To parents who care, Midshipmen who are unaware, and Alumni who’s support we need...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point
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<p>To parents who care, Midshipmen who are unaware, and Alumni who’s support we need,</p>

<p>Below you will find an email from Mr. Howard Weiner of the Department of Information Technology at the US Merchant Marine Academy. As unfortunate as it is that the web content system that filters materials that are deemed inappropriate by politicians, personal morals, and religious beliefs is faltering due to funding problems, there are other issues that are currently affecting the Midshipmen at the United States Merchant Marine Academy that I feel take greater precedence and deserve more attention than a mass email about software that is protecting our Midshipmen from being responsible…eh irresponsible. This is not to say that this email does not have a valid point or that this technology is not important, but simply that there are other items on the table of greater substance of which you may not be aware.</p>

<p>Budget crunches at the Academy have caused life to change greatly over my past three years here. One good starting place is the quality of food. Now sure, those of you who graduated years ago would say that the food is the best it has ever been and I am just complaining, but let me put this comparison out for you. Imagine spending 2 ½ years eating dinner every night at Morton’s Steak House (not even close to Delano, but work with me) and then gradually times change and your source of money slowly disappears. Over the turn of a year, you shift from Morton’s to Ruby Tuesday’s, still good, but not the same, next you are eating meals from McDonald’s and finally, we arrive at our current example of the conditions, the local soup kitchen. (By no means am I trying to degrade the quality of food at any of the establishments listed, please read for content not implications.  At least I’ve learned to cover my A$$) The quality of food that we have become familiar with has changed drastically, nutrition has become nonexistent, energy is lacking and many are losing weight. Simply because the quality and quantity are not there. Tables of 10 people are given servings for 8, sometimes 6, side dishes have gone from broccoli or rice to potato chips and desserts are a thing of the past. All of this said however, kudos to the Food Service Employees who are working feverishly to attack this problem and keep us happy, unfortunately they are simply against a wall that won’t budge.</p>

<p>Medical care is another aspect that has suffered greatly as a result of the changes in funding. Midshipmen were first presented with an email informing us that OTC medicines such as Sudafed, Tylenol, cough drops and others would no longer be handed out as treatments for those who need it by Patten Health Clinic. We now have to buy our own at the NEX. Not a problem for many, but not the answer someone who is looking for a medical opinion wants to hear. However, over the past few weeks the cuts have gotten tighter to the point that Midshipmen who suffer valid (one that is witnessed by reliable sources) and sometimes serious injuries have been required to pay for their own prescription medications that are needed to treat pain, swelling, infection and the like. This has been particularly hard on Midshipmen who are no longer on their family’s Health Insurance and have to pay for these medications out of their own pocket. The cuts have also affected the care provided by the EMTs on campus. Currently with a snow storm wrapping up on Long Island, our campus EMTs who provide Emergency Medical coverage for all on campus and Emergency Medical transportation for all Midshipmen on campus, are out of service. This is the result of a lack of funding to purchase and install snow chains for the ambulance that the EMTs use. The road conditions are too slick to safely operate the ambulance and thus, care as been temporarily suspended. Now, this is not to say that the Academy is going unprotected. The help of the local Fire Department has been requested to provide ambulance coverage on an as needed basis until road conditions improve. What does this mean? If someone on campus needs an ambulance, instead of the Academy’s EMTs responding in less than three minutes, the sick, injured, or potentially dying person may have to wait 10 minutes if not more for an ambulance to arrive. By no means is any of this the direct result of mismanagement at the Health Clinic, the administrators, doctors, nurses and all supporting staff are working as hard as possible to provide top of the line medical coverage while saving the most money possible. It’s just that, I’m more comfortable seeing my doctor at home over break.</p>

<p>The last point that I want to bring up is the lack of communication campus wide as to all the situations we are currently facing. There are 700 young adults in addition to hundreds of teachers and staffers currently on campus who have no idea what is going on. Many people are unaware of the fact that some employees at the waterfront were given the option of accepting a 38% pay cut or leaving the Academy. (Both options have been accepted by different people) Many people are unaware that Office Support Staff at the Health Clinic and the Midshipman Social Director have been terminated. Many are unaware that the Midshipman Morale Funds have become virtually inaccessible because how these funds were received is in question. (ie. Donations, Fundraising, or Midshipmen Fees) Rumors are spreading that Midshipmen Fees for the second trimester are sitting in an account untouched because they have been deemed illegal. (This is unconfirmed, anyone with info please share) We are all mature people who want to know what is happening to our Academy, unfortunately trying to get information about the problems we are currently facing is about as difficult as breaking into Fort Knox. </p>

<p>Morale is at an all time low, and predicted to go lower as Midshipmen await word from the Administration about upcoming changes to the daily schedule and liberty policies. Finding a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom or a can of Lysol in the slop sink is like finding a 5 karat ring at the beach. (It doesn’t happen very often) We are asking for your support to change things at the Academy and make them better. Write letters, make phone calls, send emails. Every little bit will help.</p>

