CHARLESTON, S.C.
Almost 20 percent of the female cadets at The Citadel last spring reported being sexually assaulted since enrolling at the state military college, according to results of a survey released by the school this week.
About 4 percent of the male cadets also reported being sexually assaulted since joining the formerly all-male school, the survey says.
“Some wonder why I would release information that reflects negatively on the college,” says the school’s president, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa. “My reason is simple: In order for us to address these issues, we must discuss them openly.”
Rosa previously was superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy in the wake of a sexual assault scandal, which found that female cadets feared they would be disciplined if they reported rapes.
The state-funded Citadel military college opened its doors to female cadets 10 years ago. Last year, 118 women and 1,770 men were enrolled.
All the women and about 30 percent of the men were asked to complete the anonymous online survey, says Citadel spokeswoman Charlene Gunnells. Of those, 114 women and 487 men responded.
