Editing United States Air Force Academy (section)

==Controversies==

===Honor scandals===
The first honor scandal broke in 1965, when a resigning cadet reported knowing of more than 100 cadets who had been involved in a cheating ring. 109 cadets were ultimately expelled. Cheating scandals plagued the academy again in 1967, 1972, 1984, 2004,<ref>[http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5180255 Erin Emery, 19 AFA Cadets Admit Cheating, ''Denver Post,'' 8 Feb. 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217072608/http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5180255 |date=17 February 2007 }} In April 2004, cadets were given a military knowledge test over the computer in cadet dorms. An estimated 265 cadets were questioned for cheating then, when academy officials noticed it took only three minutes for cadets to take a 25-question test. Several cadets resigned during the investigation.</ref> 2007,<ref>{{cite news |title=Cheating Scandal Rocks Air Force Academy |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cheating-scandal-rocks-air-force-academy/ |access-date=29 July 2022 |agency=AP |publisher=CBS News |date=14 February 2007|quote=Approximately 28 freshmen cadets, including 19 varsity athletes, were investigated for possible cheating on a military knowledge test. The answers were reportedly posted on a social-networking Web site.}}</ref> 2012, 2014, 2019, 2020, and 2025. 

In April 2022, 22 cadets were permanently expelled from the academy due to a May 2020 final exams cheating scandal in which 245 cadets were investigated.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2022/04/14/air-force-academy-expels-22-cadets-for-2020-cheating-scandal/|title= Air Force Academy expels 22 cadets for 2020 cheating scandal |first=Rachel |last=Cohen |date=19 April 2022 |access-date=3 May 2022 |work=[[Air Force Times]]}}</ref>

===Allegations of sexual harassment, assault and gender bias===
{{see also|2003 United States Air Force Academy sexual assault scandal}}
The sexual assault scandal that broke in 2003 forced the academy to look more closely at how effectively women had been integrated into cadet life; concerns with sexual assault, [[hazing]] of male cadets, and the disciplinary process during this period were detailed in a 2010 book by a former cadet.<ref>{{Cite book
| edition = 1st
| publisher = Wheatmark
| isbn = 9781604943955
| last = Graney
| first = David W.
| title = Rogue institution: vigilante injustice, lawlessness, and disorder at the Air Force Academy
| location = Tucson, AZ
| date = 2010
}}</ref> Following the scandal and rising concerns about sexual assault throughout the U.S. military, the Department of Defense established a task force to investigate sexual harassment and assault at each of the United States service academies. The report also revealed 92 incidents of reported [[sexual assault]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dtic.mil/dtfs/doc_recd/High_GPO_RRC_tx.pdf |title=Report of the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault and Violence at the Service Academies, June 2005 |access-date=2012-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019132701/http://www.dtic.mil/dtfs/doc_recd/High_GPO_RRC_tx.pdf |archive-date=19 October 2018 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> At the same time, the academy implemented programs to combat sexual assault, harassment and gender bias. The new programs actively encourage prompt sexual assault reporting. The academy's decisive actions of zero tolerance were praised by officials and experts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aimpoints.hq.af.mil/display.cfm?id=7030 |title=David Kassabian, "Experts Praise AFA's Steps Against Sex Assault," ''Aimpoints,'' Oct. 7, 2005 |publisher=Aimpoints.hq.af.mil |date=7 October 2005 |access-date=2012-02-20 }}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref>

