LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY ellid)

Here's a run-down on the broadcast:


- The Air Force report concludes that the evangelical bias is merely "insensitive" and "not pervasive enough to be discriminatory." It also applauded the Academy for its "aggressive attack" on the evangelism and its intimidating atmosphere, and told them they need to be "more accommodating" of different faiths. One highlight: efforts to remedy the sexual assault scandal may have contributed to the evangelical atmosphere. Christian values were seen as a remed for the "moral failing" of rape.

Here's Captain MeLinda Morton's take on it:

She began complaining because she felt the cadets were being ill-served by the evangelical atmosphere. She "respectfully disagrees" with the official report, especially on the institutionalization of evangelical Christianity. She stated that the hierarchy was using its power and position to proselytize, and to force students to become evangelicals.

Example: the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State report stated that the Commandant engaged in evangelical rhetoric and sent out guides on spiritual direction reflecting evangelical priorities to all the faculty. She agrees with this finding, and deplores it. She also mentioned football coach Fisher DeBerry's banners stating that the team belonged to "Team Jesus," and his evangelical prayers before games.

As for the theory that the Academy went to an evangelical model to combat the rape culture on campus, Captain Morton believes that the moral decay theory is wrong. She believes that the rapes were a misuse of power, not a sign of moral decay. She finds it "telling that the paradigm" used to combat the abuse of power is the forceful application of evangelical Christianity to the entire institution.

She resigned yesterday. She denies that she did so under pressure, but stated that she could not be "proactive" in fighting the discrimination if she stayed at her post. However, she did state that there is a great deal of pressure at the Academy, both in the Cadet Wing and among the faculty and staff, to conform to the evangelical model.

She has hope for the future if the Academy situation is desperate, and believes that it needs Congressional oversight to remedy the religious controversy.