<p>Interesting reading......written by a college student at Columbia:</p>
<p>Some who may not be familiar with that 'other' article written recently by a different student about the USNA will find this one quite different.</p>
<p>interesting read</p>
<p>Thanks Time2 -
I am sure it won't get the press that the previous op-ed piece got though.</p>
<p>I wonder if this means that USMA does a better job communicating to families what the academy is all about than USNA does? ;)</p>
<p>Great article saving the best till last. mms, take note.</p>
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Also like other families, the military expects that you don’t air its dirty laundry in public. Most think that outsiders will judge them or just won’t understand. Hopefully, this article takes one step toward changing that.
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<p>Don't miss this response:</p>
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"Midshipmen and cadets remain stronger and more aggressive than their male counterparts at civilian schools. They eagerly play sports such as rugby, boxing, karate, lacrosse, and fieldball. They drive fast cars, usually sports cars. They play hard. They drink hard. They are physical, often abusive among each other. They are not trying to prove their manhood: they are celebrating their masculinity. They are competitive, often vulgar, and tough, and every citizen who may someday send a friend or relative into war should rejoice, because combat is competitive, vulgar, and tough, and they will be leading men in combat."</p>
<p>Sen Jim Webb, USNA '68
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<p>Don't know for sure if it was actually posted by Webb but very few outsiders are familiar with fieldball. In my day it was rumored that it was only played at USNA and Alcatraz. Great game. "To hell with the ball, start the game."</p>
<p>I suppose on this forum that I will be labeled as sexist for simply posting this.</p>
<p>The author makes a number of good points and provides a wonderful contrast to the earlier author in the same publication. All of the Service Academies benefit when commentaries like the one above is publshed. </p>
<p>Sorry, but I can't resist this:</p>
<p>Q: What is the difference between Notre Dame and Army football?
A: Army has actually won two football games so far this year!</p>
<p>"I suppose on this forum that I will be labeled as sexist for simply posting this."</p>
<p>Not at all! Senator Webb was not fortunate enough to have graduated at a time when women were at the academies. I am sure if he were he would have said something along the lines of, "Midshipmen and cadets remain stronger and more aggressive than their male and female counterparts at civilian schools".
In fact he probably would have said " the female cadets and midshipmen alone are more aggressive and stronger than their male counterparts at civilian schools." </p>
<p>Each of us pulls our thoughts from the context from which we come.</p>
<p>I see that the comments underneath the article bicker about sexual harassment at the academies. Some say it is very common, some blame it on under-age drinking, and some say it is just as common at civilian colleges. Does anyone have an opinion on this?</p>
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<p>However, he was SecNav when women were at the Academy and did a lot, overall, to improve the career choices for females. Therefore, I doubt the authenticity of this post. At "best", I see it as a quote of a statement he perhaps made back in the early '80s.</p>
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see that the comments underneath the article bicker about sexual harassment at the academies. Some say it is very common, some blame it on under-age drinking, and some say it is just as common at civilian colleges. Does anyone have an opinion on this?
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<p>This probably deserves it's own thread.........
There was a lot of discussion on the Naval Academy Forum last year in the wake a trial of a midshipman. You can probably find it by going back into the archives.</p>
<p>I will say this - I have read a great deal about these incidents and others that happen in other colleges as well. As a mom who has sent 3 daughters off to various collegiate settings I have a vested interest.</p>
<p>It appears to me that the majority are a fall out from excessive drinking. I am not going to preach who was right and who was wrong - but I believe that most cases would be prevented if the parties involved were sober.</p>
<p>The academies are also different that other colleges in that there are strict rules about fraternization and they are in a "fishbowl" atmosphere</p>
<p>While I have no qualms sending my own daughter there - If I was sending my son there I would take steps to educate him as well.</p>
<p>I personally have never engaged in under-aged drinking, will there be times when other cadets encourage me to drink?</p>
<p>Not unless you befriend some stupid cadets. Most are smart enough to not drink underage, or at least not get caught doing it. It is definitely not openly encouraged. (at least at USAFA)</p>
<p>I too have never engaged in underage drinking. It is not a big problem here, especially due to the fact that a)there is nowhere to drink and b)if you get caught underage you lose all but 3 days of Christmas</p>