Seraphim
08-29-2003, 05:48 AM
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030829/ap_on_re_us/academy_investigation_5
By ROBERT GEHRKE, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Nearly one in five female Air Force Academy cadets said they had been ******ly assaulted during their time at the academy, according to a survey underscoring the extent of the problem at the scandal-plagued school.
Although the results of the Defense Department survey are preliminary, Air Force and academy officials acknowledged the severity of the issues of culture and climate that led to the *** assault scandal.
"I've seen the numbers, and we have a problem," Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida, commandant of cadets, told a reporter after a stern address to 4,000 cadets at the academy near Colorado Springs.
In his speech, Weida acknowledged that misconduct had tarnished the academy's reputation and said: "If you think this problem has been blown out of proportion by the media, you are wrong."
The survey is part of an inquiry by Pentagon (news - web sites) Inspector General Joseph E. Schmitz into how academy leadership handled allegations from female cadets who said they were reprimanded after they reported being ******ly assaulted.
A department official who had read the report, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the survey done this year showed that 109 of the 579 female cadets surveyed, or 18.8 percent, said they had been ******ly assaulted in their time at the academy. ****** assault was defined as anything from unwanted touching to rape.
In 89 percent of the cases, the alleged assailant was identified as another cadet.
The survey also said that 11 percent of senior female cadets and 3 percent of freshman female cadets reported having been the victim of rape or attempted rape since enrolling at the academy.
"In terms of that rape number, if that is true, that's a very disturbing number," said Sean Conway, chief of staff for Sen. Wayne Allard (news, bio, voting record), R-Colo., who has pressed the Air Force to address the issue.
In a statement, Air Force officials said the survey was consistent with the data compiled through an internal review and supports the sweeping changes implemented by Air Force Secretary James Roche this year.
Annual academy surveys conducted from 1996 to 2002 — with the exception of 1999 — indicated between 11 percent and 19 percent of female cadets reported having been ******ly assaulted since enrolling at the academy.
Roche played down the validity of those results since the surveys were not scientifically conducted but said they should have raised red flags for academy leaders. He has demanded regular reports and the use of surveys to monitor the effectiveness of the changes.
"We will chart a fundamentally different course for the academy," the Air Force said in a statement Thursday. "And most importantly, we are going to closely monitor our progress as we move forward."
During his 20-minute speech to cadets Thursday, Weida brandished a sword, saying the actions of some cadets had tarnished the longtime symbol of the noble warrior.
"Some among us have rusted this sword," he said. "If we don't reverse this trend, the very existence of this institution is threatened," he said.
The survey results were first reported by The Rocky Mountain News in Denver.
A second survey was administered to cadets on Wednesday and a third is expected this fall. The upcoming survey will also be given to cadets at the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to compare the climate at the three academies, Weida said.
The inspector general's report containing the survey results is expected to be released in December.
___
Associated Press Reporter Judith Kohler reported from the Air Force Academy.
By ROBERT GEHRKE, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Nearly one in five female Air Force Academy cadets said they had been ******ly assaulted during their time at the academy, according to a survey underscoring the extent of the problem at the scandal-plagued school.
Although the results of the Defense Department survey are preliminary, Air Force and academy officials acknowledged the severity of the issues of culture and climate that led to the *** assault scandal.
"I've seen the numbers, and we have a problem," Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida, commandant of cadets, told a reporter after a stern address to 4,000 cadets at the academy near Colorado Springs.
In his speech, Weida acknowledged that misconduct had tarnished the academy's reputation and said: "If you think this problem has been blown out of proportion by the media, you are wrong."
The survey is part of an inquiry by Pentagon (news - web sites) Inspector General Joseph E. Schmitz into how academy leadership handled allegations from female cadets who said they were reprimanded after they reported being ******ly assaulted.
A department official who had read the report, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the survey done this year showed that 109 of the 579 female cadets surveyed, or 18.8 percent, said they had been ******ly assaulted in their time at the academy. ****** assault was defined as anything from unwanted touching to rape.
In 89 percent of the cases, the alleged assailant was identified as another cadet.
The survey also said that 11 percent of senior female cadets and 3 percent of freshman female cadets reported having been the victim of rape or attempted rape since enrolling at the academy.
"In terms of that rape number, if that is true, that's a very disturbing number," said Sean Conway, chief of staff for Sen. Wayne Allard (news, bio, voting record), R-Colo., who has pressed the Air Force to address the issue.
In a statement, Air Force officials said the survey was consistent with the data compiled through an internal review and supports the sweeping changes implemented by Air Force Secretary James Roche this year.
Annual academy surveys conducted from 1996 to 2002 — with the exception of 1999 — indicated between 11 percent and 19 percent of female cadets reported having been ******ly assaulted since enrolling at the academy.
Roche played down the validity of those results since the surveys were not scientifically conducted but said they should have raised red flags for academy leaders. He has demanded regular reports and the use of surveys to monitor the effectiveness of the changes.
"We will chart a fundamentally different course for the academy," the Air Force said in a statement Thursday. "And most importantly, we are going to closely monitor our progress as we move forward."
During his 20-minute speech to cadets Thursday, Weida brandished a sword, saying the actions of some cadets had tarnished the longtime symbol of the noble warrior.
"Some among us have rusted this sword," he said. "If we don't reverse this trend, the very existence of this institution is threatened," he said.
The survey results were first reported by The Rocky Mountain News in Denver.
A second survey was administered to cadets on Wednesday and a third is expected this fall. The upcoming survey will also be given to cadets at the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to compare the climate at the three academies, Weida said.
The inspector general's report containing the survey results is expected to be released in December.
___
Associated Press Reporter Judith Kohler reported from the Air Force Academy.