THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 25, 1996 TAG: 9604250445
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: ANNAPOLIS, MD. LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
The U.S. Naval Academy cracked down on midshipmen privileges Wednesday after a string of scandals, shortening weekend leave, ordering upperclassmen to wear their uniforms off the grounds and rolling back the weeknight curfew.
The academy said the midshipmen themselves asked for a stricter environment in a report submitted to the superintendent, Adm. Charles R. Larson.
Larson ordered up the report when he canceled all leave for a week in response to a series of scandals that included midshipmen being charged with car theft, child molestation, drug use and sexual harassment.
The weeknight curfew was changed to 10 p.m. from midnight, and all upperclassmen must wear their uniforms when they leave academy grounds during the week. Also, weekend leave for seniors will begin Saturday morning instead of Friday night.
Neither Larson nor Josh Prueher, the top-ranking student officer who presented the report to Larson, would comment on it.
The report was not released.
``Basically, the midshipmen said, `We want to be more military, we want more discipline, more structure,''' academy spokesman Capt. Tom Jurkowsky said.
Larson was brought to Annapolis nearly two years ago to refurbish the academy's image after a cheating scandal and allegations of sexual harassment.
But just this month:
A midshipman and four former students were charged with taking part in a car theft ring.
One of the top four student officers was accused of sexually harassing four women.
A midshipman was arrested for allegedly fondling a toddler.
Two midshipmen were arrested after they got drunk and crawled into the second-floor window of one student's former girlfriend, the daughter of a former state police superintendent.
A drug investigation last fall resulted in charges against five midshipmen for allegedly selling LSD.
Nineteen more were charged with using it.
Jurkowsky said the recent problems were aberrations and do not mean the academy system has any basic flaws. by CNB