Female cadets for marine academy

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33515, 22 April 1974, Page 6

Female cadets for marine academy

I IX Z.P A -Reuter —Copjrighi

WASHINGTON

Another step towards equality of the sexes was announced by a Senator in Washington last week — three women have been selected as the first female cadets at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

Senator Joseph Biden (Democrat, Delaware), said

I that this marked the first' dime women had been (selected for entrance to a (Federal academy. “We have, 'broken another barrier along ;the_ road towards equality

between the sexes,” he said. The women must still pass the physical examination .before final acceptance to the academy, an aide to the senator said. The merchant marine acaidemy differs from the military academies operated byj the Army. Navy, Air force.' and Coast Guard, because its* (graduates join the commercial United States Merchant Marine Fleet, rather 'than one of the military services. ' No woman has yet been 'accepted at any of the four military academies, which 'say they have no facilities' (yet for women students — (but academy officials con-; 'cede that they will have to (accept them if America’s; 'Constitutional amendment 1 granting equal legal rights to women is approved.