheerleaders or fans showing their stuff… talking about check out the latest hot babes??? please what does that tell you??? are we promoting sex??? HMMM?? how about all the sex & cheap woman who are willing to show & men willing to share with other guys.. please I catch my own husband on his skydive ( hotmail sharing a picture of a spanish girl about 20? he is is in his 50’s she was bent over a washing machine.. He & a few guys from the sports sites. writting to her asking her name & how hot she was.. this girl could of been their daughter.. I f we are talking sex affairs.. please check your sports sites , social sites & what your husbands or maybe you guys are doing but not saying?? I always love the guys older guys who join these sex sites that have young girls.. & they are in thier 50’s & 60’s drooling.. but they join lying about their age their married status.. where they live.. I have seen it with my own eyes… my cousins husband.. but he was 20 something living in a another town looking for woman 20 -30 he was supposely single & lets not say what he was looking for.. the man is an grandfather…. this is bigger then moist people think.. old guys looking at younger woman.. I mean YOUNGER… & will prise God on the same breath…
War Dang Dawg
December 24th, 2011
3:37 pm
Benjamin, that’s the great thing about being neither a judge or a juror in the Sandusky case. We don’t have to give him the benefit of squat. And as Bob Costas suggested, Sandusky is either a monster or the unluckiest, most persecuted, and defamed person in history. Since I doubt that there’s a vast conspiracy against a former college football asst. coach, I’ll put my money on the former.
War Dang Dawg
December 24th, 2011
3:41 pm
Benjamin, are you a criminal defense lawyer by any chance? I’m a civil lawyer, but I don’t think being an attorney requires us to suspend disbelief. If Sandusky is truly innocent, then he may truly be one of the unluckiest people to ever walk the earth. Clinton and OJ have nothing on him in that category. I don’t think being an attorney requires one to check their common sense at the door.
UG's Stephen A.Dawg. The days of the Good Ol' Boys are dead and gone.
December 24th, 2011
4:34 pm
Why won’t former FSU coach Bobby Bowden be quiet about the Penn St. scandal ? Nobody cares about what he would have done because the situation didn’t arise at FSU. Anyway, didn’t Coach Bowden’s son, Terry have an illicit affair outside his marriage while he was at Auburn, which allegedly resulted in the pregnancy of a teenager ? I don’t know, but somebody should look into it. The whole situation was drowned in secrecy by all involved parties at the time after Terry Bowden was fired. If Akron ran a background check of their newly hired coach I’d bet there’s a 50-50 chance Terry would fail it if the truth was told about his past at Auburn. The Senior Bowden should have just keep his mouth shut (talking about what Paterno should have done) before somebody goes digging about the scandalous and sordid details of Terry’s termination at AU. Bobby Bowden didn’t say one word about his son’s indiscretions and to continue protecting Terry, the last thing he should be doing is continuously shooting his mouth off about Paterno and Penn State !!
UG's Stephen A.Dawg. The days of the Good Ol' Boys are dead and gone.
December 24th, 2011
5:12 pm
JoePa shouldered the blame and took the situation on himself when he said, “he wished he had done more” in light of the sex abuse scandal at Penn St. But haven’t we all regretted that we “didn’t do more” in light of criminal and scandalous acts committed by mindless morons ? I know as a former student who attended and transfered from Florida A & M University in the early 1980s, I regret I didn’t speak out the local authorities about the victims of hazing I witnessed, which were classmates and friends of mine. Instead of reporting the injuries inflicted upon them, I sought to render aid and shelter to them. In other words I would hide my friends who were in the Marching 100 from those upperclassmen in the band who notoriously hazed and intimidated them. The culture of hazing has existed for over 30 to 40 years at FAMU within its Marching 100 band. It is a part of the traditions at that school and is roundly accepted by the administration, alumni, and students. As a freshman at the school in fall of 1981, I constantly complained about the chaos and violence on campus to my parents, who maintained a close watch on my plight until I ultimately transferred to Savannah State University, which had its own problems but was much more civilized than the crazed, unacceptable, ”Planet of the Apes” environment at Florida A & M. Its a shame the highly paid administrators knowingly ignored the violence and didn’t do one thing to change the institutional tradition of criminal violence exacted and inflicted upon students for at least three decades ! It was a crying shame the violence got so bad somebody had to die to bring attention to the hazing problem there. I am not suprised that it took a death to raise awareness to the senseless, insidious traditions of Florida A & M. In retrospect, I too, like Joe Paterno, “wish I had done more” than flee from the violence.