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October 2012
Community regroups after difficult year by Molly Cochran, Tara Richelo, Allison Robertson, William Saas and Elizabeth Timberlake-Newell Over the past year, the community of State College, Pa. and Penn State University has endured a series of dramatic blows to the tight-knit community. Allegations of child sex abuse committed by former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky were made public in November 2011, drawing international media attention. The Penn State Board of Trustees swiftly responded by dismissing Penn State President Graham Spanier and coach Joe Paterno, but these moves proved controversial as some students rioted while an active alumni contingent and some of the local community protested the firings. Summer proved no respite from the cloud of unease hanging over State
College and Penn State. The Freeh report was released in July, and in it were claims of a cover-up by President Spanier, Coach Paterno, former athletic director Tim Curley and former vice president Gary Shultz, who according to Freeh, “never demonstrated through actions or words any concern for Sandusky’s victims until after his arrest.” In August, the NCAA placed sanctions on the university (see the article “NCAA sanctions” in this issue), which was met with concern from both a community that thrives on football season tourism and a university that depends on contributions from alumni. President Rodney Erickson quickly accepted the sanctions based on the determination that the university could readily endure sanctions instead of the threatened end of the football program.
“Given the two alternatives, I felt that it was best to accept the consent decree,” Erickson told “Face the Nation” in July. “This allows us to continue to go on playing football, it allows us to go on helping to support the other intercollegiate athletic teams that we have at the university,” he said. “The choice that I made really allows us to move forward.” It is now autumn, and a new school year and football season for the university have begun. State College and Penn State now face an important question: how can the community move forward? Together We are One? Signs proclaiming, “We are one. We are strong. We are a community,” “Together We Are One,” “Proud to Support Penn State Football” and “Proud to Support Penn State Athletics” have been taped on
the windows of downtown restaurants, businesses and apartments. Each of these poster campaigns is a product of a different group or groups who are not necessarily coordinating their efforts, but all have a similar aim—to create a sense of community. The “Together We Are One” campaign, according to StateCollege.com, is a product of and supported by local business owners and the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County (CBICC) with additional support from the Downtown State College Improvement District. The DSCID was created by an ordinance of the State College borough. Four hundred local businesses participate in its activities, including promotions, annual
see
Community, pg. 4
Central Pa Catholic priests accused of abuse by James Hynes Four men have recently accused Huntington County Roman Catholic priest George Koharchik of sexually molesting them when they were minors. Bishop Mark Bartchak relieved Koharchik of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Mount Union of his priestly duties. The priest will not be permitted to have contact with children while on leave. Investigators confirm that two alleged victims reported abuse to diocese authorities while two others subsequently reported directly to the Cambria County District Attorney’s office. The allegations date back more than 30 years ago when Koharchik was parish priest in Cambria County. It’s not clear at this point where in Cambria County the abuses allegedly occurred or whether the accusers are from the same parish, but according to a brief statement published in the August 26 church bulletin,
“If someone comes to us with allegations, it goes to the Allegation Review Board. If the board deems the allegations to be credible, the bishop will notify the priest and civil authorities are notified.” Tony De Gal, spokesperson for the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese Koharchik referred to an allegation from his “first parish.” Koharchick worked in at least two parishes in Cambria County, St. Clement Roman Catholic Church in Upper Yoder and St Joseph Parish in Portage, before being assigned to St. Catherine of Siena in Huntington County.
Cambria County assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Bolton Penna said that her office is investigating the two allegations that were made directly to them but are in consultation with the state Attorney General’s office to determine jurisdiction. It is not clear at this time if the two earlier accusers who reported to the diocese will press charges. The diocese claimed that the men had requested information about them be withheld in order to “protect their privacy,” Bolton Penna said. In reporting those cases to the District Attorney, the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese was following church protocol. Church workers are mandated to report these crimes, but they were not required by law to report to legal authorities because the alleged victims are adults. Charges have not been filed for any of the allegations, and George Koharchik is the only priest presently accused. The diocese is fully cooperating with investigators.
The Altoona-Johnstown Roman Catholic Diocese is conducting its own investigation. “If someone comes to us with allegations, it goes to the Allegation Review Board,” said Tony De Gal, spokesperson for the diocese. “If the board deems the allegations to be credible, the bishop will notify the priest and civil authorities are notified.” The Allegations Review Board was established in 2002 as part of a comprehensive set of reforms embodied in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People—a document drafted and accepted by the United States Conference of Bishops in response to a spate of sexual abuse accusations against Roman Catholic priests. Some child victim advocates are unsatisfied with Bishop Bartchak’s response to
see
Priests, pg. 5