Panel Convenes In Effort To Fight Sexism, Restore Training At U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
KINGS PARK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The future of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is on the line.
As CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, congressional leaders gathered Monday at the Kings Point campus of the academy to question what is being done to combat sexism, and to restore essential training that has been put on hold.
The Merchant Marine Academy is a proud institution, training those who operate commercial vessels in peacetime and war. But on campus, there are troubled waters.
Midshipmen were stripped of their year at sea on commercial ships after half the women reported they had been sexually harassed or assaulted.
"Of course, that should never happen. We want that to be fixed," one cadet said. "But also, we want to be back out at sea, doing the thing that we came here to school to do."
At issue is the disparity between an anonymous survey that showed rampant sexism and only one case that was formally reported – due, said the man at the helm, to fear.
"We know these incidents occur, but the challenge we face is getting midshipmen to report them so we can root out that small minority," said Admiral James Helis, superintendent of the Merchant Marine Academy.
The academy is also in jeopardy of losing accreditation.
U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) called an advisory panel together, inviting alumni, parents and shipping companies.
"We didn't shut down West Point or shut down Annapolis when there was sexual harassment there, and we didn't shut down universities around the country because of that, and the idea is to do both," King said.
King said they must combat even one case of sexual harassment, but also must get a program essential to national security back up and running.
"Our Armed Forces cannot conduct any operation without the support of the U.S. Merchant Marine," said Capt. James Tobin of the Alumni Association. "I don't want midshipmen going out there, becoming officers in the U.S. Merchant Marine that have had subpar training."
Parents demand more details on what female cadets claim goes on at sea.
"From the students I've spoken to, they've indicated they have not had problems, so it's very difficult to understand," said Susan Wagner McKenna of the Parents Association.
The advisory panel will issue recommendations, but there is pressure to act quickly before the change of administration in Washington.
The U.S. Department of Transportation what will decide when it is safe for cadets to return to commercial vessels.
The academy has been given a warning, failing five of 14 accreditation standards.
