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CNN Live At Daybreak
Pentagon Survey Putting Air Force Academy in Bad Light
Aired August 29, 2003 - 05:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A Pentagon survey is putting the Air Force Academy in a bad light. The survey suggests sexual misconduct may have been more prevalent than previously believed. Seven percent of the female cadets say they were victims of rape or attempted rape.
Paul Johnson of CNN affiliate KUSA has reaction from campus.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIG. GEN. JOHN WEIDA: I've seen the numbers and we have a problem.
PAUL JOHNSON, KUSA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The commandant of cadets was about as blunt as he could be, telling them if they don't think there's a problem here, then they've got their heads in the sand and they need to pull them out now.
WEIDA: If this condition doesn't improve and we don't fix this, it's an unworkable situation.
JOHNSON: Brigadier General John Weida has been on the job since April, brought in after the leadership shakeup caused by the scandal. He's determined to end the problem on his watch.
WEIDA: We have to be held to a higher standard.
JOHNSON: A higher standard than a civilian university, Weida says, because these young men and women will be officers and leaders. Cadets tell us that's what brought them here and that's what they, too, believe.
THERESA HUNT, CADET: There is, you know, stuff going on here that needs to be addressed and we can fix it and we need to do it together as a team.
PHAEDRA SHIP, CADET: I think that we have a lot of very smart people here and that they understand what they're supposed to be doing. I think we also have people that are young and people make mistakes.
JOHNSON: Weida's speech today a sign that the Academy's work at removing the tarnish of the sex assault scandal is an inside out affair, reminding cadets this is a place of superior character and those who can't make it on the moral quotient should leave now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That report from Paul Johnson of affiliate KUSA.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 29, 2003 - 05:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A Pentagon survey is putting the Air Force Academy in a bad light. The survey suggests sexual misconduct may have been more prevalent than previously believed. Seven percent of the female cadets say they were victims of rape or attempted rape.
Paul Johnson of CNN affiliate KUSA has reaction from campus.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIG. GEN. JOHN WEIDA: I've seen the numbers and we have a problem.
PAUL JOHNSON, KUSA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The commandant of cadets was about as blunt as he could be, telling them if they don't think there's a problem here, then they've got their heads in the sand and they need to pull them out now.
WEIDA: If this condition doesn't improve and we don't fix this, it's an unworkable situation.
JOHNSON: Brigadier General John Weida has been on the job since April, brought in after the leadership shakeup caused by the scandal. He's determined to end the problem on his watch.
WEIDA: We have to be held to a higher standard.
JOHNSON: A higher standard than a civilian university, Weida says, because these young men and women will be officers and leaders. Cadets tell us that's what brought them here and that's what they, too, believe.
THERESA HUNT, CADET: There is, you know, stuff going on here that needs to be addressed and we can fix it and we need to do it together as a team.
PHAEDRA SHIP, CADET: I think that we have a lot of very smart people here and that they understand what they're supposed to be doing. I think we also have people that are young and people make mistakes.
JOHNSON: Weida's speech today a sign that the Academy's work at removing the tarnish of the sex assault scandal is an inside out affair, reminding cadets this is a place of superior character and those who can't make it on the moral quotient should leave now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That report from Paul Johnson of affiliate KUSA.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
