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U.S. NEWS Friday 18 august 2023
Pentagon review calls for reforms to reverse spike in sexual

misconduct at military academies

By LOLITA C. BALDOR In a memo, Austin acknowl-
Associated Press edges that the academies
WASHINGTON (AP) — The “have far more work to do
U.S. military academies to halt sexual assault and
must improve their leader- harassment.” He says the
ship, stop toxic practices increase in assaults and ha-
such as hazing and shift rassment “is disturbing and
behavior training into the unacceptable. It endan-
classrooms, according to gers our teammates and
a Pentagon study aimed degrades our readiness.”
at addressing an alarming Elizabeth Foster, executive
spike in sexual assaults and director of the Pentagon’s
misconduct. force resiliency office, told
U.S. officials said the acad- reporters Thursday that
emies must train student the study will set up ways
leaders better to help their to measure whether the
classmates, and upend changes are working. But
what has been a discon- she cautioned that “not
nect between what the only are they going to take
cadets and midshipmen time to implement, but cul-
are learning in school and tural change does take
the often negative and time.” Foster and Andra
unpunished behavior they Tharp, the senior preven-
see by those mentors. The The Pentagon is seen in this aerial view in Washington, Jan. 26, 2020. tion adviser for the force
review calls for additional Associated Press resiliency office, said that
senior officers and enlisted The study comes on the 18% overall compared with val Academy in Maryland, while the academies offer
leaders to work with stu- heels of a report this year the previous year, fueled the Air Force Academy in a lot of strong programs,
dents at the Army, Navy that showed a sharp spike in part by the Navy, which Colorado and the U.S. Mili- toxic and unhealthy com-
and Air Force academies in reported sexual assaults had nearly double the tary Academy at West Point mand climates make them
and provide the expanded at the academies during number in 2022, compared in New York, to explore the less effective. When cadets
training. The report, which the 2021-22 school year. It with 2021. The anonymous issues and identify solutions. and midshipmen learn one
was released Thursday, said that one in five female survey accompanying the The new report, expected thing about leadership or
says that too often discus- students said in an anony- report found increases in all to be released Thursday, prevention in the class-
sions about stress relief, mis- mous survey that they had types of unwanted sexual makes several immediate room, but they don’t see it
conduct, social media and experienced unwanted contact from touching to and longer-term recom- reinforced in other settings,
other life issues take place sexual contact. The survey rape at all the schools. And mendations to improve it sends mixed messages
after hours or on the week- results were the highest it cited alcohol as a key assault and harassment about what to expect,
ends. The report recom- since the Defense Depart- factor. prevention and eliminate about how to be treated
mends that those topics be ment began collecting In response to the spike in toxic climates that fuel the and how to treat others.
addressed in classes and that data many years ago. assaults, Defense Secretary problems. Austin is ordering Such mixed messages, they
graded, to promote their Student-reported assaults Lloyd Austin ordered on-site quick implementation of said, create cynicism and
importance. at the academies jumped evaluations at the U.S. Na- the changes. distrust.q

Authorities investigating threats to grand

jurors who indicted Trump in Georgia

By RUSS BYNUM seriously and are coordi- That's standard practice in
Associated Press nating with our law en- Georgia, in part because it
Authorities in Georgia said forcement partners to gives criminal defendants
Thursday they're investigat- respond quickly to any a chance to challenge the
ing threats targeting mem- credible threat and to en- composition of the grand
bers of the grand jury that sure the safety of those in- jury. The indictment itself is
indicted former President dividuals who carried out a public record.
Donald Trump and 18 of his their civic duty," the sheriff's The American Bar Asso-
allies. Fulton County Sher- office said in a statement.A ciation condemned any
iff Pat Labat's office said Fulton County grand jury threats as well as the shar-
investigators are working returned a 41-count indict- ing of other personal infor-
to trace the origin of the ment Monday charging mation about the grand
threats after the names of Trump and 18 others with jurors online. Barricades are seen near the Fulton County courthouse,
grand jury members and illegally conspiring to over- "The civic-minded mem- Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Atlanta.
other personal information turn his 2020 election loss in bers of the Georgia grand Associated Press
were posted online. The Georgia. jury performed their duty to
sheriff's office said other lo- Though the grand jury pro- support our democracy," threatened for being good jurors aren't the only ones
cal, state and federal law ceedings were secret, the the association's state- citizens." to face threats over their
enforcement agencies unredacted names of the ment said. "It is unconscio- Amid a rise in violent rheto- involvement in the four
were assisting. grand jury members were nable that their lives should ric directed toward public pending criminal cases
"We take this matter very included in the indictment. be upended and safety officials, the Georgia grand against Trump. q