Navy Academy Urges Expelling Six for Cheating
The U.S. Naval Academy has recommended the expulsion of six of 28 midshipmen accused in the institution’s biggest cheating scandal in nearly 20 years, Rear Adm. Thomas C. Lynch announced Friday.
An academy professor also was suspended for a week without pay in connection with the incident.
The Navy Department is to make a final decision on the expulsion recommendations. Until a decision is made, which could take weeks, the students will continue in classes.
“It’s been a very gut-wrenching situation,” academy spokesman Cmdr. Mike John said Friday.
The six midshipmen, all juniors, were found guilty of violating the academy’s honor code in the theft of an electrical engineering final examination that was circulated in a residence hall before the Dec. 14 test date.
Lynch, the academy’s superintendent, recommended that the six be required to serve in the Navy for two years as enlisted personnel, John said.
Electrical engineering professor Raymond Wasta was suspended for a week for allegedly failing to follow proper procedure for copying the exam. But his attorney, Arthur Butler, denied the charge and Wasta is appealing.
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