<p>Infractions continue despite new monitoring effort, midshipman says in memo to students</p>
<p>Published in the BS:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.ar.academy15feb15,0,7677138.story?coll=bal-local-headlines%5B/url%5D">http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.ar.academy15feb15,0,7677138.story?coll=bal-local-headlines</a></p>
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The Naval Academy has recently seen what a high-ranking midshipman called an "unacceptable" increase in alcohol rules infractions, despite the launch last fall of a strict policy that put the school at the forefront of efforts at colleges nationwide to curb binge drinking. </p>
<p>In a memo sent yesterday to all 4,400 midshipmen and obtained by The Sun, senior Rachel Barton, the drug and alcohol education student officer, said that in the past six weeks, midshipmen had violated the new rules as much as they did in the previous six months....
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<p>I think it's in all of the academies. My son is friends with a "doolie" and depending on how his superiors come back from their night out (happy drunk vs. mean drunk) heavily influences their activities for the next day. What a great example of "lead by example." :(</p>
<p>More of the story:</p>
<p>
[quote]
A copy of the memo was obtained by The (Baltimore) Sun.</p>
<p>"The number of alcohol incidents within the Brigade lately has been unacceptable," Barton wrote. </p>
<p>"Have fun, but think about what you are doing. Have a plan when you go out and look out for each other," urging them to be responsible during the coming long weekend.</p>
<p>The academy defended the policy Wednesday. It said of the 6,219 Breathalyzer tests administered during the fall, 6,080 were negative for alcohol use. Of the 139 that detected alcohol use, more than 100 were within the range the academy has designated as responsible. Only 0.4 percent, or about 25, showed a 0.08 blood-alcohol level or higher, the legal standard for drunken driving in Maryland.
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<p>These are college kids with college problems. As Nurseypoo stated it is in all of the academies as it is on all college campuses. Doesn't make it right but it is a fact. Any parent who thinks having their kiddo attand a Service Academy, that they will not be faced with alcohol, needs to get their head out of the sand.</p>
<p>On the other hand, in varying degrees, many in America would prefer to impose a rule, develop a standard, or pass legislation to "fix" perceived problems and THEN stick their head in the sand as if the problem had been fixed.</p>
<p>We send 18-year olds to war [and 19-year old fire big guns] but we don't let them drink.
We spend billions on drug interdiction without regard to whether or not simple marijuana possession should be a crime or not.
We withhold birth control devices and still have a teen pregnancy rate higher than most other countries.
We spend billions more on education than mos tother courntires and still lag behind others in science and math.</p>
<p>If you haven't taught your child how to be be alcohol responsible by the time he enters the Academy, the Academy shouldn't be charged with that task. They've set a rule down, it should be followed, but I don't know what good the rule accomplishes.</p>
<p>The problem becomes, in a manner of speaking, that the college years for many IS the time to learn how to deal with alcohol. If you are not permitted to make mistakes now, while in college, then the consequences can be much more serious if you are in some foreign country having too much to drink for the first time.</p>
<p>Oh well . . . . life goes on.</p>
<p>^^^^ Very well said and couldn't agree with you more!</p>
<p>this is largely in response to an incident that occurred last weekend, and most people at the academy would say 0-0-1-3 has been a success.</p>
<p>When I read the next part of the report where it indicated that there had only been 0.4% found legally drunk, i thought the same, the policy must be working.</p>
<p>Thanks for clarifying.</p>