Alleged emails sent by top Penn State University officials in 2001, appear to indicate the school not only knew about the allegations against former assistant football coach, and convicted child rapist Jerry Sandusky, but that they allegedly chose not to tell authorities, preferring to handle the matter internally. Content from the emails were provided to Susan Candiotti of CNN.com.

The emails, between former Penn State President Graham Spanier, former Athletic Director Tim Curley, and former university vice president Gary Schultz, appear to suggest that the group originally wanted to contact the state's child welfare agencies, but that changed after Curley met with head football coach Joe Paterno.

Here's the alleged content from one email that was reportedly sent from Curley to Spanier and Schultz:

"After giving it more thought and talking it over with Joe yesterday, I am uncomfortable with what we agreed were the next steps...I am having trouble with going to everyone, but the person involved."

According to Candiotti, Curley went on to write that he was "more comfortable" meeting directly with Sandusky and getting him "professional help." Curley allegedly wrote that if Sandusky did not cooperate, that the school would then go to authorities.

Then President Spanier's alleged reply indicates that he was OK with not telling authorities even though he knew the school could get in trouble, writing that "can be assessed down the down the road." He reportedly called Curley's suggestion "humane" and "a reasonable way to proceed."

Of the boys that Sandusky was convicted of having had sexual contact with, four occurred after 2001. And if these emails did indeed occur, one can make a case that the school helped put those children in harm's way.