Hope Hicks Maersk

Maersk Line Settles with U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Over Sexual Assault

Maersk Line Limited, a subsidiary of the global shipping giant Maersk, has announced a settlement with the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) over a sexual assault case

Hope Hicks, a current senior at USMMA, has identified herself as the first of the plaintiffs in the case

According to the settlement, Maersk Line will pay $1.5 million to USMMA and provide training on sexual harassment and assault prevention to its employees.

The settlement comes after a two-year investigation by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR found that USMMA had failed to adequately respond to reports of sexual assault and had created a hostile environment for students.

"This settlement is a victory for the victims of sexual assault at USMMA," said Hicks in a statement. "It is my hope that this settlement will help to prevent future assaults and create a more welcoming and safe environment for all students."

Maersk Line said in a statement that it is committed to creating a safe and respectful workplace for all employees and that it will continue to work with USMMA to address the issue of sexual assault.

The settlement is a reminder that sexual assault is a serious problem on college campuses. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women and one in 16 men will be sexually assaulted while in college.

It is important for colleges and universities to take steps to prevent sexual assault and to provide support to victims. The settlement between Maersk Line and USMMA is a step in the right direction, but there is still much more work to be done.