Following the 2003 crisis, the Department of Defense directed its attention to the problem of sexual harassment and assault at the military academies. The Department of Defense claimed that the program was successful although during the school year 2010–11 there were increased reports of sexual assault at the academy; however, one goal of the program is increased reporting.<ref name=DOD20102011>{{cite web |title=Department of Defense Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies Academic Program Year 2010–2011: Report to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives |url=https://www.sapr.mil/public/docs/reports/FINAL_APY_10-11_MSA_Report.pdf |publisher=United States Department of Defense |access-date=27 December 2011 |date=21 October 2011 |quote=The 65 reports represent an increase from the 41 reports made in APY 09-10. The Department does not have the ability to conclusively identify the reasons for this increase in reporting behavior. However, in prior years' assessments, the Department identified steps the academies could take to encourage more victims to report. Some of the increased reporting of sexual assault may be attributed to these efforts as well as many other factors. |archive-date=9 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909160308/http://www.sapr.mil/public/docs/reports/FINAL_APY_10-11_MSA_Report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> There have been several attempts to prosecute cadets for rape since 2003,{{citation needed |date=April 2023}}{{when |date=April 2023}} but only three have resulted in convictions, citing the confidential informant program that ran from 2011 to 2012. The informant program was led by former AFOSI agent Brandon Enos, AFOSI's most successful agent in Air Force Academy's history in combating sexual assault and drug use among cadets. After the confidential informant program was mysteriously disbanded in 2013 on orders from General Johnson, sexual assault reporting fell by half. On 5 January 2012 rape charges were referred against cadets in three unrelated cases.<ref name=AFARape>{{cite news|title=3 AFA cadets charged with rape|url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/rape-131225-academy-story.html|access-date=5 January 2012|newspaper=The Colorado Springs Gazette|date=5 January 2012|author=Tom Roeder|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109035406/http://www.gazette.com/articles/rape-131225-academy-story.html|archive-date=9 January 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>  To help combat these problems, the [[United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations]] (AFOSI) created a system of cadet informants to hunt for misconduct among students.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gazette.com/honor-and-deception-a-secretive-air-force-program-recruits-academy-students-to-inform-on-fellow-cadets-and-disavows-them-afterward/article/1510262 |title=HONOR AND DECEPTION: A secretive Air Force program recruits academy students to inform on fellow cadets and disavows them afterward |last1=Philipps |first1=Dave |date=1 December 2013 |website=gazette.com |publisher=Colorado Springs Gazette |access-date=1 December 2013 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011128/http://gazette.com/honor-and-deception-a-secretive-air-force-program-recruits-academy-students-to-inform-on-fellow-cadets-and-disavows-them-afterward/article/1510262 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''[[The New York Times]]'' in academic year 2014, "after the informant program ended with no further convictions, reports fell by half."<ref name=Times08102014>{{cite news |title=Informant Debate Renewed as Air Force Revisits Cadet Misconduct |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/us/informant-debate-renewed-as-air-force-revisits-cadet-misconduct.html |first=Dave |last=Phillips |date=9 August 2014 |website=The New York Times |access-date=15 August 2014 |archive-date=12 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812135551/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/us/informant-debate-renewed-as-air-force-revisits-cadet-misconduct.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

''The New York Times'' cited a letter to Congress from former AFOSI Agent, Staff Sergeant Brandon Enos, who said that Lieutenant General [[Michael C. Gould]], the superintendent from 2009 to 2013 and a former quarterback on the team, had repeatedly interfered in cases involving football players. In turn Gould said to the Times that the suggestion that he had interfered with the investigation "preposterous."<ref name=Times08102014/> Gould was found guilty by a report from the Pentagon in June 2016 of interfering with AFOSI investigations from 2011 to 2012, including blocking an investigation into the football coaches.  Gould was subsequently removed from the College Football Selection Committee.<ref name="cfpsc">{{cite web |title=College Football Playoff Selection Committee |url=https://collegefootballplayoff.com/sports/2017/10/16/selection-committee.aspx |website=College Football Playoff |access-date=5 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512034945/https://collegefootballplayoff.com/sports/2017/10/16/selection-committee.aspx |archive-date=12 May 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

