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Contact: Ellen Pansky, President, South Pasadena, CA, (213) 626-7300, epansky@panskymarkle.com

NAWL URGES AIR FORCE ACADEMY TO ACCEPT INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF CLAIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

Chicago, IL

APRIL 2, 2003 – The National Association of Women Lawyers today urged Air Force Chief of Staff John P. Jumper and Air Force Secretary James G. Roche to immediately accept and endorse independent review of the Air Force Academy's handling of sexual harassment claims of cadets, as proposed by the Senate Armed Services Committee. Since 1993, at least 53 women have reported incidents of sexual assault, but the Academy has refused to take action in response to the complaints made by women cadets who have been sexually abused and raped by their fellow cadets. Last week Secretary Roche announced a drastic change in leadership at the Academy and reassigned several of the school’s top leaders to other positions, all of whom escaped any discipline for their irresponsible treatment of the women cadet’s complaints.

"It is simply outrageous that the complaints of more than 50 women over nine years have been systematically ignored, and that those courageous women who have spoken out have been punished, while their attackers have been rewarded through the Academy's complete inaction," stated NAWL President Ellen A. Pansky.

At this week’s hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee, Chief of Staff Jumper and Secretary Roche were rebuked by a number of senators for the Academy’s inaction. At these hearings Air Force officials admitted for the first time that an Academy policy ensuring amnesty for rape victims who lodged official complaints was often ignored. Many female cadets have asserted that they were afraid to come forward with complaints because of the negative effect it would have on their future military careers. Pansky further presses, "Prompt steps must be taken to restore the standing and reputation of those female cadets who were discharged from the Academy or otherwise adversely affected by the Academy leadership's inappropriate reaction to their complaints of sexual harassment and rape."

If the Air Force refuses to act expeditiously to cure this unacceptable situation, NAWL encourages the Defense Department to take a proactive role at the earliest opportunity.  

The National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) is a national voluntary bar association devoted to the interests of women lawyers and the promotion of women’s rights. Founded in 1899, NAWL has historically served as an educational forum and an active voice for the concerns of women in the legal profession and women internationally.