Statues Are For Leaders
In the early
morning hours of Sunday, July 22, 2012, workers at Penn State University draped
a blue tarp over the statue of Joe Paterno just outside Beaver Stadium.
Paterno's bronze likeness had greeted football fans entering the hallowed field
since 2001. But on that morning, a forklift unceremoniously moved the monument
to an undisclosed storage space inside the stadium.
Rumors of
the statue's removal began circulating shortly after an independent report by
former FBI director Louis Freeh concluded that Paterno, along with other
high-level PSU administrators, knew about and deliberately concealed the Jerry
Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal. Just a few days before workers carted the
monument away, a plane could be seen flying over State College, Pennsylvania, pulling
a banner reading, "Take the statue down or we will."
In a
statement, Penn State's current president Rod Erickson said, "I believe
that, were it to remain, the statue will be a recurring wound to the multitude
of individuals across the nation and beyond who have been the victims of child
abuse."
Erickson could
have added that leaving the Paterno statue in place would provide a constant
reminder of a colossal, institution-wide leadership failure. And, for that
matter, he might have mentioned that statues are reserved for leaders.
Freeh's
report confirms what most of us suspected all along: the Sandusky cover-up
occurred at all levels of PSU's leadership team. Desperate to protect their leadership
reputations, officials ignored abuse against children. The evidence, including
emails between top administrators, is there in the report for anyone to see.
There are
those clinging to the belief that Paterno was not involved in covering up the
scandal. After all, there are no incriminating emails from Paterno, because he
didn't use email. But his influence is unmistakable in messages in which top
officials go along with ethical breaches after "talking it over with Joe."
Being a
great leader means doing what's right—every time—regardless of the potential
consequences. And if you ignore that obligation, don't expect anyone to erect—or
defend—a statue in your honor. 
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Author George Brymer's comments about the leaders who get it, and those who never will.
