We haven't really been following the story, comparatively. (And I don't really know who Paterno is, so it's weird to me watching grown-ass people act like they found out there's no Football Santa Claus.) My mother wondered why the graduate student didn't "kick the assistant's ass", much less fail to call the law. I mean, it's one thing to have That Employee(my mom has one at her job right now, and it's NFG) whom you sort of think might be...untoward in those kinds of ways, it's another to witness things.

Great tagline, Hec. Love that Soft Boys song.

I was also tempted by the "jewel encrusted hand" line. You get so many great images with Robyn.

My mother wondered why the graduate student didn't "kick the assistant's ass", much less fail to call the law. I mean, it's one thing to have That Employee(my mom has one at her job right now, and it's NFG) whom you sort of think might be...untoward in those kinds of ways, it's another to witness things.

It's such a weirdly entrenched and hierarchical culture that it would be like a deacon turning in a bishop, or a private blowing the whistle on a colonel.

I want to live in a world where you don't have to be "state mandated" to report an adult raping a child to the police. Where every adult feels the same responsibility to protect kids, or anyone being abused.

I agree with this. I brought it up because I'm trying to see where those involved were legally at fault as opposed to ethically/morally/humanly at fault (which they totally were). People are calling for Paterno and others to be arrested and I'm trying to understand if there is a legal leg to stand on there.

I have a friend (a teacher) who had a coworker that she suspected having sexual relationship with students. For years she tried to get evidence but never could. She finally did (by walking in in him with 2 different students at 2 different points in the SAME DAY). She reported him. He's been arrested and charged (awaiting trial). She gets accosted at the grocery store by his supporters wanting to know why she "did this to him." It's turned in to this huge ugly mess where he says he's innocent and she did this to get his job.

Yeah, but it's terrible thinking that means looking at a kid getting violated as part of their culture. I am kind of afraid that Mr. S. will cross the line from Skeevy Older Guy to Full-on Perv.

she suspected having sexual relationship with students. For years she tried to get evidence but never could. She finally did (by walking in in him with 2 different students at 2 different points in the SAME DAY).

DUDE. Seriously?!? If you get walked in on doing something illegal and immoral earlier in the day, you still have the balls to do it AGAIN, with someone ELSE, later in the day?!? WTF, dude.

with someone ELSE, later in the day?!? WTF, dude.

Well, obviously he was interrupted the first time. Der.

DUDE. Seriously?!? If you get walked in on doing something illegal and immoral earlier in the day, you still have the balls to do it AGAIN, with someone ELSE, later in the day?!? WTF, dude.

Yes. And at school. (FYI, we're talking high school here.)

Jessica, my mother thinks she went to college with your aunt. Bryn Mawr 1971? And my mother says my grandparents knew "the Ransohoffs" (which, not sure) well.

Kathy? Of it might have been one of their cousins - Sally, Lela, or Martha.

There are also an awful lot of 2nd cousins it could be...

(And then, because there was a Ransohoff-Westheimer marriage in 2 separate generations, there are several branches of both families where the relationships get really hard to map. I went to college with a girl who was my 3rd and 4th cousin, from different sides of the family.)

Not apropos of this conversation, I give you: Old Docs, New Docs.