Feminists Applaud Panel Investigating Sexual Assaults at Air Force Academy

by NOW Staff

A civilian commission investigating sexual assault charges at the United States Air Force Academy blasted top officials earlier this week for ignoring persistent reports of recurrent and unpunished sexual assaults.

In a report released Sept. 22, the commission lambasted leaders at the highest levels of the U.S. Air Force, saying they had known about sexual misconduct problems at the Colorado Springs academy since at least 1993, but failed to take action to stop misconduct or punish offenders. The commission also said that the Air Force general counsel, when giving a report on the scandal in June, ignored this history of neglect in an effort "to shield Air Force headquarters from public criticism."

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld appointed a seven-member civilian commission earlier this year to investigate the emergence of sexual assault allegations made by more than 50 current and former cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy. After NOW and other groups criticized the panel for its right-wing bias and lack of victim advocates, Anita K. Blair—a founder of the anti-feminist Independent Women's Forum who opposed the integration of women in the military—was removed as executive director of the panel. Panelist Amy McCarthy, who had publicly expressed doubts over the veracity of the cadets' claims of assault, resigned and was replaced by Indiana sexual assault expert Anita M. Carpenter. The commission is now headed by Tillie Fowler, a former Republican congresswoman from Florida.

Women's rights leaders praised the investigation and especially applauded the panel's recommendations that training about sexual assault is essential, and that top leadership is the key to ending sexual violence on campus. NOW also commended the victims for their bravery in coming forward, and credited NOW activists across the country for pushing for a fair and non-judgmental group of individuals to carry out the review.

"Tillie Fowler, the former Republican congresswoman from Florida, did a stunning job in such a short time. There is no partisanship when it comes to the issue of violence," NOW President Kim Gandy said. "We hope this investigation will set a precedent for the future, so that victim advocates and experts on sexual violence are automatically included on every panel investigating sexual violence. We also suggest that other institutions of higher learning take a page from the panel's recommendations and clean up their own campuses before the scandal hits their school. "

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