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CDWatson707

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A family friend has a daughter who has been given an appointment. However they are worried about news they heard about sexual assault cases at the academy that were covered up. I know this is a sensitive subject but does anyone have anything to address their concerns. Thank you
 
How recent were the alleged cases? Its one thing if it was a few months ago, another if was many years ago.

I will say the female tour guides, and other cadets, I interacted with a couple months ago when DS was there for an athletic overnight visit were uniformly positive about the academy and their experiences. Obviously there were some moments that weren't fun (one recounted getting in trouble for accidentally taking another swabs laundry during swab summer) but there was nothing to indicate a "problem" like a culture of tolerating sexual assault or harassment.

Keep in mind EVERY college will have had reports of sexual assault. Service academies are no exception. Anytime you mix 18-24 year olds that will occur occasionally. My understanding is they take it seriously.
 
Based on research I have looked at, the incidence of sexual assaults at service academies is actually lower than at civilian colleges and universities. But the publicity surrounding the issue is much higher at the academies. Granted, there are issues concerning leadership's willingness or ability to mitigate the issue. The actual Mid/Cadet populations are the ones that are able to make changes by eliminating the "blue wall of silence" analog at the academies and stepping up to provide evidence of misdeeds, instead of protecting each other.
 
The incidents in question occurred from 1988 to 2006, I believe. And while that does not make anything right or okay, it is important to consider that the instances were not recent. Additionally, it is notable, I think, that the the percentage of female cadets at the Academy is on the rise. Certainly, the difference in numbers from the time of these occurrences to the present is significant. My cadet is male so I am not in a position to offer an assessment on the current culture from a female’s perspective, but here is a link to more info on the Fouled Anchor report from the Alumni Association.

 
The coverup was made public about a year ago. The people involved have been gone for a long time. The #1 person in the entire USCG is a female.
 
As the father of a female cadet there now, I have zero reservations and few worries about her being there. Being a parent, you'll always worry to some degree about your kid, but in this context, I'm much more comfortable with her at CGA rather than at a civilian college.

So far, she's built an amazing tight knit friend group within her company, her sport or both. Lots of guy friends who are like the brothers she never had at home.

Not to mention, it's not like there are keggers in Chase Hall on the weekends where as at a civilian college it's common place and that's often where things start to go awry. That said, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. I realize they're college kids, and they aren't always in the confines of Chase Hall or their military base college campus.

Sadly, while probably most relevant at college, this sort of thing has happened, is happening, or will happen in virtually any organization on the planet. It's more a matter of if and when people will find out about it. The good news is, there's less and less tolerance and more people have the courage to speak up.

I also like to think that Adm Fagan, not only being in charge of the CG and dealing with the aftermath of the Fouled Anchor report, but also being a woman and having a daughter who went to the academy, will take this topic rather seriously. I hope so anyway.
 
I agree that to a great extent, it is the Regiment that has to effect positive change in the Academy culture. Leadership can institute rules all day long, but the Cadets have to live them.

Agree also that I have been vastly more comfortable with my DDs living at the academies than I would have been at civilian universities.
 
27BearDad said:
As the father of a female cadet there now, I have zero reservations and few worries about her being there. Being a parent, you'll always worry to some degree about your kid, but in this context, I'm much more comfortable with her at CGA rather than at a civilian college.

So far, she's built an amazing tight knit friend group within her company, her sport or both. Lots of guy friends who are like the brothers she never had at home.

Not to mention, it's not like there are keggers in Chase Hall on the weekends where as at a civilian college it's common place and that's often where things start to go awry. That said, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. I realize they're college kids, and they aren't always in the confines of Chase Hall or their military base college campus.

Sadly, while probably most relevant at college, this sort of thing has happened, is happening, or will happen in virtually any organization on the planet. It's more a matter of if and when people will find out about it. The good news is, there's less and less tolerance and more people have the courage to speak up.

I also like to think that Adm Fagan, not only being in charge of the CG and dealing with the aftermath of the Fouled Anchor report, but also being a woman and having a daughter who went to the academy, will take this topic rather seriously. I hope so anyway.
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To me, this is a good balanced and informed view. Cadets I speak to say the academy is doing all they can where they can. Lots of oversight, inspections, cameras, discipline, and publicly being held accountable has all helped. At this point, the off campus summers are probably more risk than being on Academy grounds as the cadets have more freedom and intermix with the fleet and the public at large. Just like any young adult, watch our for each other and make good choices.

It is interesting to note that the cadet core usually provides feedback to the academy that conditions are two tight especially senior 1/c year. Being controlled for so long, then at graduation suddenly all controls are gone and you have to move out by 1800 graduation day is not quite the best glide slope to adulthood is their view. For example, some must learn to drink in moderation and not just drink excessively on Saturday night, etc. It does go from tons of oversight to none in a blink.
 
27BearDad said:
As the father of a female cadet there now, I have zero reservations and few worries about her being there. Being a parent, you'll always worry to some degree about your kid, but in this context, I'm much more comfortable with her at CGA rather than at a civilian college.

So far, she's built an amazing tight knit friend group within her company, her sport or both. Lots of guy friends who are like the brothers she never had at home.

Not to mention, it's not like there are keggers in Chase Hall on the weekends where as at a civilian college it's common place and that's often where things start to go awry. That said, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. I realize they're college kids, and they aren't always in the confines of Chase Hall or their military base college campus.

Sadly, while probably most relevant at college, this sort of thing has happened, is happening, or will happen in virtually any organization on the planet. It's more a matter of if and when people will find out about it. The good news is, there's less and less tolerance and more people have the courage to speak up.

I also like to think that Adm Fagan, not only being in charge of the CG and dealing with the aftermath of the Fouled Anchor report, but also being a woman and having a daughter who went to the academy, will take this topic rather seriously. I hope so anyway.
Click to expand...
As a mother of a female 3C at the USCGA, I completely agree. I have no reservations about her being at the USCGA, and sleep better at night knowing she is not at a civilian college. Actively encouraging our 11th grade younger daughter to follow her sister. My 3C has had no issues and had more issues at a private Christian High School with boys cornering her and making suggestive/vulgar comments.
 
Absolutely agree with 27BeardDad. Like him I have a daughter class of 2027. I paid attention to this matter as early on as my first visit there. Her AIM experience reinforced in her an equal and respected environment for females. Since swab summer and throughout her 4C year emphasis on this matter has been high given the news previously stated. She is now a very well informed young woman with a perspective and awareness she might not otherwise have at a different school. In short, my wife and I both feel she is in a safe environment and with good decision making she will be just fine.
 
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