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Penn State Campus Filled With Disbelief, Shame

UNIVERSITY PARK (KDKA) -- Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno will have his regularly scheduled press conference at noon Tuesday at Beaver Stadium.

It's unclear whether he will answer any questions regarding the child sex abuse allegations against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

Meantime, students on Penn State's campus are angry and shocked over charges Sandusky allegedly abused eight boys over a period of 15 years.

"His actions were totally heinous in every way, but I'm still proud to be a Penn Stater," a student told KDKA-TV.

"I'm really ashamed that these allegations were made and I really hope they're not true," another student said.

No one answered the door when KDKA-TV's David Highfield went to Sandusky's home Monday night.

Athletic Director Tim Curley and Vice President Gary Schultz are also charged, accused of a cover-up.

"This is not about a football team or a university; it is about child sexual abuse and the culture that allowed it to continue," State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said. "These children are scarred for life."

Sandusky allegedly met the boys through his charity, The Second Mile. He faces 40 counts ranging from inappropriate touching to statutory rape.

In 2002, a graduate assistant claimed he saw Sandusky assaulting a boy in the shower. The very next day, he reported it to Joe Paterno.

Paterno told Curley and Curley told Schultz, but no one told the police.

While Paterno was only legally bound to tell his supervisor, some students think he should have done more.

"Joe Paterno's not your ordinary little manager," a student said. "I'm pretty sure he could skip that and go straight to the police."

Paterno released a written statement that said in part: "If this is true, we were all fooled."

RELATED LINKS
Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office
Penn State Nittany Lions
Retired Coach Banned From PSU Campus
Former Penn State Coach Charged With Sexual Abuse
PSU Athletic Director Facing Perjury Charge
Retired PSU Coach Arrested On 40 Counts
Paterno Issues Statement On Sexual Abuse Case
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