Friday, December 11, 2020

West Point Alumni Call Out 2020 USMA Football Team Cheating Scandal, Coverup



No response from West Point on whether accused exam cheaters will play in the Army-Navy Game tomorrow, December 12, 2020. 

Retired Army Colonel Mark A. Tolzmann, USMA Class of 1984, of St. Augustine, questions the values being taught to today's cadets at the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) in the midst of a potential cheating scandal.  


As Col. Mark Tolzmann told me, "'A Cadet will not to lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do,' is West Point's sacred Honor Code.  This Honor Code is central the Academy's mission to educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the United States Army."   The Honor Code "is far more important to our national security than any football games.  West Point must tell the truth to our alumni, cadets, faculty, and the Nation."  

Col. Tolzmann explains, "The purpose of the Honor Code is to protect the integrity of our military officers, who lead soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines and Coastguardsmen in harm's way.  Our national security is threatened if West Point covers up a cheating scandal in order to field potentially ineligible players at upcoming football games against Naval Academy and Air Force Academy...."

His ethics questions are still unanswered as West Point prepares to play Navy in football December 12, 2020 (Saturday).

Members of several U.S Military Academy teams, including the football team, allegedly cheated on exams.    

Prior cheating scandals at U.S. service academies resulted in expulsions.   

In 1951, 83 football players at West Point were expelled for cheating.
In 1965, 111 Air Force Academy cadets were expelled for cheating, including selling math exam answers.
In 1972, sixteen Air Force Academy cadets resigned after an Honor Court found them guilty of cheating or tolerating cheating.

In 1994, an Annapolis cheating scandal resulted in a two-star admiral being booed by Naval Academy midshipmen, who were reportedly offended by a coverup of midshipmen cheating on an electrical engineering exam.

I am proud of retired Col Mark A. Tolzmann of St. Augustine, who is acting in the most noble tradition of the West Point Honor Code in hoping for answers in the cheating scandal.  

I've been seeking answers since December 4, 2020.

But with two West Point football games remaining in West Point's season on December 12 & 19 (against Navy and Air Force academy), West Point is refusing to respond to my FOIA requests.  Wonder why?

The lack of response is inculpatory.   Still no documents or acknowledgement.   

Our investigation continues.

Here are the e-mails, December 5-11, 2020


-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: paoinformation@westpoint.edu <paoinformation@westpoint.edu>; Jeff.monken@westpoint.edu <Jeff.monken@westpoint.edu>; brent.davis@westpoint.edu <brent.davis@westpoint.edu>; Nate.woody@westpoint.edu <Nate.woody@westpoint.edu>; tony.smith@westpoint.edu <tony.smith@westpoint.edu>; paoinformation@westpoint.edu <paoinformation@westpoint.edu>; Darryl.A.Williams.mil@mail.mil <Darryl.A.Williams.mil@mail.mil>; usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia@mail.mil <usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia@mail.mil>; Darryl.A.Williams@westpoint.mil <Darryl.A.Williams@westpoint.mil>; usarmy.westpoint.id-training.mbx.foia-pa@mail.mil <usarmy.westpoint.id-training.mbx.foia-pa@mail.mil>; 
Sent: Fri, Dec 11, 2020 9:42 am
Subject: News story on 2020 West Point Athletics Cheating Scandal

Dear Lt. Gen. Williams, Coach Moncken, et al.:
1. Will any of the West Point players accused of cheating on exams be permitted to play in upcoming football games?
Yes _____   No _____
Please respond by 1200 today.
2. Would you please be so kind as to call me for an interview this morning for my story about USMA alumni concerns on 2020 West Point football cheating scandal?  
3. Please provide requested documents today,  See December 4, 2020 FOIA request, below.
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
www.edslavin.com




-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: Jeff.monken@westpoint.edu <Jeff.monken@westpoint.edu>; brent.davis@westpoint.edu <brent.davis@westpoint.edu>; Nate.woody@westpoint.edu <Nate.woody@westpoint.edu>
Sent: Wed, Dec 9, 2020 12:54 pm
Subject: 2020 West Point Football Player Exam Cheating Scandal

