# What To Do With a Slightly Used Joe Paterno Statue? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 22, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064 "2012-07-22T19:14:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/1 "2012-07-22T19:14:37Z")
So they took him away…what now? Will they melt it down? Or will some fanatic alumnus buy it for his backyard? All in all, embarrassing to all involved. What did they do with all the Lenin statues in Russia? ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/2 "2012-07-22T20:19:47Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > What did they do with all the Lenin statues in Russia? Sold them to UC Berkeley? ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/3 "2012-07-22T20:28:27Z")
I can think of one guy who will buy it. He’s been stocking up on Bounty for months. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/4 "2012-07-22T20:58:06Z")
Use it for target practice? ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/5 "2012-07-22T21:22:07Z")
It probably won’t happen, but if they sold it (either intact or as scrap) they should give any money to the victims. (And a whole lot more money, besides.) The sculptor who made it is upset about this: > **[Sculptor says removal of Paterno statue is upsetting](https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2012/07/sculptor_says_removal_of_pater.html)** > > The statue, nearly 7 feet tall and weighing more than 900 pounds, was built in 2001 in honor of Paterno's record-setting 324th Division 1 coaching victory and his "contributions to the university." ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/6 "2012-07-22T22:03:42Z")
Maybe they can go Stanley Cup style and let all the stubbornly-blind supporters of Paterno have it for a day. Matt Millen can cry on it, others can simply bow down in front of it. I’m sure some would want to caress it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/7 "2012-07-22T22:32:37Z")
Melt it down and cast boat anchors out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/8 "2012-07-22T22:55:09Z")
They’re going to put it inside the stadium instead of where ever it first was. I’d say sell it in some form or another and give the money to the victims, as **Dendarii Dame** said. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/9 "2012-07-22T23:16:40Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > What did they do with all the Lenin statues in Russia? There was a right-wing guy in Dallas who ran a burger joint (Goff) who bought one from the Ukraine, set it up to face west and added an “America Won” plaque. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/10 "2012-07-23T11:21:53Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > What did they do with all the Lenin statues in Russia? I realize this isn’t your primary question, but a lot of Lenin statues are still standing, particularly (I was told) in the less cosmopolitan areas. In Moscow, a few old Soviet scupltures are gathered into [an outdoor park](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallen_Monument_Park). ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/11 "2012-07-23T12:46:51Z")
Maybe Sandusky can keep it in his cell. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/12 "2012-07-23T13:30:01Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > Maybe Sandusky can keep it in his cell. After a strategically placed hole is bored in it. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/13 "2012-07-23T15:00:53Z")
Lenin statues are everywhere in Russia and he still lies in state on Red Square. Budapest, however, has a graveyard for old Soviet era statues. I think it would be a fitting place for another cult of personality hack. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/14 "2012-07-23T15:26:28Z")
Stick it up Jerry Sandusky’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/15 "2012-07-23T22:48:25Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Stick it up Jerry Sandusky’s ass. Except he would probably\* love \*that. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/16 "2012-07-23T23:15:21Z")
Somehow, that got duplicated. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/17 "2012-07-23T23:30:34Z")
I don’t understand why they took it down. Couldn’t they have just turned him to face the other direction? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/18 "2012-07-24T00:18:14Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > After a strategically placed hole is bored in it. Just make sure you have enough paper towel tubes. Seriously, though, I don’t know why they took down the football players as well. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/19 "2012-07-24T00:34:53Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > It probably won’t happen, but if they sold it (either intact or as scrap) they should give any money to the victims. (And a whole lot more money, besides.) > > The sculptor who made it is upset about this: > > [Sculptor says removal of Paterno statue is upsetting - pennlive.com](http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/07/sculptor_says_removal_of_pater.html) Oh jeez. I thought when I read this that he was butthurt about his art being removed, but no. He’s saying Paterno “was a good man.” They should melt that statue down and repurpose it into a toilet. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064/20 "2012-07-24T01:23:15Z")
> [@zut](#): > > I realize this isn’t your primary question, but a lot of Lenin statues are still standing, particularly (I was told) in the less cosmopolitan areas. In Moscow, a few old Soviet scupltures are gathered into [an outdoor park](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallen_Monument_Park). I read the thread title and came to post this one: > **[Memento Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_Park)** > > Memento Park (Hungarian: Szoborpark) is an open-air museum in Budapest, Hungary, dedicated to monumental statues and sculpted plaques from Hungary's Communist period (1949–1989). There are statues of Lenin, Marx, and Engels, as well as several Hungarian Communist leaders. The park was designed by Hungarian architect Ákos Eleőd, who won the competition announced by the Budapest General Assembly (Fővárosi Közgyűlés) in 1991. On public transport diagrams and other documents the park is usually shown... Oh well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-slightly-used-joe-paterno-statue/629064.md?page=2)