Making Waves at the Academy

Our department played host to the Navy Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals on Thursday. As the BNG (brand new guy), I was tasked with organizing the entire event. Fun, fun, fun, let me tell you.

But, the plus side is that I got interviewed by the local paper.

Navy Lt. Hayes C. Larsen, an attorney who teaches the Law for the Junior Officer at the academy, said hosting the court's hearing each year gives midshipmen a laboratory for watching the military justice system at work.

"It is a chance for midshipmen to hear and see ... that the military justice system is transparent," Lt. Larsen said. "We try to make it real-world for them."

Sounds professional and stuff.

One of my students was interviewed as well:

One of the mids in the audience, Midshipman 1st Class Ryan Doot of Severna Park, said he enjoyed attending the hearing and thinks the mandatory law class is one of the most useful courses he has taken during his four years at the academy.

"It's a nuts-and-bolts kind of course," he said. "In less than a year, a lot of guys here could be legal officers for their ships.

"There are a lot of courses here you question - you take a couple of semesters of calculus (and can't use it on a ship) - but this is one of the courses you will use."

Well...I don't know if he is just trying to be a suck-up or not, bit I wonder how his Calculus professor feels?

Click on the title above for the full story.