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Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 27, 2026

Penn State Candlelight Vigil: LaVar Arrington Delivers Powerful Speech

The Penn State community is hurting after the campus was blind-sided by the allegations of sex abuse levied against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky last week. An emotional week that included Joe Paterno being fired, an embarrassing riot and what seemed like a torrent of terrible details about the case came to a close on Friday night with a candlelight vigil for the victims of the alleged abuse on the Penn State campus. It was the beginning of the healing process for the students and community as a whole

Student leaders spoke and read letters to the large crowd gathered in front of Old Main. LaVar Arrington, though, maybe have delivered the most powerful speech. Below are some of the excerpts.

Mainlogo2_normal Arrington says this is a wake up call and a time to protect one another. "I'm honored and humbled to be able to speak with you." @DailyCollegian via Twitter
Mainlogo2_normal "Let's make tonight the starting point of setting the standard." Says it's about humanity. "We always answer the call. I will be a voice." @DailyCollegian via Twitter
Mainlogo2_normal Arrington: "Leave here tonight with a resolve and an understanding that you have the power to change things." Ends with a "We are." @DailyCollegian via Twitter
271115_10150710796200002_790645001_19420325_7791243_n_normal LaVar Arrington: "We are Penn State. That'll never change. ... Understand this is really a call to duty." @Andy_Staples via Twitter

Photos from the candlelight vigil can be found here.

For more on the Nittany Lions, visit Penn State blog Black Shoe Diaries. Follow all of SB Nation’s coverage of the Jerry Sandusky investigation in our StoryStream.

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