Report: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy midshipmen reported two dozen incidents of sexual assault, harassment or relationship violence during the 2023-24 academic year

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy midshipmen reported two dozen incidents of sexual assault, harassment or relationship violence during the 2023-24 academic year, a nearly 23% decline from one year earlier, although the true number could be higher as cadets expressed continued apprehension in reporting misconduct allegations for fear of retaliation, a new report to Congress shows.

The report, issued by USMMA to House and Senate members, indicates that despite widespread efforts to combat allegations of sexual misconduct, the Kings Point academy has yet to turn the page on a scandal that's plagued one of the nation's five federal service academies — and the first to accept women — for more than a decade.

"Much work remains to both bring down the prevalence of sexual misconduct and to encourage midshipmen to report misconduct when it occurs," the report states.

Allegations but few consequences

The 24-page report shows USMMA received two allegations of sexual assaults during the 2023-24 academic year by female midshipmen although both reports were "restricted," meaning the incident was disclosed to a sexual assault response coordinator or victim advocate, but no official investigation was requested.

There were a dozen allegations of sexual assault in the 2022-23 academic year; six in 2021-22; nine in 2020-21; and six in 2019-20, according to USMMA data.

In addition, 19 midshipmen — 15 women and four men — reported allegations of sexual harassment in 2023-24 while three females contend they were victims of relationship violence, the report states.

In total, 70% of the 24 allegations of misconduct were "unrestricted" and subject to investigation — an increase from years before — although it's unclear if they led to any arrests.

The report says six men — three students and three crew members of vessels where midshipmen were working — were "disciplined" following allegations of sexual harassment.

Law enforcement investigated one male stranger for sexually harassing a male midshipman, the report states, although details of that inquiry were not available.

The Coast Guard Investigative Service conducted "administrative investigations" into sexual harassment allegations by two female cadets against male crew members.

And shipping companies conducted three investigations of crew members following allegations of harassment by two female cadets and one male student, the report states. The results of those investigations are unclear.

J. Ryan Melogy, a maritime employment attorney who represented several former USMMA cadets that alleged being sexually assaulted during the school's Sea Year program, in which midshipmen complete more than 300 days of work on commercial vessels in international waters, said the report has little value if the Justice Department fails to prosecute sex crimes at the academy.

"In its entire history, only one on-grounds sexual assault has been prosecuted, and that was more than 20 years ago," Melogy said. "This staggering failure continues through today as the government maintains its policy of cover-up over accountability. Congress must finally ask the question, ‘Who are the police at the academy, and why are we allowing them to hide from this crime problem?’ ”

Easier to report

USMMA, which trains midshipmen to work on deep sea vessels and in the military, has been the subject of years of complaints of sexual misconduct, which twice prompted suspension of the Sea Year program.

The most recent suspension, lifted in December 2021, was prompted when then-cadet Hope Hicks reported, anonymously at the time, to a whistleblower website that an engineering supervisor 40 years her senior plied her with alcohol, waited until she was incapacitated and raped her on a commercial ship. Hicks disclosed her identity after filing a lawsuit against shipping giant Maersk. She settled the suit in 2022.

Her disclosure prompted implementation of the Every Mariner Builds a Respectful Culture program, which dictates policies that vessel operators must follow to prevent sexual misconduct. They include controlling access to the vessel's master keys, ensuring there are working locks on cadets’ stateroom doors and that they have a contact at the carriers’ corporate offices to discuss areas of concern.

"Thanks to the EMBARC standards program, it has never been easier for a USMMA cadet to report prohibited behaviors on commercial vessels at sea," the U.S. Transportation Department, which operates USMMA, said in a statement.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who co-sponsored legislation that strengthened prevention, training and investigations at USMMA, said while the number of incidents of sexual misconduct declined last year, "it’s no time for a victory lap. The recent reforms have made important strides in the right direction, but we must continue to work to protect students and their well-being moving forward."

The 24 allegations included in the 2023-24 report are down from the 31 incidents reported one year earlier. There were 21 total incidents in 2021-22; 15 in 2020-21 and 10 in 2019-20, USMMA data shows.

But the real number may be much higher.

A 2022 USMMA survey found 126 women, representing 60% of the female student body, experienced sexual harassment that academic year. Meanwhile, 11% of the academy's 741 male students said they too had been sexually harassed in 2021-22. An additional 26% of female midshipmen surveyed, and almost 3% of men, said they'd experienced "unwanted sexual conduct" that academic year.

'Locker room' culture

Focus groups of midshipmen conducted as part of the latest report "highlight an inappropriate 'locker room' culture at USMMA wherein women disclosed feeling discomfort reporting sexual misconduct because they fear retaliation for reporting. USMMA men and women reported that 'victim blaming' occurs at the academy ... and that a midshipman’s reputation affected whether their peers believed that they were sexually assaulted."

The demographics of USMMA, which is almost 80% male, also has an impact on the culture relating to sexual misconduct.

"There is a distinct difference in the experiences of males and females on campus and during Sea Year, identified by both faculty and midshipmen, and a 'locker room' culture that permeates all levels of the academy," the report said.

The size of the campus — with less than 1,000 enrolled midshipmen and around 800 students on campus because of Sea Year — creates additional challenges in providing confidentiality to victims, focus groups said.

"Every midshipman deserves to learn, train, and serve in an environment rooted in respect, safety, and accountability," said Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who sits on USMMA’s oversight board. "I won’t speculate on the details of the latest report, but I am encouraged by the recent decrease in reported incidents and am sure the academy will remain vigilant."

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.