Information about the alleged abuses at Penn State that have come to light over the last few weeks have left many shocked and angry.  Riots ensued over the subsequent firing of university president Graham Spanier and head coach Joe Paterno, leaving behind a campus torn by the controversy. Outside of their gates, the rest of the country closely watched, gossiping over rumors surrounding the alleged child molester assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Extensive media coverage paints a picture of the scandal, but is it enough?

We heard about Sandusky’s recent denial of the charges. We heard about how Paterno, head coach for 46 years, was fired over the phone and how his name was removed from the Big Ten trophy. We heard about The Second Mile, the charity organization formed by Sandusky for at-risk kids and about the ironic title of his novel, “Touched: The Jerry Sandusky Story.”  We heard about Penn State’s football game against Nebraska and the next one against Ohio State. We heard about student sympathy for Paterno and the university seeking to repair damages and create a better image for itself by firing administrators.

But we aren’t hearing enough about the eight victims who were sexually abused.  We see “Victim One, Two…” in the news, but they remain just that—numbers, a new stat to add to the growing list of charges against a pedophile.  Where is the focus on getting justice for innocent children?  Where is the focus on addressing pedophilia and sexual predators in the nation? Why isn’t the media focusing on a national crime or the lifelong scars Sandusky left on children?

The story surrounding Penn State story has shown us an unfortunate truth in the media and our society’s attention span: that scandal trumps justice. Yes, Paterno is important because he demonstrates that people must be held accountable when they put others’ lives in danger, whether they be the perpetrator or the quiet onlooker.  But in making Paterno the face of the story, we are evading the heart of the issue: child molestation.

If this new story were to have any service to Sandusky’s victims, or any victims of child molestation for that matter, it would generate a discussion on how to keep children safe. It would offer information and resources for victims of child molestation, helping them cope with their experiences. But most importantly, it would teach children that their rights are taken seriously and that should they never stay silent if they feel in some way violated by their authorities.