Scandal in Colorado Springs

STUDENTS The U.S. Air Force Academy honor code, to which every cadet must subscribe, says that "We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does." Two years ago, the Academy -- and the nation -- was shocked when word broke out that 109 cadets had resigned after they had been accused of cheating. Last week scandal again struck Colorado Springs: The Academy superintendent, Lieut. General Thomas S. Moorman, announced that 33 more cadets had resigned for cheating--and a full investigation of possible other code violations was under way.

The 1965 incident involved the theft of exam papers from an office locker by two cadets, who then sold them to fellow students--including 29 members of the football squad. Academy officials refused to disclose the names of this year's offenders, but explained that the cadets involved were ones who had taken exams, then discussed their contents with students scheduled to take the same tests later. Three uninvolved cadets reported the violations, which were promptly investigated by the Academy honor-code committee composed of 24 cadets. Air Force officials indicated that members of all four classes were involved, although the majority of the students were juniors.

On average, about 30 students a year are dismissed, or allowed to resign, for violation of the code--about 1% of the cadet wing. Some critics of the Academy contend that the standards are both unnecessarily stringent and unworkable. Nonetheless, the Air Force and the cadets themselves agree that an honor code is absolutely essential to the training of officers and gentlemen who will be responsible for the lives of other men.

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