Although prospective sponsors were required to answer the questions about race and religion, they could do so by stating that they had no preference. The vast majority of applicants stated no preference, according to academy spokeswoman Deborah Goode.
Carl Snowden, who as an aide to Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens specializes in civil rights, says he was told that midshipmen will still be permitted to state their own racial and religious preferences in a sponsor, if they have any.
Austin told the Post he couldn’t confirm that, but he emphasized that the intent of the program was to help midshipmen, particularly those from remote home towns, to “feel comfortable in their surroundings.”
— Associated Press
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