The onus was on the graduate student who witnessed the alleged crime to report the crime to police. Joe Paterno is not the police. If someone saw a murder in the locker would they report it to the football coach? How does Paterno know the story is true? How does he know the graduate student didn’t have something against Sandusky? These are the reasons the witness is supposed to report direct to police. The fault is his. And Sandusky’s if he committed the crimes.
So why was the Pres fired with that logic?
JoePa IS Penn State, don't you think that something like this that could entirely ruin his reputation and the reputation of the university, deserved him looking more deeply into it? Did he ever directly confront Sandusky about it, to even determine if he was guilty or not? I would have moved the heavens and the earth, if need be, to get those answers as soon as possible.
He didn't know. That's why he should have informed the police so they could investigate the possibility that horrible crimes were being committed in his domain. And, be sure, the athletic facilities were Paterno's domain no matter what some organization chart might have said.