<p>Have you seen Jamie Mcintyre's segment on CNN about the USNA?? </p>
<p>Same darn thing is happening at KP...standards are dropping faster than the barometer in a November nor-easter...See it here:YouTube</a> - Bruce Fleming on CNN</p>
<p>40+ setbacks on leave! Many are multiple setbacks!! RADM Worley summoned to DC. Dozens sent to the ARB, dis-enrolled and reversed on appeal...film at 11.</p>
<p>Oliver:</p>
<pre><code>What are you outraged about. The allegation by Mr. Ricks and Professor Flemming or the fact that Prof. Flemming despite earning at least some portion of his liveing for the past 20 years as a Professor at USNA routinely stirs up debates like this?
</code></pre>
<p>Personally my view is the changing standards if they are there are not in any way more or less related to the standards today then they were 30 years ago. Firstly, there’s always different standards for all the Academies based on geography - some states use all their slots routinely and competition for them are higher there then at the states that do not. Athletes and other extra-curriculars are now and alwyas have been part of the selection criteria. - ALL the SA’s advertise they seek “well rounded” prospective students. Racial and Ethnic Diversity - ALL colleges have ben dealing with that, look at the recent reverse discrimination suit out of where was that - University of Michigan?</p>
<p>Many students at SA’s need and are encouraged to seek extra help and they should, the first two years are where these young future leaders learn how to manage time as they juggle, the Regiment (Brigade, etc.), Academics, and Extra-Curricular Activites/Sports (the things that keep them sane and allow them to be “human” - as much an essential to gbeing a good leader as good grades or awesome regimatal training).</p>
<p>It’s a good debate and one worth having - I just don’t buy it, especially in the case of KP, I don’t have any visibility into data from other institutions but as an Admissions Field Rep, I can say based on data for the Graduating Classes back as far as 2002 (entering in 1999) as far as I know the standards are pretty much the same as they have been with some years being a little harder than others. It’s as it should be given the value/cost (another on-going debate) an Academy education costs you, me and every other tax-paying person here in the US.</p>
<p>I hardly listen to much Professor Flemming has to say these days. The latest out of him in this weeks Navy Times is he is filing suit against the government for not paying him enough or something like that.</p>
<p>He is quite the publicity hound it seems and someone who has their own giant agenda.</p>
<p>kp2001: Couldn’t agree more, talk about the abuse of the “academic freedoms” that tenure was originally based on, vs. what Prof. Flemming is and has been using it for over the last X years… if the guy had a family, lived in Fort Collins, CO and…well you get the point…</p>
<p>Bruce Fleming has a lot of books to sell. Free publicity.</p>
<p>Doubtful that an interview that Professor Fleming did with CNN over 4 years ago is getting any airplay or selling any books. </p>
<p>What’s more insightful are the attacks on Prof Fleming, instead of discussing the point Oliver is trying to make - that the “problems” cited by Prof Fleming in the old video are now allegedly occurring at KP.</p>
<p>“Multiple setbacks” jumped out at me - does this indicate a KP mid who has flunked out TWICE and is getting another shot?</p>
<p>That would raise my concerns about the academic integrity, if true.</p>
<p>Luigi:</p>
<p>While during the past 10 years there have from time to time been multiple setbacks (with extenuating circumstances and not usually both for Academic reasons) the new Superintendant has tightened the reigns on ALL setbacks both initial/single or otherwise.</p>
<p>Luigi & Jasper,
Oliver has heard about a couple of recent multiple setbacks that were academic and then disciplinay setbacks (or vice versa)!! Oliver has also heard of an instance in which one such superstar athlete on his second Executive Board was allowed to remain after double alchohol related harrasment charge…hmmm…seems RADM Worley is getting a bit liberal minded…after all, the taxpayers have invested so much at this point in these fine lads…or the recent lad who was academically setback twice and failed out a third time…seven year man gonna be…gotta be George Bush’s fault, after all he signed off on the requirement that Kings Point maintain a federally mandated graduation rate. Kings Point is not just cooking the budgetary books…See this: [ExpectMore.gov:</a> Maritime Administration - Merchant Marine Academy](<a href=“http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/detail/10004003.2005.html]ExpectMore.gov:”>http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/detail/10004003.2005.html)</p>
<p>Oliver:
I’ve seen the scorecard before, and my understanding is that the issues that drove the one questionable rating (67%) are being addressed.</p>
<p>When you cite “recent multiple setbacks that were academic then discilinary (or vice versa)” are you falling back on solid information and talking about decisions that have been made since the 2009 - 2010 Academic and Regimental yeas have started?</p>
<p>Everything I’ve heard for that time period I’d class as anecdotal but it is quite contrary to what you are talking about.</p>
<p>Luigi:</p>
<pre><code>Two things to keep in mind when looking at numbers of setbacks/folks who take more than a straight 4 years to graduate:
</code></pre>
<p>1) If a midn’ requires additional sea time for his or her liscence, it’s my understanding that is considered the same as if he or she is a single year setback for statistical counting purposes - I may be wrong on this.</p>
<p>2) Each 14 week trimester aboard the Academy at KP has as much academic content as a 16 week semester elsewhere so if there were ever a reason to give folks a second academic chance from time to time, to my minds eye that would be it.</p>