Im not happy....

tug_boat

10-Year Member
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Jun 18, 2012
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In a short amount of time the main stream media will be reporting about an incident that has occurred at West Point. Im very upset with the myopic view a few bad cadets in their decision making in their lives. The ripple will be felt and it will sting. For those who are about to experience R-Day I want you to know West Point is the premier Leadership Institution and recognized around the world. Parents do not let this give you second thoughts about allowing your DS/DD enter into West Point. It is still the best Service Academy. I would not hesitate to allow my DS/DD be part of the Long Gray Line.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
Is this like the movie trailer. Just enough to get you interested, but not enough to really know what the movie is going to be like.

Post a link when the news breaks.
 
Class of 2017 - Cocaine. Serious stuff.

That said. 4,4oo cadets. The law of averages meets media distortion.
 
It's disgraceful how the leftist media cannot pass up an opportunity to denigrate the Academy, or the Military in general. Based on your warning, it sounds like they are about to get some more grist for that mill... whatever it is will undoubtedly involve a microscopic percentage of individuals. I regrettably await what it is this time and how much mileage they'll milk it for.
 
It's disgraceful how the leftist media cannot pass up an opportunity to denigrate the Academy, or the Military in general. Based on your warning, it sounds like they are about to get some more grist for that mill... whatever it is will undoubtedly involve a microscopic percentage of individuals. I regrettably await what it is this time and how much mileage they'll milk it for.

If this is related to cocaine use…. um, the disgrace is in the conduct of a number of West Point cadets, not the folks reporting about it….
 
If the media went nuts with the plebe pillow fight, you can imagine the feeding frenzy this will be. It's terrible all around; I just hate the blemish against the academy, but I hate that some young adults made decisions that will haunt them forever. I agree with LITS, however, the behavior is the disgrace.
 
If this is related to cocaine use…. um, the disgrace is in the conduct of a number of West Point cadets, not the folks reporting about it….

If in fact it a drug scandal as Sledge suggested (while I was posting), there is no doubt that it is disgraceful personal behavior and an unfortunate blemish on the USMA's reputation to some degree. But I still fear the media will not simply "report" it, they will relish in it. And that's a disgrace too. I think this is where MacArthur was going when he said:

"Duty, Honor, Country
: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying points: to build courage when courage seems to fail; to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith; to create hope when hope becomes forlorn.
Unhappily, I possess neither that eloquence of diction, that poetry of imagination, nor that brilliance of metaphor to tell you all that they mean.
The unbelievers will say they are but words, but a slogan, but a flamboyant phrase. Every pedant, every demagogue, every cynic, every hypocrite, every troublemaker, and I am sorry to say, some others of an entirely different character, will try to downgrade them even to the extent of mockery and ridicule."
 
Sorry to hear about this, but, per the above, I actually would guess that the media will be less interested in a few cadets using cocaine than they were in the plebe pillow fight. The 'story' with the pillow fight was that it was a tradition and, as such, seemed to be somewhat sanctioned by the institution. Plus it connected to a larger interest in recent research on concussions. Not saying this should have been a story, and I genuinely have no desire to rehash it, but that was the 'angle.'

Unless this new incident is about a sales ring or there was a cover-up (and there's no indication of either in the above), then I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't draw too much attention. People know that there are incidents with drugs in the military, yes, even at the academies. As long as it's dealt with quickly and through the proper channels, there's just not much of a story there from an editorial standpoint.
 
In a short amount of time the main stream media will be reporting about an incident that has occurred at West Point. Im very upset with the myopic view a few bad cadets in their decision making in their lives. The ripple will be felt and it will sting. For those who are about to experience R-Day I want you to know West Point is the premier Leadership Institution and recognized around the world. Parents do not let this give you second thoughts about allowing your DS/DD enter into West Point. It is still the best Service Academy. I would not hesitate to allow my DS/DD be part of the Long Gray Line.

