Demand Investigation into Penn State Women's Gymnastics & Athletics

Happy to see these brave young gymnasts taking a stand! In doing so, they are protecting future gymnasts from abuse in a place where they should feel safe, cared for, trusting and excited about their sport. For the gymnasts who've stood up and taken action...your suffering has become an inspiration and I wish you happiness and success in the future.. You have admirable courage! Well done!

PSU athletic department just keeps on digging. Time for a complete flush. Class of '82

This is what comes to mind for me when I think about jeff thompson and the athletic director sandy barbour: Co-conspirators Culpible negligence Accessory Accessory after the fact Cover up There needs to be a real investigation into these allegations that appears to date bacl for almost 2 decades, first at auburn and then at penn state.

As an Auburn Graduate, I feel the Thompsons were a disgrace to my University. They failed both the University and the Gymnastics team. Penn State has now felt the same disgrace and the pain and suffering these young women have had to go through is unacceptable. The Thompsons have to go!

There have been nasty rumors about the Thompsons behavior floating around the gymnastics community for many years, it's a disgrace they've been allowed to continue as long as they have. Penn State, you have a lot of explaining to do.

If they have nothing to hide then an outside investigation should show the same. These gymnasts deserve to be heard. With so many having complained, an investigation is necessary.

They did the same to me.

Why/how in the world is Jeff is permitted to remain as the head coach? Because he personally participated in the abusive behavior; because he stood by and allowed Rachelle to do it; because the team has done so well under them? No wait... Because this pretending that she is voluntarily leaving allows Jeff to keep his position and also provides cover for the AD who clearly failed miserably in her job responsibilities. This is an obvious inside job. I wonder how much money Rachelle is getting? Is PSU buying out her contract? Her resignation doesn't address the real issue ... PSU's total failure to meaningfully address a serious problem that was well known until a dignificant public outcry forced their hand.

Former Auburn Gymnast

Jeff Thompson CANNOT remain as the "foundation" of this program. Eradicate the entire cancer.......not just part of it.

As a fan of women's gymnastics and college gymnastics especially I just want to say how heartening it is to look thru the signatures and comments and see not just recognizable PSU and Auburn alums, but gymnasts and family members of gymnasts from other schools. Just on first glance I noticed gymnasts/parents from Illinois, Michigan State, Bowling Green, NC State, New Hampshire, Alabama, Brown, Iowa State, Kentucky and West Virginia. Gymnastics is a community and it's been heartening to see the community support of their fellow gymnasts and gymnasts' families. That to me is the tragedy of this situation and any others like it. This is supposed to be such a positive experience in the lives of these girls and their families. You follow other teams and girls on other teams and it's just such a 100% positive experience, even when the team doesn't do well or the gymnast doesn't excel performance-wise, or there are injuries etc. It still is a huge positive time. And these two people stole that from these girls and their families. And replaced it with something horrible and damaging in many cases. As I saw on social media the past couple weeks the graduating classes of various schools and how happy and accomplished all the girls looked, I just thought with sadness of the Penn State girls who would've been the class of 2016. Jeff and Rachelle Thompson stole from them. Stole something invaluable. And they should pay for that, and should not be allowed to steal any more from gymnasts or their families. Also, note I said JEFF AND Rachelle Thompson. He cannot continue. He was not innocent, he took part in the alleged abuses and if not for him none of her abuses could have been allowed to go on. He needs to go. Now. I haven't seen their signing class but how can they even have signed anyone this year? Who would go to this school right now for gymnastics? What parent would let their kid compete for Jeff Thompson?

The girls do deserve better. The AD should be held accountable for her failures also.

NCAA please investigate at PSU and Auburn seeing as the Thompson's have had abuse allegations from there as well.

I really hope the NCAA starts an investigation soon and digs into the dirt that Penn State has been covering for years. The AD and other Athletic directors should face some sort of criminal charges seeing as they failed to protect young adults in their athletic program. I am a high school teacher and would never allow such abuse to go on in my school as well as I would make sure that proper needed investigations took place. Also, I am curious if PSU offered Rachelle Thompson some sort of salary arrangement to resign and keep quiet about the abuse that her and her husband participated in while at PSU? Penn State needs to really be held responsible for this outrageous behavior by coaches on their campus and on payroll. Last, my heart goes out to all of the girls and coaches that were tortured by the Thompson's, and I hope you can go on and live successful lives and be treated properly as you DESERVE!

Former d1 gymnast.... the administration is crazy for letting this get so out of hand. No one should have to put up with abuse period. Fight for the athletes that make the athletic dept even possible!

At least a real investigation

Take care of this issue!

Competing in collegiate gymnastics was the best 4 years of my life. It is a shame that some young women have that experience ruined by hateful and abusive coaches that their university hires.

That a University with the history of Penn State lets even the APPEARANCE of abuse continue unchecked is not only unthinkable, but unbelievable. If any coach or administrator must be 110% above reproach it should be those working at Penn State. That they have learned nothing from Sandusky's disgusting legacy is beyond appalling and bordering on criminal.

Tricia Evelyn hit the nail on the head. The Key word is "intends" Come on, who can believe her? Quit already, NOW, will you? She's trying desperately to take the heat off, or save one of their salaries. They both are no good. Neither one have upheld the PSU values. If treated employees in a business like they have the gymnasts, lets face it , it been a job for these athletes., they would have been fired with numerous lawsuites against them and the company. why universities do not uphold the same rights, I do not understand. This needs to move forward whether Rachelle inteds to resign or does resign. Someone should add up the money these two have cost gymnasts in counselors,ant-depressants and tuition, Not to mention the permanent psychological damage they caused. They should be run out of town. Yes, I have a personal experience with the abuse of a gymnast.