Guest column: Respect and honor

Last week, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) jumpstarted a critical conversation that, unfortunately, has been sidelined for decades. Speier addressed the absence of justice involving rape and sexual assault in the armed forces. To Speier, the fight for justice can only begin when the nation realizes that "[i]n the U.S. military, a woman is more likely to be raped by a co-worker than killed by the enemy" — an unsettling statistic that has persisted for too long.

It is important to note, however, that this is not simply a women's issue — this transcends gender. Men can be raped. It would seem obvious, but then again it was only this year that the FBI changed its 85-year-old definition of rape, one obviously forged from the notion of male bravado and invulnerability, to include male victims.

Yet such implausible expectations persist. For years, homosexual soldiers have reported open sexual harassment and violence. The repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in no way magically compelled respect or nondiscriminatory justice. These crimes perpetuate and are rarely punished because the military has developed a filthy habit of using a lax, informal system that favors unit stability, often giving offenders a slap on the wrist. Worse, victims are muted and commanded to continually serve alongside their attacker. Unit commanders, who receive crime reports, may fail to act thoroughly because it may be seen as a negative reflection of their command.

The military's negligent handling of sex crimes has long been noticed. The Department of Defense reports 8 percent of perpetrators are referred to military court, in comparison to 40 percent in civilian cases. Sadly, only 13.5 percent of service members who are raped or sexually assaulted report the crime. This is most likely because of the military's disgraceful record: Besides the inattentive justice system, many victims who came forward sensed their careers were only stunted by reporting the crime.

The military argues their preference for their judicial system stems from the need for efficiency. After all, the military's law — the Uniform Code of Military Justice — is vested in the Constitution. It is reasonable to see how judicial autonomy is effective in certain aspects, but when the system is fractured the military should see it reasonable for civilians to offer a remedy. The Pentagon would do well to remember a military is the reflection of its people and when it is not, that is a problem.

As for the matter of efficiency, a 2 percent conviction rate is hardly acceptable. By failing to immediately address these problems, the Pentagon by its own hand has demonstrated to the nation its subversion of integrity. For a while now, the military has said the issue is complicated, but that is not the right answer, especially one for victims. It is hard to believe a military capable of liberating a continent cannot prosecute a sex offender.

It is upsetting to see how much victims have endured and for how long. The Service Women's Action Network — a veteran-led nonprofit organization — estimates that in 2010 alone, "19,000 service members were raped or sexually assaulted." Military officials have dragged their feet long enough, and Americans need to realize they cannot wait for their military to draft an effective policy that should have been enacted long ago.

Speier is the sponsor of the Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Prevention Act. The bill would create a Department of Defense oversight office that "takes complete authority and discretion out of the hands of commanders" and into objective military and civilian investigators of rape and sexual assault, a plan similar to those in other Western nations. Congress has yet to set a vote on the bill.

Americans have high esteem for their armed forces, for very good reasons. The men and women in uniform who serve make sacrifices no less than great for a demanding nation. It should go without saying that respect, honor and care should be expressed not only in death. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has taken a step by acknowledging the levels of rape and sexual assaults as an "epidemic." That is a precise assessment, but more accurately speaking, it is a crisis — a breach of faith of those who serve and suffer silently. And we all should be ashamed.

Kevin Charles is a senior psychology major. He can be reached at charlesk@umd.edu.