Libertyville High grad calls Penn State scandal, riot 'surreal'

After watching a mob of fellow Penn State University students riot on campus Wednesday night following the firing of legendary football coach Joe Paterno, Kristin Zacks described the scene as "surreal."

"People were hanging from streetlights like monkeys and tipping (and) destroying cars," Zacks, a 2009 Libertyville High School graduate, told the Daily Herald via email. "It was unlike anything I have ever seen."

Zacks, a junior majoring in security and risk analysis, isn't the only Penn State student from the Chicago suburbs. Lake Zurich High School graduate Joey DeBernardis and Stevenson High School graduate Matt Gigot are there, too, among many others from this area.

The Big 10 campus was rocked this week when former Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was arrested and charged with molesting children. The investigation also resulted in criminal charges against Athletic Director Tim Curley and Vice President for Finance Gary Schultz, who authorities say didn't report the abuse and lied to a grand jury.

The dismissals of Paterno and Penn State President Graham Spanier followed.

That the allegations against Sandusky weren't promptly reported to police by school officials "absolutely disgusts me," Zacks said.

"I keep thinking this is all a bad dream and I will wake up on Saturday with Spanier as president and Paterno as head coach for the game," Zacks said.

Thousands of people descended on the area known as Beaver Canyon as word of Paterno's sacking spread Wednesday night. They destroyed vehicles and public property, prompting a response from police in riot gear.

DeBernardis' father, John, spoke with him by phone Thursday. Although the situation has settled down, Wednesday night "was a madhouse" on campus, Joey DeBernardis told his dad.

Joey DeBernardis - a senior who plays baseball for the Nittany Lions - sent his dad some videos his friends shot of the violence, and the elder DeBernardis was shocked by what he saw.

"It was chaos," said John DeBernardis, a Penn State alumnus who lives in Lake Zurich.

Joey DeBernardis declined to comment Thursday, saying student athletes have been instructed not to talk to the media.

Gigot, 19, a sophomore supply-chain major from Long Grove, said he saw the riot and knew people who were involved.

"A bunch of people I live with and friends that I know said that they got (pepper spray) in their eyes from the police," Gigot told the Daily Herald in an email.

The mood on campus was gloomy Thursday, Zacks said.

Attendance at classes was low, and Zacks said she saw many students simply sitting and crying.

"I think students feel a combination of sadness, fear and disgrace at being betrayed by our administration," said Zacks, 20, of Libertyville. "All sense of normality is gone."

Gigot said most of the young men in his fraternity house support Paterno as a coach but agree with the Penn State board's decision to fire him.

But they're in the minority campuswide, Gigot said.

"Many students are opposed to the action the board took last night, and very few people actually think the right actions were taken," Gigot said.

Penn State hosts the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday. Gigot plans to attend the game despite the scandal and violence.

"Obviously security and police officers are going to be all over the place trying to prevent riots," Gigot said. "If we do beat Nebraska, my guess is that a repeat of (the riot) last night will occur."

Zacks will be at the game, too.

"Despite this situation, I am and always will be a Penn Stater," she said. "Penn State, as a whole, is stronger than this and will come back from this entire situation."