<p>Midshipmen quoted in a new report on sexual harassment and violence at military academies said they are unlikely to report sexual harassment for fear it could label them a "troublemaker" and harm their career.</p>
<p>But most in the Department of Defense report released yesterday said they feel safe on campus and believe sexual assault happens less at the academy than at civilian schools.</p>
<p>Some female midshipmen described how behavior from their male counterparts - from hanging flags at Friday lunches that compare female Naval Academy alums to porn stars, to making a list on the popular col-lege social networking site Facebook of the top 25 women at the academy they want to have sex with - makes them uncomfortable. Verbal insults include being mocked for wearing white uniform pants that "don't hide anything" and being labeled with derogatory terms based on their body types. Names of the midshipmen who participated in the study were withheld.</p>
<p>Such actions, however, generally stop if someone speaks up and says they are offended, the report states. Sexual comments are more a product of a male environment than malicious intent.</p>
<p>"Guys tend to give each other a hard time. Sometimes you forget that the girls are still girls," a male midshipman is quoted as saying in the report. "I think at times you can be joking with somebody and be really sarcastic and then not realize that you offend somebody."</p>
<p>Commander Ricks Polk, the academy's sexual assault response coordinator, said the institution tries to pro-vide ample ways for students to report harassment."</p>
<p>"We encourage midshipmen to report an offense, we encourage leaders within a brigade to respond," he said. "There are multiple ways for them to report."</p>
<p>Over the course of their time at the Naval Academy, a midshipman will receive about 25 hours of training about these issues, Cmdr. Polk said, and the administration tries to build on what they learn every year.</p>
<p>"Each year they get a something a little different," he said. "The idea is we are developing them into an officer."</p>
<p>The U.S. Department of Defense's annual report to Congress covers the period from June 1, 2006 through May 31, 2007. It was released late yesterday afternoon.</p>
<p>Information was gathered by the military's Sexual Assault and Prevention Office, which performed site visits, reviewed administrative policies, and held focus groups with cadets and midshipmen.</p>
<p>A total of 40 sexual assault reports - covering rape, sodomy, indecent assault and attempts to commit those offenses - were reported during that time frame at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the Naval Academy in Annapolis.</p>
<p>Four rapes and one indecent assault were reported at the Naval Academy, but none resulted in disciplinary action.</p>
<p>Each academy had the proper procedures in place to effectively deal with the cases, according to the report.</p>
<p>"There is substantial evidence that the academies are institutionalizing prevention strategies that demonstrate a commitment to end sexual harassment and violence in the Armed Forces," the report states.</p>
<p>That praise was extended to the efforts of the Naval Academy for their on-base and community resources for victims. In October, the academy unveiled its new "SHAPE" program, or "Sexual Harrassment & Assault Prevent Education," which relies on peer discussion sessions.</p>
<p>"USNA has done an outstanding job developing and continuously improving policies, procedures, and processes designed to prevent and respond to sexual violence," the report says.</p>
<p>Although the Naval Academy successfully provides training throughout a midshipmen's four years on what types of sexual misconduct can occur in a military setting, the report states it must do a better job exploring ethics.</p>
<p>"Misplaced peer loyalty may prevent midshipmen from correctly reporting peers and disciplining those whom they lead," the report says. "Educating these future commanders on the proper handling of ethical issues encountered by military leaders dealing with sexual assault matters would likely enhance the USNA's training program."</p>
<p>But to an extent, sexual comments can be expected because female students are entering a predominantly male atmosphere, said some midshipmen in the focus groups. The class of 2011 is about 21 percent women, with 251 female midshipmen, according to the Naval Academy.</p>
<p>"We get kind of used to it," one female midshipman said. "If we threw a fit (every time it happened) we'd be throwing fits all the time."</p>
<p>Some said that letting comments slide, however, can be motivated more by a desire to conform rather than an ability to shrug off offensive behavior.</p>
<p>"We just want to fit in. That sounds really stupid and we should stand up for ourselves," another female mid-shipman said. "But I think the main thing here is just trying to fly below the radar and not being called out for being 'that person.' "</p>
<p>And breaking ranks can have serious consequences.</p>
<p>"(If you speak up) you're ostracized," one female midshipman said. "You're completely shunned, even by other girls."</p>
<p>Another female midshipman detailed how reporting harassment managed to label her as a "plague" among other students.</p>
<p>"I had to move companies as a plebe ... because I tried to stand up for my friend when she was harassed. I was completely blacklisted from the rest of my company," the midshipman says in the report. "(After seeing other incidents) I've wanted to speak up and say something because I know it's not right, but I feel like I have nowhere to go at this point."</p>
<p>Regardless of such incidents, however, the report stresses many midshipmen believe the academy handles sexual assault and harassment issues in a positive manner.</p>
<p>"People have a bad view or the media has a bad view of the Naval Academy. But I think a lot of times we're one of the only schools in the country that really addresses (sexual harassment and assault)," a female midshipman says. "At other schools they just overlook them."</p>
<p>Copyright 2007 Capital Gazette Communications, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
The Capital (Annapolis, MD)
December 8, 2007 Saturday</p>