There’s been a lot of commentary condemning Penn State students who rioted over Joe Paterno’s sacking. It’s important to point out this story from today’s Philadelphia Inquirer:

About 10,000 people gathered Friday night outside Penn State’s Old Main building for a candlelight vigil to support the sex-abuse victims. Speakers included former Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington and the university’s student body president, T.J. Bard.

“May we never forget the victims, and may we fight until no child is harmed again,” Bard said.

After the Old Main bells struck 10 p.m., a moment of silence was observed, leading into the Blue Band playing the alma mater. At the end of the vigil, the crowd took part in a “We are Penn State” cheer.

Also Friday, Penn State’s acting president, Rodney Erickson, pledged to “reorient” the university’s culture after the scandal.

“Never again should anyone, regardless of position, at Penn State feel scared to do the right thing,” he said.

But don’t feel too comforted by the announcement that the university’s Board of Trustees is going to conduct an open investigation of the scandal:

Unanswered, though, was how successfully the university could investigate itself. The special investigative committee will not have subpoena power or be able to compel anyone who may face potential criminal charges to speak.

It is not credible that an institution that gave itself over to the uncritical worship of the football program, leading to this crisis, suddenly has the credibility to give a believable account of its own corruption. This is out of their hands now. It has to be.