These and other problems again rose to national prominence in the summer of 2014 when ''[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|The Gazette]]'' broke an investigation into behavior by Academy cadets and faculty that included allegations of drug use, alcohol abuse, cheating, and sexual assault.  This behavior, described as "so wild that AFOSI leaders canceled a planned 2012 sting out of concern that undercover agents and confidential informants at a party wouldn't be enough to protect women from rape," prompted the academy superintendent to call for an investigation of the academy's athletic department.<ref name=Gazette_2014>{{cite web |url=http://gazette.com/broken-code-afa-superintendent-calls-for-investigation-of-athletic-transgressions/article/1534978 |title=Broken Code: AFA superintendent calls for investigation of athletic transgressions |author=Tom Roeder |publisher=[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|The Gazette]] |date=4 August 2014 |access-date=4 August 2014 |archive-date=4 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804032642/http://gazette.com/broken-code-afa-superintendent-calls-for-investigation-of-athletic-transgressions/article/1534978 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A 2023 survey found 22% of female cadets and 4% of male cadets had experienced unwanted sexual contact, ranging from touching to rape.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/04/06/1168490365/reports-of-sexual-assault-at-u-s-military-academies-have-significantly-increased |title=Reports of sexual assault at U.S. military academies have significantly increased |access-date=8 April 2023 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408051653/https://www.npr.org/2023/04/06/1168490365/reports-of-sexual-assault-at-u-s-military-academies-have-significantly-increased |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Religious atmosphere===
In 2005, allegations surfaced that some [[evangelical Christian]] cadets and staff were effectively engaging in religious proselytizing at the academy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10C17F73A5C0C728DDDAF0894DD404482 |title=Zealots at the Air Force Academy, editorial, ''New York Times,'' Jun. 11, 2005 |publisher=Select.nytimes.com |date=11 June 2005 |access-date=2012-02-20 |archive-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615215521/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10C17F73A5C0C728DDDAF0894DD404482 |url-status=live }}</ref>  These allegations, along with concerns over how the Air Force handles other religious issues, prompted Academy graduate Michael L. Weinstein to file a lawsuit against the Air Force.<ref>Weinstein's 2006 book ''With God on Our Side'' ({{ISBN|0-312-36143-2}}) details the alleged proselytization and harassment at the academy.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/06/national/main919947.shtml |title=Air Force Sued over Religion, CBS News, Oct. 6, 2005 |publisher=Cbsnews.com |date=11 February 2009 |access-date=2012-02-20 |archive-date=14 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614203713/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/06/national/main919947.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>  An Air Force panel investigated the accusations and issued a report on 22 June 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.af.mil/pdf/HQ_Review_Group_Report.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325190319/http://www.af.mil/pdf/HQ_Review_Group_Report.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Report of HQ Review Group Concerning the Religious Climate at the U.S. Air Force Academy, 22 June 2005.|archive-date=25 March 2009}}</ref> The panel's investigation found a "religious climate that does not involve overt religious discrimination, but a failure to fully accommodate all members' needs and a lack of awareness over where the line is drawn between permissible and impermissible expression of beliefs."  Evidence discovered during the investigation included [[antisemitism|antisemitic]] remarks, official sponsorship of a showing of  the film ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'' and a locker room banner that said academy athletes played for "Team Jesus." In response to the panel's findings, the Air Force released new guidelines to discourage public prayers at official events or meetings and to facilitate worship by non-Christian religions.<ref>Banerjee, Neela, "Religion and Its Role Are in Dispute at the Service Academies", ''[[New York Times]]'', 25 June 2008</ref>

