DENVER—The superintendent of the Air Force Academy is standing firm on his decision not to release details of a survey of cadets and staff, saying it should be used internally and could be misinterpreted if individual results are taken out of context.
“Trust me, I’m not covering up a thing,” Lt. Gen. Michael Gould said in a telephone interview this week with The Associated Press. “I’ve shared the general terms (of the survey) as honestly and openly as I know how to.”
The voluntary, anonymous survey was taken in December and January, asking students, faculty and other staff at the school outside Colorado Springs about the climate for learning and working. The survey is usually taken every other year.
Officials said about 40 percent of the 4,600 cadets took the survey, and 53 percent of about 3,500 staff members did.
The academy released detailed results of at least one previous survey, taken in 2004. This time, the academy released only a summary of the findings, which came earlier this month.
Gould said he can make more progress on correcting problems and building on progress by working internally than he could by make the results public. He said commanders have begun addressing issues the survey raised, including cadets’ unwillingness to confront someone for making an insensitive remark.
The survey found cadets are more accepting of groups with different backgrounds and fewer feel pressured to participate in religious groups than in previous years, the summary said. It said most cadets and staff who responded found the school’s environment is positive.
Fewer cadets said they would report harassment or discrimination than in previous years, with some saying they would be ostracized by their squadrons if they did, the summary said.
It also said fewer cadets reported they were willing to turn in another student for underage drinking.
William “T” Thompson, president and CEO of the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates, said some minority graduates of the school have called him to ask why details on the harassment and discrimination findings weren’t made public.
He said Gould’s decision to release only a summary probably raised some eyebrows, but it’s the commander’s prerogative.
“I respect his right to make that decision,” said Thompson, a 1973 academy graduate who went on to become an Air Force instructor pilot and commercial airline pilot.
Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said he has heard from more than 60 students and staff who want the details released.
“It’s the American people who paid for that study,” he said.
Gould acknowledged that the public has an interest in what goes on at the school but added, “What I owe (the public) are a 1,000-and-some graduates a year that are ready to lead our Air Force and lead our nation.”
Gould said he has the backing of his superiors on his handling of the survey results.
