Sociologist Says Penn State Scandal Could Be The Tipping Point [VIDEO]

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett says he supports the firing of famed Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and University president Graham Spanier.

Corbett says he's lost confidence in their ability to lead because of the unfolding child sex abuse scandal involving one of Paterno's former assistant coaches.

Rutgers sociology professor Dr. Debra Carr says the story is getting so much attention nationally because people are captivated and horrified by the blatant sexual assault of children - and many people feel it's a moral outrage Paterno didn't go to the police - but at the same time, many love him, and wonder how could the university could fire him in such an unceremonious way after such an esteemed career.

She says while a lot of people feel bad for Paterno, " I think there is the belief today- and rightfully so- that we cannot cede to powerful institutions at the expense of hurting the rights of individuals."

Courtesy Associated Press

Dr. Carr points out we have seen a pattern - even before this case -where abuse was covered up, in the catholic church, and also in military academies - where several women had been sexually assaulted, " and I think maybe this is a tipping point - whereby the pubic and people who work for these large institutions will work in defense of the victims rather than the powerful people…many are asking how many boys, how many girls are going to be sexually assaulted - how many of them are going to go on and have lives of depression and other difficulties while bystanders silently sit by?"

She also says this is going to raise awareness at college campuses - I'm already hearing chatter -whether it's on facebook or through Rutgers correspondence - about what kind of sexual assault training are we going to do, what kind of sexual harassment training can we do."

Dr. Carr adds the case also brings up disturbing and troubling questions about trust…because what we're seeing is "it's not the guy in some bushes with the trench coat that puts your child at risk, but it could be a friend, a relative, or another trusted member of one's social circle."