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Influence of Moral Reasoning

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Individual: Influence of Moral Reasoning
Due: August 12, 2012

Individual: Influence of Moral Reasoning

In the article by R.Scherer “Did Penn State Officials Ignore Sexual Abuse Allegations?” the actions of Gary Schultz. Gary Schultz was the Senior Vice President of Penn State University who had the responsibility of the campus police was informed by Tim Curley, the Penn State athletic director about allegations of sexual abuse against Penn State University football coach Jerry Sandusky by an eyewitness graduate student. The graduate student witnessed Jerry Sandusky sexually abusing a young boy (on Penn State facilities). Gary Schultz, the Vice President did not take action until two weeks after this report. It was not until two weeks later that Gary Schultz took initiative to speak to the graduate student who witnessed the abuse. After speaking to the graduate student, Gary Schultz then reported the claim as “horseplay” to the President of the University Mr. Graham Spanier. Gary Schultz downplayed the graduate student’s eye witness claim of sexual abuse to mere “horseplay”, which led the President of the University that the claim was not serious and no action needed to be taken. Gary Schultz, withholding the truth and seriousness of the claim resulted in chain of negative outcomes. Also, when he went to court, he lied on the stand and stated that he was not informed of the abuse by the graduate student. These actions (or lack of) had a great impact on future events because by allowing Jerry Sandusky to continue as a coach, many more children were sexually abused. Also, Gary Schultz, along with Tim Curley who covered up the claim with him, was charged with perjury. Gary Schultz is now retired from Penn State University and still claims to be innocent. If I were in Gary Schultz’s position I would have immediately confronted the graduate student about the abuse claims. After hearing the eye witness account, I would have gone to the president of the school, along with the graduate student to report the abuse. I would also report the allegations to the police authority. I would not have waited two weeks nor covered up the claim with lies that it was just “horseplay. This issue should have been taken care of right away and reported truthfully. Gary Schultz held a power of position of respect and authority at Penn State University, and most importantly, responsible for the campus police. He failed at his job. If I were in his position, I would have done my job and followed my morals and responsibilities. My moral reasoning, that the actions in this claim were morally wrong and the child needed to be protected and the abuse reported, would have driven my actions to pursue these claims aggressively against Jerry Sandusky.

References

Scherer, R. (2011). Did Penn State Officials Ignore Sexual Abuse Allegations?

Christian Science Monitor. Gale Opposing Views in Context. Retrieved

August 10, 2012 from http://ic.galegroup.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ic/ovic/NewsDetailsPage/NewsDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=OVIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName=News&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&source=&sortBy=&displayGroups=&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CA271858405&userGroupName=uphoenix&jsid=c64e7da9057cc4b1879d8be7fb1cf27e DOC: GALE/A271858405

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