Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Post
September 25, 2007
Pg. B3
By Steve Vogel, Washington Post Staff Writer
The superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy defended strict new policies reducing off-campus liberty and extracurricular activities for students, telling members of the school's board of visitors yesterday that the Annapolis school's midshipmen represent "the face of the Navy."
Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler, who took over as superintendent in June and announced the changes at the start of the school year last month, said the tighter policies were needed to "eliminate the distractions" facing students.
"Why do we care about midshipmen going out in town, having too much to drink and making poor decisions?" Fowler asked during a presentation to the board at a meeting on Capitol Hill yesterday.
Answering his own question, he recalled an incident when he was deputy commander of the Sixth Fleet and had to apologize for the actions of drunken sailors in Italy. "Alcohol-related incidents can have strategic implications for our country," Fowler said.
Board members offered general support for the stricter policies but expressed concern that ending extracurricular activities might not produce "well-rounded" officers. "I'm trying to figure out where you draw the line," said Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), a member of the board. "How do you get that balance?"
Fowler responded that the academy is not eliminating extracurricular activities but rather limiting the amount of time midshipmen spend away from their studies.
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a board member, observed that restricting liberty causes "a ripple effect" in a town such as Annapolis, where many businesses depend on the wallets of midshipmen.
"What does this mean for everything from the ice cream shops to the Burger King?" Mikulski asked. The academy, she added, should do a better job of communicating with the community.
In addition, new rules making many on-campus meals mandatory for midshipmen, combined with a renovation of the dining hall, left the academy temporarily offering skimpy rations, a situation Mikulski termed "a food fiasco."
Academy officials assured the board that the problem has been corrected.
The quality of the food is another matter. Capt. Margaret D. Klein, the school commandant, said the academy has tried to remove unpopular items from the menu.
"The brigade overwhelmingly did not like BLT wraps," she said.
September 25, 2007
Pg. B3
By Steve Vogel, Washington Post Staff Writer
The superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy defended strict new policies reducing off-campus liberty and extracurricular activities for students, telling members of the school's board of visitors yesterday that the Annapolis school's midshipmen represent "the face of the Navy."
Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler, who took over as superintendent in June and announced the changes at the start of the school year last month, said the tighter policies were needed to "eliminate the distractions" facing students.
"Why do we care about midshipmen going out in town, having too much to drink and making poor decisions?" Fowler asked during a presentation to the board at a meeting on Capitol Hill yesterday.
Answering his own question, he recalled an incident when he was deputy commander of the Sixth Fleet and had to apologize for the actions of drunken sailors in Italy. "Alcohol-related incidents can have strategic implications for our country," Fowler said.
Board members offered general support for the stricter policies but expressed concern that ending extracurricular activities might not produce "well-rounded" officers. "I'm trying to figure out where you draw the line," said Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), a member of the board. "How do you get that balance?"
Fowler responded that the academy is not eliminating extracurricular activities but rather limiting the amount of time midshipmen spend away from their studies.
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a board member, observed that restricting liberty causes "a ripple effect" in a town such as Annapolis, where many businesses depend on the wallets of midshipmen.
"What does this mean for everything from the ice cream shops to the Burger King?" Mikulski asked. The academy, she added, should do a better job of communicating with the community.
In addition, new rules making many on-campus meals mandatory for midshipmen, combined with a renovation of the dining hall, left the academy temporarily offering skimpy rations, a situation Mikulski termed "a food fiasco."
Academy officials assured the board that the problem has been corrected.
The quality of the food is another matter. Capt. Margaret D. Klein, the school commandant, said the academy has tried to remove unpopular items from the menu.
"The brigade overwhelmingly did not like BLT wraps," she said.