THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, May 25, 1995                 TAG: 9505250591
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: THE BALTIMORE SUN 
DATELINE: ANNAPOLIS, MD.                     LENGTH: Short :   41 lines

ACADEMY PROPOSAL WOULD REQUIRE ABORTIONS TO STAY IN, NAVY MIDSHIPMEN WOULD BE FORCED TO TERMINATE ANY PREGNANCIES.

The U.S. Naval Academy reportedly is considering a new pregnancy policy that anti-abortion groups and supporters of abortion rights say would encourage abortion.

Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the anti-abortion National Right to Life Committee, said Wednesday that the group has obtained a copy of a proposal that would allow midshipmen who get pregnant to remain at the academy only if they terminate the pregnancy within 30 days.

``I think it is an outrageous policy,'' he said. The proposal is ``a pro-abortion policy that says if you get pregnant, it will be the end of your military career. If a private corporation tried to do that, they would be sued.''

Kate Michelman, president of the National Abortion Rights Action League, called the current policy, which dismisses midshipmen who become pregnant or who are responsible for a pregnancy, and the 30-day proposal ``dreadful.''

``It could force some women to have abortions who don't want to. And we oppose that,'' she said. ``We are not pro-abortion; we believe that women should have the freedom to make the choice.''

In February, Adm. Charles R. Larson, academy superintendent, appointed a panel to review the policy and to make recommendations after the Navy updated its rules on pregnancy and family planning, according to Karen Myers, an academy spokeswoman.

Johnson said his group obtained a copy of the recommendation last week.

``It was our understanding that it was done by a subordinate group and that the admiral was to review it Tuesday,'' he said.

KEYWORDS: PREGNANCY ABORTION U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY POLICY PROPOSED by CNB