The University of Minnesota president has clearly put faculty and staff members on notice: If you see any sexual assault on school property or an act involving a school employee anywhere, it must be reported to law enforcement immediately.

The directive from Eric Kaler was distributed in response to what he called the "deeply disturbing" sex-abuse scandal that has overwhelmed Penn State University.

Kaler wrote that "all of us are understandably upset by the horrific allegations of sexual abuse of children by a trusted adult. The repeated accusations of personal and institutional failures to halt the abuse should make all of us in higher education stop and think about our actions if confronted by similar circumstances."

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky stands charged with abusing eight boys over a 15-year span. The scandal has led to the firing of Penn State President Graham Spanier and longtime head coach Joe Paterno.

Kaler spelled out the expectations for his school's employees: "I write to remind you, emphatically, that any University of Minnesota employee who witnesses a sexual assault on campus, or a sexual assault involving our employees on or off campus, is expected to report the assault to law enforcement immediately. ... Reporting to a university supervisor is not enough."

PAUL WALSH