Penn State students protect Paterno statue

Kim Ranck touches the arm on the Joe Paterno statue as she walks away in tears Wednesday, July 18, 2012. / Nabil K. Mark,AP Photo/Centre Daily Times

(CBS/AP) STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Following calls for the removal of Joe Paterno's statue from the Penn State campus, some students have begun a vigil to protect the statute from vandals.

Seniors Mike Elliot and Kevin Berkon organized an impromptu gathering at the statue Tuesday after a plane flew over campus with a banner that read, "Take the statue down or we will."

Berkon said they were "extremely angry" about the message.

Elliot said police told them they couldn't sleep at the statue, but they were allowed to set up a tent — and they were willing to stay up all night if necessary.

He said the action wasn't intended as a protest but only to protect the statue from harm.

University police, who have an officer monitoring the statue, didn't return calls seeking comment.

A scathing report by former FBI director Louis Freeh last week concluded that Paterno helped cover up child sex abuse allegations against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

The Freeh report has tarnished the bronze statue of Paterno that had been a rallying point for students in the months since Sandusky's November arrest touched off the scandal.

Earlier Tuesday, Penn State President Rodney Erickson said that no decision has been made on whether to take down the statue.

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A company that towed the banner demanding the removal of the statue has a history of controversy, according to aviation records.

According to the Centre Daily Times, the FAA grounded a plane from the same company - Air America Aerial Ads - after it towed banners taunting Tiger Woods during the 2010 Masters golf tournament.

A man who answered the phone at Air America declined to give his name or identify who paid for the flight, but he says they believe in free speech.

[maxint1-2009]

"The Penn State Way" is better at protecting images than it is at protecting children. If you read the outraged comments by PSU students regarding the renaming of "Paternoville" you will see what I mean. They are almost cult like in their "We are.." attitude.

[jnostromo]

Typifies the state of America today..excuse everything

[twmat311]

Exactly, and even worse; seems if you ring enough public service points or good deeds (read: sports wins), after a while you can pull off a real zinger and be let go - at least in public opinion. As one wrote below: would these statue protectors do the same if Sandusky's victims were their little brothers?

[rightofwrong]

This is still the USA where you are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, right? Joe Paterno is dead and cannot defend himself. Just because this former FBI guy says it's so, does not make it so. Let it be, Sandusky is in jail for a long time. Justice has been served. You don't beat the rooster because he didn't crow when he saw the wolf kill the sheep. Stupid people.

[twmat311]

He can't speak, but PSU has identified email and correspondence history (from him and others) where he's alleged to be deeply implicated in this. "I wish I did more" isn't holding up any more; appears he was in deeper than he let on.

[lesserof2evil]

So these morons' parents spend tens of thousands of dollars for their education, and they spend their time protecting the statue of a person harboring pedophile. If I were an employer, I would be wise to stay away from Penn State campus.

[rightofwrong]

The same thing can be said of the 1 Billion+ Catholics they look the other way on priests.

[KnowerseekerReturns]

' a plane flew over campus with a banner that read, "Take the statue down or we will." ' -- Nice!

Maybe they could drop a balloon full of paint on it next time.

[Jaylah54200]

Once the university removes the statue, this won't be an issue any more.

[ThrMeldrich]

The students who are trying to 'save' the statue are just as sick~! I bet they would not want to protect his legacy if they were the ones getting r8ped in the stalls!

[forthekids19773]

His actions and those of the admins of this place, they all may as well been in those shower stalls with the pedophile destroying those innocent lives.

Hope its hot enough in hell where he is.

[corkryn]

So Penn State's called in the police to protect a statue of a guy who refused to call in police to protect innocent children. How hilariously deranged.