In 2010 the academy set up an outdoor worship area for cadets following [[Wicca]], [[Neo-Druidism]], or other earth-based religions to practice their faiths.<ref>[[Associated Press]], "Colorado: Academy Accommodates Wiccans", ''[[New York Times]]'', 2 February 2010.</ref><ref>Correll, DeeDee, "Cross Found At Air Force Pagan Center", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 3 February 2010, p. 8.</ref> A survey conducted that same year found that 41 percent of academy cadets who identified themselves as non-Christian reported they were subjected to unwanted religious proselytizing at least once or twice last year at the school.  The survey's results, however, showed that the number of cadets who felt pressured to join in religious activities had declined from previous years.  Colorado congressman [[Mike Coffman]] criticized the academy for resisting calls to release details of the survey's results.<ref>Elliot, Dan, "41% Of Non-Christian AF Cadets Cite Proselytizing", ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'', 29 October 2010.</ref><ref>Benzel, Lance, "AFASurvey: Cadets Fear Racial, Religious Bias", ''[[Colorado Springs Gazette]]'', 30 October 2010.</ref> Two years later, 66 House Republicans complained about policies set in place the last September to curtail requirements to attend religious events.<ref>Lisee, Chris. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/debate-reignites-over-religion-at-air-force-academy/2012/07/16/gJQAvB0PpW_story.html "Debate reignites over religion at Air Force Academy."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228223151/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/debate-reignites-over-religion-at-air-force-academy/2012/07/16/gJQAvB0PpW_story.html |date=28 December 2018 }} ''Religion News Service'', 16 July 2012.</ref>

=== Hazing incidents ===
Beginning in 2012, the Air Force Academy began to receive sustained, negative attention for unofficial [[hazing]] rituals carried out by cadets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gazette.com/news/afa-cadets-injured-in-hazing-during-first-snow/article_21b6ef29-9fa4-5875-a6bf-0c18e4215dcf.html|title=27 AFA cadets injured in hazing during first snow|last=Handy|first=Ryan|date=31 Oct 2012|work=Colorado Springs Gazette|access-date=2018-08-23|language=en|archive-date=24 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824034054/https://gazette.com/news/afa-cadets-injured-in-hazing-during-first-snow/article_21b6ef29-9fa4-5875-a6bf-0c18e4215dcf.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the 2014 investigation into hazing, alcohol abuse, and cheating on the academy's football team, further investigations in 2017 and 2018 into other teams in the athletic department uncovered similar behavior on the academy's men's lacrosse and men's swimming teams.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.krdo.com/news/military/authorities-investigate-allegations-of-hazing-cheating-at-usafa/638916497|title=Authorities investigate allegations of hazing, cheating at USAFA|last=Sikora|first=Colleen|date=2017-10-17|work=KRDO|access-date=2018-08-23|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824045622/https://www.krdo.com/news/military/authorities-investigate-allegations-of-hazing-cheating-at-usafa/638916497|archive-date=24 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/06/06/air-force-academy-busts-dozens-of-athletes-for-hazing-now-some-of-them-may-not-graduate/|title=Air Force Academy busts dozens of athletes for hazing — now some of them may not graduate|last=Losey|first=Stephen|date=2018-06-06|work=Air Force Times|access-date=2018-08-23|language=en-US}}</ref> In addition to suspending the coaching staff of the lacrosse team, senior cadets on both the lacrosse and swimming teams have had their graduation and commissioning delayed, and potentially revoked, as the Air Force proceeds with its internal investigations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2018/06/06/air-force-lacrosse-hazing/678868002/|title=Air Force Academy lacrosse players disciplined in hazing scandal|last=Gardner|first=Steve|date=6 June 2018|work=USA TODAY|access-date=2018-08-23|language=en|archive-date=23 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823210649/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2018/06/06/air-force-lacrosse-hazing/678868002/|url-status=live}}</ref> In an April 2018 statement made on the hazing scandal to the Board of Visitors, which reports its findings to the Pentagon and Congress, Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria stated, "Times have changed, and some of these rituals hang on that are completely, ridiculously inappropriate."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gazette.com/military/air-force-academy-cracks-down-on-hazing-reports-progress-on/article_fb55d571-18ed-5b9b-8e05-e63235ad4616.html|title=Air Force Academy cracks down on hazing, reports progress on sexual assault prevention|last=Roeder|first=Tom|date=26 Apr 2018|work=Colorado Springs Gazette|access-date=2018-08-23|language=en|archive-date=23 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823210417/https://gazette.com/military/air-force-academy-cracks-down-on-hazing-reports-progress-on/article_fb55d571-18ed-5b9b-8e05-e63235ad4616.html|url-status=live}}</ref>