Dear Coaches Monken, Davis, Woody, et al.:
Will any of the West Point players accused of cheating on exams be permitted to play in upcoming football games?
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
www.edslavin.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: tony.smith@westpoint.edu <tony.smith@westpoint.edu>
Cc: paoinformation@westpoint.edu <paoinformation@westpoint.edu>; Darryl.A.Williams.mil@mail.mil <Darryl.A.Williams.mil@mail.mil>; usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia@mail.mil <usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia@mail.mil>; Darryl.A.Williams@westpoint.mil <Darryl.A.Williams@westpoint.mil>; usarmy.westpoint.id-training.mbx.foia-pa@mail.mil <usarmy.westpoint.id-training.mbx.foia-pa@mail.mil>; Sent: Tue, Dec 8, 2020 4:04 pm
Subject: Re: URGENT re: 2020 West Point Athletics Cheating Scandal -- My Request No. 2020-275 (December 4, 2020)

Dear Mr. Smith:
1. What is your title and job description?
2. Why won't you do your job as an IG, without fear or favor? To whom do you think you're typing?
3. Is the purpose of West Point's desuetude and delay to favor West Point's football team in Saturday's game?
4. How many alleged cheaters will play for West Point's football team in the Army-Navy Game, on Saturday afternoon at 3 pm?
5. My dad and other veterans fought and bled for our Nation,  See below,
6. My dad was a decorated WWII 82nd ABN DIVN combat veteran, and he certainly would be  disgusted by West Point administration's silence on its 2020 cheating scandal  See below.
7. Will the West Point Superintendent, Lt. General Darryl Williams, or his staff, kindly pick up the telephone and call me to discuss by close of business today? 
8. When will USMA send me a substantive response to the 2020 West Point cheating scandal?
9. From now on, I expect to be treated with courtesy, dignity and respect by West Point. 
10, If alleged cheaters get to play in the Army-Navy Game on December 12, 2020, exactly what does our USMA Honor Code mean in the 21s century?  Enough coverups. 
Thank you!
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
www.edslavin.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Smith, Tony D <tony.smith@westpoint.edu>
To: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Dec 8, 2020 2:34 pm
Subject: RE: URGENT re: 2020 West Point Athletics Cheating Scandal -- My Request No. 2020-275 (December 4, 2020)

Mr. Slavin, thank you for contacting our office.  I recommend that you give the FOIA request more time to process.  Any release of information must go to the FOIA office who should release any information available by law. 
 
Also, our office would not get involved in any Command actions that are pending. 
 
Respectfully,
 
Tony Smith
 
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 1:12 PM
To: Smith, Tony D <tony.smith@westpoint.edu>; Winking, Bruce A <bruce.winking@westpoint.edu>
Subject: URGENT re: 2020 West Point Athletics Cheating Scandal -- My Request No. 2020-275 (December 4, 2020)
 