<p>From: Weiner, Howard D.
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 2:09 PM
To: ###allusers
Subject: Recent Problems Gaining Access to Web Sites Hosted on the Internet</p>

<p>Folks,</p>

<p>The decision to filter web content to block web sites deemed incompatible with the Academy’s mission was made a number of years ago. Throughout most of this period of time, we have been fortunate to have sufficient funding to acquire the best technology available for this purpose. More recently, our financial resources compel us to buy good, but not the best, web content filtering (and other) appliances, and this shift in sourcing has not been particularly transparent.</p>

<p>Our current appliances were purchased from Barracuda (Barracuda</a> Networks - Worldwide leader in email and Web security). Barracuda is an excellent firm, they produce good products, and these products are widely adopted throughout the Information Technology industry and institutions of higher education.</p>

<p>We have been experiencing a number of transition problems with these new devices. Part of the problem is ours. Part of the problem belongs to Barracuda.</p>

<p>Under ideal circumstances, new products like web filtering, email SPAM gateways, and so on, are purchased and installed well before they are required. Early implementation often results in a good outcome. Unfortunately, the Academy’s financial circumstances delayed the purchase and delivery of these new devices making an early implementation impossible. We were ready to purchase and implement in August. Payment and delivery could not be secured until mid-December. The devices “went live” in late December, early January.</p>

<p>We continue to work with Barracuda on as-yet-unresolved product and support issues. We expect Barracuda’s support engineers to be back on campus in a week or two to address these remaining outstanding issues. Hopefully, these challenges and associated inconvenience will soon be a distant memory.</p>

<p>V/r,</p>

<p>HDW</p>

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<p>I’m one of the alumni you refer to who attended the Academy before the days of computers, cell phones, civilian clothes, cars, spouses, female Midshipmen and, worst of all, the Cookie Cafe. I don’t think you’re going to get much sympathy from many of the alumni regarding the food. We supplemented our meals with junk bought at ships service just as you probably do. I particularly remember one day, when I was particularly hungry, that liver was on the menu. I was determined to eat it. When served the meat was breaded and when that was scrapped away the liver was green. I went hungry and haven’t eaten liver since.
Now as to your complaint about Patten Health Clinic. I see no reason why the government should pay for your over the counter medications but I may be a bit undecided about prescription meds. As far as ambulance service is concerned, I think you are very fortunate to have back-up service nearby. I recall one instance where a Cadet (we were Cadet Midshipmen) was being transported to an outside hospital because of an appendix problem and the ambulance ran out of gas half way there.
While I’m not up to date on this years finances for the Academy, I would be inclined to remember that there is a new administration aboard and I expect you will continue to see changes that you may disagree with but also many that are favorable to the Academies mission. Acta Non Verba.</p>

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<p>gfred…</p>

<p>I actually tend to agree with your comments as a parent of a enrolled student. I think that insurance may be carried on full time students by the parents and that insurance should be used. Using the community ambulance seems to be a great cost saving idea from my seat. Over the counter meds…well my state school and private university kids pay for their OTC’s. At the cost of this academy for my mid, I as a parent can furnish these things. The only concern I have is the plebes who cannot purchase food at the ship store, call in take out, have food shipped from home or go to the local grocery store until recognition. There needs to be an allowance for those to be able to have the food needed. Honestly my mid has not complained so far except to say that on Sunday he helps Mom and Dad Guest to pack up after church. Brunch is only served on Sunday so he has no meal until dinner on Sundays and nothing is allowed in his room to eat. Mom Guest heard about this and brought in some Quiche for those helping her to pack up and missing brunch on Sunday. </p>

<p>I do think any student at an academy of the US does deserve good food. I am not talking T-bone steak, I am talking a well balanced diet. The mids do not have the facilities to do their own cooking.</p>

<p>Yes some of the fat can be cut out but it needs to be cut on the non-essentials.</p>

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<p>I met the Admiral tonight at the Central Jersey Alumni/Parents Association. I was favorably impressed with him. I think he deserves a chance. He knows how to get money out of Washington to support the Academy.</p>

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<p>The problem with the prescription meds is not so much that we have to pay for them, it is the fact that in the Student Health Care plan, it specifically states that the school will pay for prescription meds.
This is a blatant violation of the schools contract with the students.
In addition, many of the funds that are payed into student expenses include books and uniforms… We no longer get a third of the uniforms we used to and most books are only loaned, not bought. What is happening to that money? I haven’t gotten a check for it yet.</p>

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<p>Apparently, the parents are going to get a refund for the overpayment in excess fees that were charged this year and the fees are going down in the future. Not sure when this will happen, though.</p>

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<p>What will be the arrangements for getting prescriptions? Since the majority of students do not have cars is there a local drug store delivery? Can the RX be written from the infirmary and faxed to the drug store? Granted I doubt students need new prescriptions on a regular basis but there needs to be a plan.</p>