Push Hard, Press Forward

We received texts from DS yesterday around noon that the story was going to go down and that he wasn't involved( would have been a 100% shock if he was.) Still haven't heard a peep. I googled stuff all yesterday evening and nary a word.

I feel the same disappointment you do Tugboat, but bigger than that, I cannot wrap my mind around anyone putting so much at risk for something so shallow and meaningless. What those cadets face now is a nightmare when they should be prepping for Spring Break and closing out Cow year. It's just unimaginably stupid.

That being said, and I share this with folks who respond in awe when they discover DS goes to an Academy, there's no part of being a cadet that requires perfect judgment or the wearing of an S at all time on their skivvy shirt. They are human...and sometimes display the poor decision making from which mankind suffers. IT's going to happen. What matters is how USMA responds and how the remaining Corps responds. Those decisions are what will set them apart.
 
tug, my sincerest sympathies. The SAs take turns having these incidents, and they are always head-shakers. So hurtful and frustrating for alumni and fellow cadets who chose not to indulge in criminal activity.

Almost 20 years ago, in 1996, USNA had just emerged from its 1992 double E cheating scandal, only to have the 1996 car theft ring explode across headlines. With common players! As always, just a handful of boneheads drag the whole school into the mud puddle for a smear. For simply awful reading while you wait for this story, Google "USNA 1996 car theft ring."

Agreed, though, that if facts are clear cut, WP will no doubt act decisively to work its way through the process and get this one in the rear view mirror.

Boneheads.
 
I am certain that the use of drugs at the academies is miniscule when compared to traditional colleges. But these things never find the radar when they occur at traditional schools.

Clearly this is an isolated incident. There will be a couple bad apples now and then. It isn't a reflection on the rest.
 
As a Mom to a future Cadet, it will be disheartening to see any such story reported.

As a Mom of several children of all ages, I also realize that young adults make poor choices. However, those attending USMA are held to a higher standard. My hope is that USMA is transparent in their handling of the situation, and that the protocol is followed to the "T." My expectation of USMA is that it practices what it preaches.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out in the media. No fear, though. The poor choices of a few stupid Cadets, (yes, I am calling their behavior stupid. What the heck were they thinking??? They weren't!!), does not change the fact that I believe that USMA is the best place for my son. I would hope he wouldn't do anything like this when he flies the coop. He knows that not only would he have to deal with the consequences from the Academy...he would also have to deal with one ticked off Mother. Sometimes, a little healthy fear is a good thing. ;)
 
Years ago, while attending the Defense Language Institute, I knew people who were taking drugs to help stay awake and study. I remember thinking how stupid it was but it happens in schools. There are kids who can't take the pressure and, if they are turning to drugs, these schools likely are not the best place for them.
 
In a short amount of time the main stream media will be reporting about an incident that has occurred at West Point. Im very upset with the myopic view a few bad cadets in their decision making in their lives. The ripple will be felt and it will sting. For those who are about to experience R-Day I want you to know West Point is the premier Leadership Institution and recognized around the world. Parents do not let this give you second thoughts about allowing your DS/DD enter into West Point. It is still the best Service Academy. I would not hesitate to allow my DS/DD be part of the Long Gray Line.

Push Hard, Press Forward

I wish that my DDs join the Long Gray Line, another story.

I see nothing wrong with the main stream media reporting about an incident at West Point. No institution is perfect. Although West Point is a premier leadership institution, it has short comings. It's a disservice to prospective candidates if we just talk about the good side of West Point. Also parents or candidates that might be swayed by media reporting that West Point is not a place for their DD/DS or themselves, I have a bridge in New York for sale.
 
I'd have to agree with New Kid. The media has not sensationalized other drug cases at other SA because it shows that the SA has taken swift action to stop the action of the few. Also because of criminal cases, they have to be very careful with what they say something that doesn't apply when writing a piece of a pillow fight.
 
Disheartening to hear that it happened, but realistically those involved are a very small percentage of the Corps. The consequences will be harsh.
 
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