Academy leader blasts dorm slurs

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — The leader of the Air Force Academy delivered a poignant and stern message on race relations in a speech to thousands of cadets after someone wrote racial slurs on message boards outside the dorm rooms of five black students.

Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria warned students that he would not tolerate racism at the academy and invoked some of the racial tensions that have been gripping the country. At one point, he insisted that everyone in the audience take out their phones and record him so his message was clearly heard.

“If you can’t treat someone with dignity and respect, get out,” he said Thursday as audience members looked on with rapt attention.

Air Force security personnel are investigating the incident after the slurs were discovered Tuesday.

Officials have said they can’t provide any more information about what happened because of the ongoing investigation. No additional details were released yesterday. Silveria said he called the families of the five prep school students who were the objects of the slurs.

Tracye Whitfield, of Springfield said in a message posted to Facebook that one of the cadet candidates who was targeted was her son.

AP PHOTO ‘GET OUT’: Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria told U.S. Air Force cadets to leave if they can’t treat each other with dignity after racial slurs were written outside dorm rooms.