Panel releases academy report Published Sept. 23, 2003 By Master Sgt. Scott Elliott Air Force Print News WASHINGTON -- The blue-ribbon panel investigating sexual misconduct at the Air Force Academy reported Sept. 22 that failures in leadership led to 142 reported cases of sexual abuse in the past 10 years.“We found a deep chasm in leadership during the most critical time in the academy’s history -- one that extended far beyond Colorado Springs,” said Tillie K. Fowler, chairman of the Panel to Review Sexual Misconduct Allegations at the U.S. Air Force Academy.“Sadly, we believe this chasm in leadership helped create an environment in which sexual assault became a part of life,” she said.Fowler said the roots of that environment run so deep into the academy’s culture that more than 25 percent of male cadets stated last year they did not believe women belong at the school.“That is a severe problem in the culture of the academy and reflects a failure of character and values,” she said.The panel made 21 recommendations to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Air Force Secretary Dr. James G. Roche. Among those was a request that the Department of Defense inspector general conduct a thorough review of accountability of previous leaders at the academy and Air Force headquarters.“We recognize the difficulty in holding accountable those who have left their positions of leadership, and particularly those who have left military service altogether,” Fowler said. “However, given the magnitude of this situation … every effort should be made to formally document the failures of former leaders and ensure that documentation becomes a part of their official military records.”Fowler said the panel believes current Air Force and academy leaders understand the seriousness of the situation and are committed to finding a lasting solution.“We are impressed with the leadership of Secretary Roche and (Air Force Chief of Staff) General (John P.) Jumper after a decade of inaction and failures,” she said.The panel did, however, recommend changes to Roche and Jumper’s “Agenda for Change” at the academy.“The Agenda for Change overlooks an established form of privileged communication that is currently available throughout the armed forces and could benefit cadet victims: the psychotherapist-patient privilege,” Fowler said.The seven-member panel recommended combining the existing “Cadets Advocating Sexual Integrity and Education” program with a trained victim advocate psychotherapist program manager. Fowler said the new program would ensure that sexual assault victims had an established communication chain in which to report their assaults.“Giving victims choices helps them regain a sense of control over their lives and promotes the healing process,” she said.Fowler said the Agenda for Change should be viewed as an initial step toward “reversing years of institutional ineffectiveness.“Changes will not happen overnight, nor will (they) be truly effective without sustained focus by academy officials and senior Air Force leadership,” Fowler said. “The very culture of the academy must be altered before real change can be maintained for future generations.”The panel also recommended a high degree of monitoring to ensure the changes take hold and remain effective. The panel urged the formation of committees with specific oversight responsibilities for academic affairs, student life and athletics.Fowler also called on Congress to more aggressively exercise its oversight authority.