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Tuesday 24 sepTember 2024
U.S. Naval Academy says considering race in admissions helps

create a cohesive military

status, according to court
Continued from Front testimony. Race often plays
no role in the process, but
Students for Fair Admis- sometimes it comes under
sions, which was founded consideration in a “limited
by conservative activist fashion,” attorneys for the
Edward Blum, later sued academy wrote in court
the Annapolis-based Naval papers.
Academy challenging the “Candidates are evaluat-
exemption. ed with an eye towards the
A bench trial began last myriad ways in which they
week in Baltimore federal might contribute to the
court before Judge Richard Navy or Marine Corps as
Bennett, a George W. Bush future officers,” they wrote.
appointee who served for The plaintiffs claim race
over 20 years in the U.S. should play no part in de-
Army Reserve and the Mar- fense strategy or college
yland National Guard. admissions.
Witness testimony during “For most of its history, the
the first week of the trial in- Academy has evaluated
cluded accounts from cur- midshipmen based on
rent and former high-rank- merit and achievement,”
ing military officials who attorneys for the group
expressed varying opinions Navy Adm. Lisa Franchetti takes her seat to attend a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing wrote. “For good reasons:
on how race affects the ex- on her nomination for reappointment to the grade of admiral and to be Chief of Naval Operations, America’s enemies do not
periences of servicemem- Sept. 14, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Associated Press fight differently based on
bers and the organization the race of the command-
as a whole. experiences as a Black of- of racist behavior by white The American military has ing officer opposing them,
Lt. Col. Dakota Wood, a ficer highlight the impor- colleagues as well as over- dealt with “internal racial sailors must follow orders
retired Marine Corps of- tance of having people seas assignments where strife that has risked mission without regard to the skin
ficer and 1985 Naval Acad- who look like him in leader- his racial identity seemed readiness since its incep- color of those giving them,
emy graduate, said racial ship — not least because it to garner respect from for- tion,” they wrote, saying and battlefield realities ap-
and ethnic diversity are sets an example for young- eign leaders, including a the organization has made ply equally to all sailors re-
irrelevant when creating er generations of minority deployment to Somalia significant progress but still gardless of race, ethnicity,
a cohesive and effective servicemembers. and an international visit to has a way to go. They said or national origin.”
fighting force. Wood, who He said diversity among China. creating an organization They argue that prioritiz-
is white, said what matters U.S. military leaders reflects “For decades, senior mili- that roughly reflects the de- ing minority candidates is
most is that all members core American values, tary leaders have conclud- mographics of the country unfair to qualified white
are held to high perform- demonstrating that if you ed that the fighting force is is an important step toward applicants and that cohe-
ance standards. work hard and perform stronger when it is racially eliminating internal conflict. sion should arise from other
Capt. Jason Birch, a former well, “regardless of your and otherwise diverse at The Naval Academy’s cur- factors such as training and
Navy SEAL commander background, regardless of all levels,” attorneys for the rent admissions process command structure.
who graduated from the what you look like, you’ll Naval Academy wrote in considers many factors, The group also sued West
Naval Academy in 1999 be put in a position of com- court papers. “The Armed including grades, extracur- Point last year, but the Na-
and currently serves on its mand and responsibility.” Forces learned this lesson ricular activities, life experi- val Academy case was the
admissions board, said his Birch recounted instances the hard way.” ence and socioeconomic first case to go to trial.q

Harris reaches agreement on transition

planning with Biden administration, no word

on Trump yet

the federal government to ment before Election Day. senior-most transition plan-
prepare for her potential But the agency said it was ning group — and for the
presidency. prepared to provide ser- first time this year included
The agency, which is re- vices to the Trump transition Harris and Trump represen-
quired by law to offer office team once an agreement tatives. And agencies are
space, technology support is executed and services preparing detailed briefing
and other resources to ma- are accepted. memos on their activities
jor party nominees, posted Transition planning is well to share with the eventual
the agreement to its web- under way across the fed- winner's team. Teams of
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald site on Monday. The signed eral government in ad- federal agents and gov-
Trump waves after speaking at a campaign rally at Wilmington memorandum, which gov- vance of the Jan. 20, 2025 ernment workers from the
International Airport, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Wilmington, N.C. erns IT, record-keeping and handoff by President Joe FBI and intelligence com-
Associated Press ethics policies, is dated Biden to Trump or Harris. munity — including some
By ZEKE MILLER ris' transition team has Sept. 19. Last week, Chief of Staff Jef- hired back from retirement
AP White House Correspon- reached an agreement There was no word on frey Zientshosted a meeting — are at the ready to vet
dent with the General Services whether former President of the White House Transi- hundreds of potential tran-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice Administration to accept Donald Trump's team tion Coordinating Commit- sition staff and administra-
President Kamala Har- pre-election support from would reach an agree- tee — the government's tion appointees.q