Rape at the academy

last updated 8 January 2015

Colorado Springs

Nearly 20 percent of 579 female cadets surveyed by the Defense Department said they had been sexually assaulted during their time at the Air Force Academy. In 89 percent of the cases, the attacker was another cadet. Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida, addressing 4,000 cadets, said they should be “mad as hell” about the numbers. “The very existence of this institution is threatened,” he said. The investigation began after a group of women came forward and said that they had been raped by male cadets. Many said that administrators penalized them for breaking rules on drinking, but let their attackers off. “Not one person should have to go through this,” said former cadet Sharon Fullilove.