“Nobody knew about it. That’s the way we handled it.”

If you’re looking for the roots of why Penn State’s athletic administration behaved the way it’s alleged to have done in the Sandusky matter, this lengthy Wall Street Journal article will help shed some light.

For example,

… Dr. Triponey also wrote that Mr. Paterno believed that the school’s code of conduct should not apply to any incidents that take place off campus—that those should be handled by police—and they shouldn’t be allowed to affect anyone’s status as a student.

“Coach Paterno would rather we NOT inform the public when a football player is found responsible for committing a serious violation of the law and/or our student code,” she wrote, “despite any moral or legal obligation to do so.”

Dr. Triponey ended her note by asking Mr. Curley and Mr. Spanier if these were accurate impressions of Mr. Paterno’s views—and whether they shared them.

Mr. Curley’s response, also reviewed by the Journal, was sent three days later and was copied to Mr. Spanier. “I think your summary is accurate,” it said.

Cover up as enshrined school policy.  No wonder Triponey resigned her position.