Naval Academy Head Discusses School’s Policy On Gays
ANNAPOLIS — The head of the U.S. Naval Academy said Wednesday the school would adapt if the military repeals its ban on gays serving openly, because the academy has adjusted to big changes before and basic respect among students is crucial to success.
“There was a time minorities weren’t allowed here,” Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler told reporters. “There was a time women weren’t allowed here. There’s been many changes over the years, and we follow the law.”
The superintendent pointed out that students already come from all over the nation from a great variety of backgrounds. When he came to the academy in 1974 from Bismarck, N.D., he noted he lived with two students, one from inner-city Pittsburgh and one from Baltimore.
“We needed to get along, and we were certainly different people, so a lot of it was just basic respect and that’s really what we teach across our midshipmen,” Fowler said.
Fowler also noted that the rigors of academy life require students to trust and help each other.
“You cannot get through here without your classmates and that will continue forever,” Fowler said.
All of the academy’s 4,400 midshipmen live in one dormitory, and women started attending the academy in 1976. The first African-American midshipman was admitted in 1872, 27 years after the academy was founded. But he resigned in 1873. The first black midshipman graduated in 1949.
President Barack Obama has said the 1993 “don’t ask, don’t tell” law unfairly punishes patriotic Americans, and he has asked Congress to repeal it. Earlier this month, senior Pentagon leaders warned Congress not to change the ban until they can come up with a plan for dealing with potential opposition in the ranks.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates supports lifting the ban, but he wants to survey the troops first to get a better idea of how it should be done. Gates has ordered a study by Dec. 1 that will examine whether housing arrangements would have to be altered.
Fowler spoke to reporters during a regular briefing he holds near the end of the school year. He talked about a variety of changes that have happened during his tenure, which began in July 2007. The Defense Department announced last month that Navy Rear Adm. Michael H. Miller has been nominated to be the new superintendent at the academy. Fowler will remain superintendent until the Senate approves Miller’s nomination and there is a change of command.
The academy has made big gains in diversity initiatives since Fowler’s arrival. Minority applications for the class of 2014 were the most in the school’s history, with 5,379.
“There was a time minorities weren’t allowed here,” Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler told reporters. “There was a time women weren’t allowed here. There’s been many changes over the years, and we follow the law.”
The superintendent pointed out that students already come from all over the nation from a great variety of backgrounds. When he came to the academy in 1974 from Bismarck, N.D., he noted he lived with two students, one from inner-city Pittsburgh and one from Baltimore.
“We needed to get along, and we were certainly different people, so a lot of it was just basic respect and that’s really what we teach across our midshipmen,” Fowler said.
Fowler also noted that the rigors of academy life require students to trust and help each other.
“You cannot get through here without your classmates and that will continue forever,” Fowler said.
All of the academy’s 4,400 midshipmen live in one dormitory, and women started attending the academy in 1976. The first African-American midshipman was admitted in 1872, 27 years after the academy was founded. But he resigned in 1873. The first black midshipman graduated in 1949.
President Barack Obama has said the 1993 “don’t ask, don’t tell” law unfairly punishes patriotic Americans, and he has asked Congress to repeal it. Earlier this month, senior Pentagon leaders warned Congress not to change the ban until they can come up with a plan for dealing with potential opposition in the ranks.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates supports lifting the ban, but he wants to survey the troops first to get a better idea of how it should be done. Gates has ordered a study by Dec. 1 that will examine whether housing arrangements would have to be altered.
Fowler spoke to reporters during a regular briefing he holds near the end of the school year. He talked about a variety of changes that have happened during his tenure, which began in July 2007. The Defense Department announced last month that Navy Rear Adm. Michael H. Miller has been nominated to be the new superintendent at the academy. Fowler will remain superintendent until the Senate approves Miller’s nomination and there is a change of command.
The academy has made big gains in diversity initiatives since Fowler’s arrival. Minority applications for the class of 2014 were the most in the school’s history, with 5,379.
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