<p>For the new folks here, please do not be put off by these articles. Yes, they are disturbing at best, but they are NOT representative of the female experience at USNA. Remember that the news always leads with whatever sordid story they can get their hands on in order to beat the competition in the ratings. Stories about USNA in the Baltimore Sun are almost universally negative in nature.</p>
<p>The Academy is not Shangri-La, unfortunately. Bad things do happen, but at a MUCH lower rate than you’ll find anywhere else. The reason this makes the newspaper is because at USNA it’s a big deal, whereas at Podunk University it’s business as usual, or very nearly so. Cheating scandals are scandals because, unlike most other places, the Academy actually frowns quite severely on cheating.</p>
<p>Your daughters are safer at USNA than at any other civilian college you can name. If all the facts in the story prove true (remember, this is the BS we’re talking about here), I can assure you that the overwhelming majority of male Midshipmen will be just as outraged as you are.</p>
<p>Please don’t paint a mental picture of life at USNA based upon what you see or hear in the media. You’re pallete will be completely off before you even begin painting.</p>