The Logistics Management Institute audit of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy identified several shortcomings with the administration’s handling of sexual assault and harassment on campus. Among the key findings:
- Academy leadership and management do not present a unified message regarding sexual assault and sexual harassment.
- Current sexual assault and sexual harassment programs tend to be reactive rather than based on a unified, strategic approach.
- The emphasis on the academy’s core values is understated.
- Fear of retaliation and victim blaming that hinders intervention and reporting impedes progress toward addressing sexual assault and sexual harassment.
- The academy and MarAd lack a program to ensure that shipping companies have adequate policies and procedures in place during Sea Year.
- Academy policies, guides and programs require improvements to fully prepare and support midshipmen for Sea Year.
Recommendations for changing the culture at Kings Point:
- Build and align the academy’s leadership and management team across all levels of the institution.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year sexual assault and sexual harassment prevention and response plan.
- Develop a Sea Year credentialing program that will enable the academy and industry to maximize program effectiveness while maintaining the health and safety of midshipmen.
