Citadel Had Early Warning Academy Told Of Harassment, Records Show, But Failed To Act

Citadel officials received complaints that a female cadet was being harassed months before she dropped out, The New York Times reported today.

Federal court records obtained by the newspaper show that the parents of Jeanie Mentavlos, one of four female cadets at the military academy, told officials beginning in September about the abuse their daughter was suffering.

The testimony of Nick and Marian Mentavlos conflicts with claims of Citadel officials that they reacted promptly to her complaints. Officials have said that they are committed to training women, despite a bitter court battle to keep them out.

“From early on in the first semester, Marian and I expressed grave concerns about serious incidents that occurred as the semester progressed,” Nick Mentavlos said in an interview with the newspaper. “We were repeatedly told that these incidents were being taken care of. They obviously were not.”

Officials punished a male cadet, who was not identified, for pushing a piece of cardboard into Jeanie Mentavlos’ face.

At the hearing, held on Jan. 8 as part of the Justice Department’s oversight of the integration of women at the Citadel, Col. Joseph W. Trez, who is in charge of cadets, said that the cadet was punished for a minor violation and that his punishment was reduced, despite prior violations.

Later, the same cadet shoved a rifle up against her face, causing her head to hit a wall.

Trez said he decided to suspend the cadet, but only after he was accused of shoving a male cadet and using profane language - not because of his treatment of the women.

The hearing disclosed that Citadel officials had received at least one other early warning. In September, Marian Mentavlos alerted Trez to stories about a doctored, obscene photograph of her daughter that was said to be circulating on campus.

“It was never proven,” the colonel said.

When the harassment allegations became public last month, the Citadel suspended two cadets and relieved five others of their commands. Besides the two suspensions, nine other cadets face disciplinary charges.

A lawyer for the women who sued to gain admission to the Citadel said the testimony shows that officials knew of the abuse and failed to act to stop it.

“Instead of taking it seriously and looking at the (harassment) as the tip of the iceberg, they sent the exact opposite message,” said Valorie K. Vojdik. “The message that sends to the women is ‘We’re not going to protect you.”’

College officials dispute Vojdik’s version of events, saying the cadet was justly punished and that the Citadel fully accepts female cadets.