I spoke to my mid last night. As almost everyone knows, the rules relating to liberty have been significantly change. Liberty used to be a privilege, more of which was granted with each year completed and often linked to academic performance. It seems the nature and frequency of liberty has been rolled way back. In that regard, my mid says things are now not much different from when she was a plebe several years ago. She gave me examples such as the backpack ban, required checkout/check in with military ID for any campus departure required, etc., but more focused on the overall environment - best characterized as oppressive.
There currently are 40+ mids on restriction, for various offenses - some, no doubt, quite deservedly so. However, as I understand it, the offense something like “conduct unbecoming a midshipman” is apparently some type of catch-all offense under which mistakes from very minor to egregious can fall, and the arbitrary reporting/enforcement of which often depends on the mood of the moment. She reports that, in her view, because of this “catch-all” rule and other restrictions, morale is the lowest it has been since she has been there. According to her, the cloud of uncertainty as to whether/when one might run afoul of some ambiguous standard of conduct is so heavy and low that it dominates much of the conversation and attitude of many mids. Most, she believes, feel as though they are walking on egg shells.
My mid has not had any significant problems at KP academically or with the regimental system. Until now, she has believed it to be tough, but generally fair. I believe she’s the kind of person KP would like to have attend, graduate from and go out into the industry to represent it. She has spoken to other young people, (especially women), about KP and encouraged them to visit and apply for admission. She was proud of the kind of experience KP provided and has the potential to provide. The way things stand know, she says she no longer feels she can in good faith encourage others to attend. In fact, would actually discourage young people from considering KP if the topic arose.
Although she is only one of over 1000, I have a sense she is not alone. I am concerned that mids with that kind of attitude, mids who are not simply upset about one particular thing or another that they believe has unfairly impacted them (i.e. they don’t just have a bone to pick), could significantly affect the views of potentially good midshipmen and stand in the way of KP being the respected institution it has been known to be.
Any thoughts, espcially from alumni, would be appreciated.
There currently are 40+ mids on restriction, for various offenses - some, no doubt, quite deservedly so. However, as I understand it, the offense something like “conduct unbecoming a midshipman” is apparently some type of catch-all offense under which mistakes from very minor to egregious can fall, and the arbitrary reporting/enforcement of which often depends on the mood of the moment. She reports that, in her view, because of this “catch-all” rule and other restrictions, morale is the lowest it has been since she has been there. According to her, the cloud of uncertainty as to whether/when one might run afoul of some ambiguous standard of conduct is so heavy and low that it dominates much of the conversation and attitude of many mids. Most, she believes, feel as though they are walking on egg shells.
My mid has not had any significant problems at KP academically or with the regimental system. Until now, she has believed it to be tough, but generally fair. I believe she’s the kind of person KP would like to have attend, graduate from and go out into the industry to represent it. She has spoken to other young people, (especially women), about KP and encouraged them to visit and apply for admission. She was proud of the kind of experience KP provided and has the potential to provide. The way things stand know, she says she no longer feels she can in good faith encourage others to attend. In fact, would actually discourage young people from considering KP if the topic arose.
Although she is only one of over 1000, I have a sense she is not alone. I am concerned that mids with that kind of attitude, mids who are not simply upset about one particular thing or another that they believe has unfairly impacted them (i.e. they don’t just have a bone to pick), could significantly affect the views of potentially good midshipmen and stand in the way of KP being the respected institution it has been known to be.
Any thoughts, espcially from alumni, would be appreciated.
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