PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man with close ties to Penn State University was in Pittsburgh on Monday.

He was back in his hometown to talk with high school student athletes about sportsmanship.

However, he told said there are lessons to be learned by many from the Penn State scandal and the effort to restore trust in the university.

“This is a crime. This isn’t sports violations. This is a crime,” LaVar Arrington said.

Arrington has strong emotions about what has happened to his alma mater.

“It hit home. I mean, because I played there the people involved in this were people that were dear to me. So, it’s not about going somewhere and sticking my head in the sand or going [and] standing in the corner somewhere. As a man who was raised by a man, it’s our duty to protect and to serve,” Arrington said.

As he interacted with nearly 600 student athletes from 90 schools at the WPIAL Summit on Sportsmanship, he had a bigger message for the broader community about lessons that should be learned in the Penn State scandal.

He spoke at the candlelight vigil on Friday that aimed to help the community heal.

He wants to raise awareness of victims of sexual assault and wants to help the university restore its reputation.

Arrington said the school’s reputation was severely damaged and that part of the healing process is for the Penn State community to rally together.

Interim President Rodney Erickson said his administration has a motto. Do the right thing, the first time and every time.