
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, May 20, 1990                   TAG: 9005210220
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: F2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NAVAL ACADEMY

MALE midshipmen involved in the mistreatment of a female cadet at the U.S. Naval Academy may believe it started out as "good-natured" play. The discipline administered certainly reflected a belief that the incident was horseplay: The young men who humiliated their classmate got a slap on the wrists, a wink and a nod.

But was this all in fun? Gwen Marie Dreyer was dragged from her dormitory room and handcuffed to a urinal, where she was photographed and taunted by male classmates. Eight men were involved in harassing one woman.

The academy ruled that the assault was not hazing, because it had evolved from a snowball-throwing incident and wasn't planned. Two midshipmen received demerits and lost leave time. The other six received written warnings.

Dreyer's injuries were mental, not physical. No bones were broken, but her spirit was. She noted that in her letter of resignation last month.

Any number of lessons could be drawn from the sad end to her naval career, but surely one is this: Admission of women to formerly all-male bastions such as military schools doesn't guarantee equal treatment of the sexes. For this to happen, attitudes from the top down have to change as well.

Virginia Military Institute ought not to suffer blame by association; it is far removed from the Naval Academy. But it is worth noting that if VMI does end up admitting women, coeducation as an issue won't disappear.

Forming new attitudes is a process that takes time, and won't occur if school officials don't take the lead. The Naval Academy has been admitting women since 1976, but the handling of the Dreyer incident suggests resentment of women on campus continues.

The discipline at a military school is supposed to build character. An attitude that minimizes the impact of an act of cruelty tears it down.

by CNB