Football Comes Before Honor

West Point Cheating Scandal

A few weeks ago, the media reported a cheating scandal at West Point involving over 70 cadets. This is not the first cheating scandal at the Military Academy. There were even larger episodes of cheating on tests in 1951 and in 1976. This case is markedly different, however, in the way it is being handled. In 1951, 90 cadets (mostly football players) were expelled for violations of the honor code. In 1976 over 150 were expelled although over half were allowed to rejoin the Corps with the class of 1978 due to the way the cases were handled. In the current case, the school administrators are being much more lenient with those who violated the honor code.

The Superintendent of the Academy decided to “retrain” offenders rather than dismiss them. Retraining will consist of a series of lessons for each cadet involved, additionally, they will be assigned a mentor to follow their progress. The Superintendent justified his decision because the pandemic created unusual circumstances placed undue pressure on cadets. On-line learning made it easier to cheat, and new cadets did not have physical contact with staff and upperclassmen who live by the code. I find his rationale to be faulty.

New Cadets are indoctrinated in the honor code even before they arrive, and on-site training begins on day one. A columnist for an East Coast newspaper suggested the code didn’t define adequately define honor. I also find this faulty. The code is simple and straight forward. “Cadets do not lie, cheat, or steal nor tolerate those who do.” It is a simple concept and has been clearly understood and adhered to for over two-hundred years. The West Point Motto is “Duty, Honor, Country.” Honor is the centerpiece of the West Point Creed and should never be compromised. A West Pointer’s code of honor does not end with graduation. It is a life time moral commitment. West point and its graduates have been held to a higher standard for two centuries. Allowing honor violators to remain degrades every graduate.

The Superintendent’s decision only considered those who felt they had to cheat to pass calculus. It did not consider those who didn’t cheat but failed the class. Cadets who failed academically were not allowed to continue, but those who failed to meet standards of honor were “retrained.” Something is wrong here.

I have heard accusations that Congress put pressure on the Superintendent because those cadets involved included women and minorities. I have no proof of this and sincerely hope it is untrue. It is true, however, that for the first time in the history of West Point student athletes were allowed to participate in intercollegiate athletics contests after found to be in violation of the honor code. Many of those involved in the scandal played in the Liberty Bowl against West Virginia. When did a football game become more important than Honor?

Frank Watson is a retired Air Force Colonel and long-time resident of Eastern Washington. He has been a free-lance columnist for over 20 years.