EXTERNAL: This email was sent to you from an external source. Please review the content carefully and open attachments or click links only if you recognize the sender.
Dear West Point Inspector General:
1. Would you please be so kind as to help me obtain PDF documents on the 2020 West Point football team and gymnastics team cheating scandal? 
2. Only inculpatory silence from West Point Superintendent and his PAO.  
3. Will any of the football players who allegedly cheated on exam be playing in the Army-Navy Game Saturday?
4. Is the IG investigating a possible coverup?
5. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
With kindest regards, I am,
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: paoinformation@westpoint.edu <paoinformation@westpoint.edu>; Darryl.A.Williams.mil@mail.mil <Darryl.A.Williams.mil@mail.mil>; usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia@mail.mil <usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia@mail.mil>; Darryl.A.Williams@westpoint.mil <Darryl.A.Williams@westpoint.mil>; usarmy.westpoint.id-training.mbx.foia-pa@mail.mil <usarmy.westpoint.id-training.mbx.foia-pa@mail.mil>
Sent: Tue, Dec 8, 2020 10:07 am
Subject: Re: Request No. 2020-275: 2020 West Point Athletics Cheating Scandal
Dear Lt. General Williams, et al.:
1. Would someone at West Point please be so kind as to call me this morning to discuss the alleged 2020 West Point athlete cheating, Honor Code violation investigations, and sequelae? 
2. I have not yet received the courtesy of an acknowledgment of my urgent December 5, 2020 request.  
3.  My dad was a World War II paratrooper, a machine-gunner, awarded three (3) Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart, with combat jumps in North Africa, Sicily and Normandy.  A chapter of the 82nd ABN DIVN ASSN. is named after my father, the "CPL Edward A. Slavin South Jersey Chapter." 
4. My dad shared with me, at an early age, the values of the West Point Honor Code.  He would be appalled at West Point's lack of prompt, courteous response to my December 4 inquiry on the football and gymnastics team cheating scandal.
5. Please answer today: 
Will any of the alleged cheaters be playing in the Army-Navy Game on December 12, 2020?
____ Yes  _____.No
6. Please call me this morning to discuss.
7. Please send me the requested documents today,
Thank you. 
With kindest regards, I am,
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: paoinformation@westpoint.edu <paoinformation@westpoint.edu>; Darryl.A.Williams.mil@mail.mil <Darryl.A.Williams.mil@mail.mil>; usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia@mail.mil <usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia@mail.mil>; Darryl.A.Williams@westpoint.mil <Darryl.A.Williams@westpoint.mil>; usarmy.westpoint.id-training.mbx.foia-pa@mail.mil <usarmy.westpoint.id-training.mbx.foia-pa@mail.mil>
Sent: Mon, Dec 7, 2020 9:38 am
Subject: Re: Request No. 2020-275: 2020 West Point Athletics Cheating Scandal
Dear Lt. General Williams, et al.:
1. What officer sent this unresponsive, unsigned e-mail at 9:21 AM?   
2. It has no name on it!  
3. How disrespectful.
4. The officer should have forwarded it to usarmy.westpoint.id-training.mbx.foia-pa@mail.mil, rather than waste everyone's time to send me an officious e-mail.
5. I sent my FOIA request December 5, 2020 to the address on USMA's website, usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia@mail.mil, 
6. I have now sent the December 5, 2020 e-mail to usarmy.westpoint.id-training.mbx.foia-pa@mail.mil
7. Please call me to discuss. No more delays are desired or required.  Treat FOIA requesters with respect.
8. Please call me to discuss the 2020 West Point cheating scandal events, and West Point's Honor Code.
9. Let's get to work on informing the public and responding to my December 5, 2020 FOIA request.
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: PAO Information <paoinformation@westpoint.edu>
To: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>; Darryl.A.Williams.mil@mail.mil <Darryl.A.Williams.mil@mail.mil>; PAO Information <paoinformation@westpoint.edu>; usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia@mail.mil <usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia@mail.mil>; Darryl.A.Williams@westpoint.mil <Darryl.A.Williams@westpoint.mil>
Cc: mcmaster@stanford.edu <mcmaster@stanford.edu>; NOMINATIONS@DUCKWORTH.SENATE.GOV <NOMINATIONS@DUCKWORTH.SENATE.GOV>; purdy@nytimes.com <purdy@nytimes.com>; waltbog@nytimes.com <waltbog@nytimes.com>; sauls@nytimes.com <sauls@nytimes.com>; steve.coll@columbia.edu <steve.coll@columbia.edu>
Sent: Mon, Dec 7, 2020 9:21 am
Subject: RE: Request No. 2020-275: 2020 West Point Athletics Cheating Scandal
Greetings from West Point, NY
 
All Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests should be sent tousarmy.westpoint.id-training.mbx.foia-pa@mail.mil
 
 
Respectfully,
 
 
Office of Public Affairs & Communications
United States Military Academy
West Point, NY  10996
☎Tel. 845.938.3808
 
A drawing of a cartoon characterDescription automatically generated
 
 
 
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com> 
Sent: Saturday, December 5, 2020 3:16 PM

