Morale boosters for the midshipmen

[AMF]

Originally Posted by KPEngineer

I think the issues involving the leadership and material condition of the school are not going to be solved here. We can talk about them, but aren’t going to solve them here. They are also the type of issues that even if the administration is addressing as fast as the typical machinations of the federal government allows, most current M/N aren’t going to see much difference in during their school careers. Those are the type of issues that a M/N really has no control over and that is when I give my “suffer through it” speech.

So where CAN we have an impact on morale? It is those areas that grant that occasional decompression, although I would suggest the need is frequent and not just occasional. I never really felt like we were suffering from a lack of recreational activities. Aside from those already mentioned here we made frequent use of the pools, racquetball courts, gymnasium, bowling alley, waterfront, spirit missions, running through Kings Point Park and trips to NYC as part of the “culture club” I think it was called and free admission to Mets and Yankee games. When you add in other extracurriculars like student government, Hear This, MIDSHIPS, social clubs, intramural sports, team sports and regimental type activities there really is no end of things to do. We were only limited by our imaginations and desire to get off the proverbial couch.

Lastly … Why are we having this conversation with the administration via parents? Where are the current M/N? They are the biggest stakeholders in this since it is after all their sanity (both individual and collective) at stake. Are any of them here? Let’s hear what they have to say. I am always happy to share my thoughts and experiences with them, that is how I choose to give back. As I’ve said to a couple people who have PMed me here … my door is always open.

KP is woefully lacking in recreation compared to ALL the other service academies. The administration happens to rely quite a bit on the PA's. Then M/N in many cases do approach the admin with ideas. There is nothing wrong with PA help, especially given the tight budgets!

[KPEngineer]

Originally Posted by AMF

KP is woefully lacking in recreation compared to ALL the other service academies. The administration happens to rely quite a bit on the PA's. Then M/N in many cases do approach the admin with ideas. There is nothing wrong with PA help, especially given the tight budgets!

Please don't misunderstand. I'm not saying the place couldn't be better, nor am I saying the PA shouldn't be involved. What I am saying is that the M/N are their own best advocates. They know best what will benefit their morale and what won’t. I just feel like we are talking ABOUT them when we should be talking TO them.

Comparing KP to the other schools is not really a fair comparison and will lead to perpetual disappointment.
- Bloom where you are planted. Worry about where you are, and not where you would rather be. Do the best you can there and make it better.
- Focus on the things you can control and forget the things you can’t

[AMF]

Originally Posted by KPEngineer

Please don't misunderstand. I'm not saying the place couldn't be better, nor am I saying the PA shouldn't be involved. What I am saying is that the M/N are their own best advocates. They know best what will benefit their morale and what won’t. I just feel like we are talking ABOUT them when we should be talking TO them.

Comparing KP to the other schools is not really a fair comparison and will lead to perpetual disappointment.
- Bloom where you are planted. Worry about where you are, and not where you would rather be. Do the best you can there and make it better.
- Focus on the things you can control and forget the things you can’t

This fact we, and the M/N already know, and you can say that about almost any school. Whether we (KP) like it or not, they are competing for a) students to apply there and b) students to stay. Yield, retention, % acceptance, etc, are all part of the "appeal" of many schools, including KP. It's uniqueness, does not require "poor circumstances" (in some cases), where there are simple, cheap ideas, to lighten the mood every now and then. BTW the PA's DO talk to the M/N.

[cookiecafemom]

KPEngineer: " What I am saying is that the M/N are their own best advocates. They know best what will benefit their morale and what won’t. I just feel like we are talking ABOUT them when we should be talking TO them".

Every suggestion and idea has been passed along to the midshipmen. Now they can use that as a jumping off point for their discussions. They can brainstorm, add and eliminate ideas before passing them on to the powers that be. The initiative of the midshipmen is what is important. We only gave them a starting point to help them formulate their own ideas.

Thanks for keeping this thread positive. I am hoping that it will be productive for the midshipmen, not just wasteful comments on Service Academy forum. It's nice when things are accomplished. We did our part, now the midshipmen can take over and finish the job.

Good work!!

[Sunk @ the Docks]

Bring back the practice of "importing" girls from other schools for school dances/mixers. With a ~9% female population rate, it does not take an engineer to know that that ratio is not very pretty. I dont know the exact reason as to why these sort of dances were stopped (the KP rumormill has a few theories), but it most likely has to do with some sort of political correctness

[cmakin]

Originally Posted by Sunk @ the Docks

Bring back the practice of "importing" girls from other schools for school dances/mixers. With a ~9% female population rate, it does not take an engineer to know that that ratio is not very pretty. I dont know the exact reason as to why these sort of dances were stopped (the KP rumormill has a few theories), but it most likely has to do with some sort of political correctness

I'm sorry. It was probably my fault. . . Oh, wait. I didn't do that at one of OUR mixers. . . .