Days before the U.S. Naval Academy announced charges against two midshipmen for alleged sex crimes, federal lawmakers said the academy was making progress on curbing and reporting sexual misconduct.
“This academy has been working hard on this issue,” said U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski during a recent meeting of the Board of Visitors, the federal oversight body of the academy.
The following Friday, the academy announced rape and indecent-assault charges against Midshipman 2nd Class Mark Calvanico and child pornography charges against Midshipman 1st Class Michael Pollard.
Mikulski, through a spokeswoman, said she would not comment on pending legal charges.
Two reports by the General Accountability Office and the Department of Defense issued during the past six months paint contrasting pictures of how the academy is handling sexual assaults.
The Defense Department report gave the academy praise for its efforts, while the GAO report was more critical and noted how reporting mechanisms between agencies and academies varied. The differing results are due to varying definitions used by government agencies, which is being addressed by the GAO, academy officials said.
Meanwhile, the varying reports could hamper the academy?s efforts to draw in female students, Mikulski said.
“Nothing is perfect at any institution,” she said.
“I think the academy has done an outstanding job despite the negative PR,” said Craig Duchossois, chairman of the Board of Visitors.
This year, the academy started a program to raise awareness of gender issues, deter sexual assaults and make midshipmen more comfortable in reporting abuses.
Navy doctor could get prison sentence cut
Former Navy Cmdr. Kevin Ronan may serve only half of his nearly four-year jail sentence for videotaping Naval Academy midshipmen having sex at his home.
“If he behaves himself and gets into no trouble, 22 of the 46 months of his confinement period will be suspended,” said Guy Schein, spokesman for the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
Ronan was found guilty by a court-martial in November. But Vice Adm. Adam Robinson Jr., the Navy?s surgeon general and the officer convening the court-martial, has the final say in the verdict.
Midshipmen staying with Ronan at his Annapolis home in 2006 accused him of planting a hidden video camera and filming them having sex or masturbating.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
