If they say a picture is worth a thousand words, one can imagine a few choice ones uttered by members of the Penn State athletic department early last week when photos of alleged hazing incidents were sent via e-mail to two coaches.

The last thing the university would want to deal with would be another high-profile story with the potential to blow up on the national level. Hazing associated with collegiate athletes has been a hot-button topic as of late and anything in the least bit related would certainly be a nightmare for Penn State athletics.

The amazing thing is, though, that rather than brushing the incident aside and covering for itself, the athletic department and those involved have been relatively open and very responsible about the entire issue.

Statements made by both wrestling coach Troy Sunderland and athletic director Tim Curley have cited investigations launched immediately to set the situation right.

Even Judicial Affairs has been open about the questioning of current members of the wrestling team.

When the entire university could be tight-lipped about everything, it has helped to bring exposure and justice to a big problem in athletics and college life in general.

It's hard to say, however, if the university would risk the image-tarnishing backlash that could arise if it admitted that a hazing incident occurred here. The athletic department might even find people in violation of its hazing policy, and people will be found accountable and punishments will take place.

No one should be surprised, though, if the word hazing is either denied or never heard of involving this situation again.

On top of that, the problem remains that any wrestlers who have commented don't feel the incident was an act of hazing.

That may be the real problem in this whole ordeal.

Acts involving alcoholic beverages and near-nudity such as those featured in the pictures with and things much tamer might be more commonplace than perceived. And those things might even be hazing.

The fact is that a very clear definition of hazing needs to be established, perhaps by some national precedent.

Even though everyone questioned said that all the actions were voluntary, the pack mentality of athletics makes any straying from the course a selfish act.

Although these student-athletes go through so much together, physically and psychologically, it seems unnecessary to push that any further.

Whatever does come of this situation must be taken as a step forward, to help bring awareness to the public and those who could be involved that certain behavior is not acceptable, regardless of whether it is voluntary or not.

By continuing to deal with the current situation in a responsible manner and the further education of its players, there is a possibility that Penn State athletics might not have to deal with or fear the surfacing of these types of incriminating photos again.