THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505260552
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: THE BALTIMORE SUN
DATELINE: BALTIMORE LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
The U.S. Naval Academy superintendent has rejected a new pregnancy policy that both anti-abortion groups and supporters of abortion rights said would have encouraged abortion, an academy spokesman said Thursday.
On Wednesday, academy officials in Annapolis, Md., said a panel had been appointed to review the academy's policy on pregnant midshipmen, but wouldn't say whether it was considering allowing pregnant midshipmen to stay at the academy if they terminated the pregnancy in 30 days. When the academy superintendent ``has all the information, he will make a decision,'' an academy spokeswoman said Wednesday.
On Thursday, Capt. Tom Jurkowsky, head of the public affairs office, said Adm. Charles R. Larson, the academy superintendent, had considered the policy but rejected it three weeks ago because he did not ``feel comfortable'' with it.
Jurkowsky said the admiral suspended in August the old pregnancy policy that required midshipmen, regardless of gender, to resign if they become parents. The admiral ``inherited'' that policy and felt ``uncomfortable'' with it, the captain said. Until a new policy is implemented, any pregnancy issues will be handled on a case-by-case basis, Jurkowsky said.
KEYWORDS: U.S. NAVY WOMEN IN THE MILITARY by CNB