To: Darryl.A.Williams.mil@mail.mil; PAO Information <paoinformation@westpoint.edu>; usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia@mail.mil; Darryl.A.Williams@westpoint.mil
Subject: Request No. 2020-275: 2020 West Point Athletics Cheating Scandal
 
EXTERNAL: This email was sent to you from an external source. Please review the content carefully and open attachments or click links only if you recognize the sender.
To: Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, Superintendent,
       United States Military Academy at West Point 
 
Dear Lt. General Williams:

A.  Pursuant to FOIA and eFOIA, would you please be so kind as to send me the documents on the alleged 2020 West Point athletics cheating scandal and alleged ongoing coverup, including: 
  1. List of West Point Honor Board charges or other actions taken regarding West Point athletes -- including USMA football and gymnastics team members -- allegedly violating West Point Cadet Honor Code, including their alleged cheating on math tests?
  2. Names of cadets expelled or sanctioned, with sports played and position?
  3. Criminal and administrative investigations?
  4. Army, Pentagon or other chain of command acquiescence or approval to delay Honor Code sanctions until after the December 12, 2020 Army-Navy Game, being held at West Point?
  5. Complaints and investigations of alleged favoritism toward USMA athletes, including housing entire football team in a local hotel; better food; and culture of athletic influence and coverups, culminating in 2020 cheating scandal?
  6. FBI and U.S. Attorney contacts?
  7. Contracts, RFPs and RFQs for outside investigations of the cheating scandal and cover-up?
  8. Press releases on the 2020 USMA cheating scandal? 
  9. Public relations and legal advice on the 2020 USMA cheating scandal?
B. 1. In the event there are other requests for this information, please expedite the release to me by PDF of all documents already released to others. 
2. Please waive any fees, as the release of this information is in the public interest. I meet the six factor FOIA test.  This request is urgent and time-sensitive, as the alleged coverup could shield West Point football players from any Honor Code sanctions for more than a week, e.g., until after the December 12, 2020 3 pm Army-Navy Game (which alleged coverup would itself be an Honor Code violation).
3. I am an investigative reporter with more than 40 years of experience in informing the public, including winning declassification of the largest mercury pollution event in world history (Oak Ridge, Tenn. Y-12 Nuclear Weapons Plant, Department of Energy/Union Carbide, 1983) and uncovering the City of St. Augustine's illegal dumping of a landfill in a lake and sequelae (2005-2010).  I can share copies of articles published in American Bar Association publications, including Judges' Journal.
4. Release of the requested information will help promote the public interest in understanding federal government operations, to wit, West Point and its athletics program.
5. My blog has received more than four (4) million measured page views and helps inform people about governmental affairs.  We've had more than 75 public interest victories here in St. Augustine, Florida since 2005, in a county the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once called "the most lawless city in America."    
6. Addressing the six federal FOIA factors:
Factor 1. The subject of the request: The subject of the requested records concerns "the operations or activities of the government." .
Factor 2. The informative value of the information to be disclosed: The disclosure is "likely to contribute" to an understanding of government operations or activities. 
Factor 3. The contribution to an understanding of the subject by the public is likely to result from disclosure: Disclosure of the requested information will contribute to "public understanding." The disclosure will contribute to the understanding of a reasonably broad audience of persons interested in the subject. I have developed expertise in pertinent subject areas and the ability and intention to convey information to the public. (It is presumed that a representative of the news media will satisfy this consideration.)
Factor 4. The significance of the contribution to public understanding: The disclosure is likely to contribute "significantly" to public understanding of government operations or activities."   
Factor 5. The existence and magnitude of a commercial interest:   No commercial interest. 
Factor 6. The primary interest in disclosure:  There is no "commercial interest."  FOI officers know that when a "news media requester has satisfied the public interest standard, the public interest will be the interest primarily served by disclosure to that requester."
7. Please call me (today if possible), to confirm receipt.
8. Please call me December 7-11, 2020 as your search progresses, e.g., if you have any questions on the scope of request or my request for FOIA fee waiver 
9. Would you please be so kind as to include in the title of all any e-mail or other correspondence my Request No. 2020-275: 2020 West Point Athletics Cheating Scandal?
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
904-377-4998
















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