Tag: Virginia Military Institute
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Dodging FOIA at VMI
Bob Morris, a Virginia Military Institute alumni activist, has filed suit in York County Circuit Court against VMI alleging the withholding, redacting, and even altering public records. Here follows a Chat GPT summary based upon a media backgrounder provided by The Cadet, a VMI student newspaper with which Morris is closely affiliated. — JAB Core…
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Alleged: Scott Told VMI to Boot Board Members or Suffer State Funding Cuts
The Cadet staff Virginia’s House Speaker demanded the resignation or change of roles of two Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors (BOV) members or suffer budget consequences, allege sources with direct knowledge of the threat. Lt. Gen. David Furness’s continuance as superintendent is conditioned on compliance. The Cadet is investigating, has submitted formal questions, and…
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VMI Under Siege
The fight for military excellence is only beginning. by Bronson Winslow After regaining full control of Virginia’s government in November, Democrats swiftly abandoned their carefully cultivated image of moderation. Already by January they had begun advancing sweeping ideological priorities, with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates at the forefront. Among their most prominent targets was…
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Cadet Crisis: VMI’s Culture on Trial
Proposed legislation reopens questions into the validity of the state’s investigation into VMI student culture. by Jackson Doane It’s commonly said that good fences make good neighbors. Between Washington and Lee (W&L) and the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), nothing separates us but a short walk, yet we have long been good neighbors. So when news…
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A Recent Graduate’sTake on VMI
by Dick Hall-Sizemore Because I have no personal contact or knowledge of VMI, I have been loath to weigh in on the debates that have been raging on this blog. However, last week, I had the opportunity to have an extended conversation with a recent VMI graduate, which I found enlightening. Here is some background about…
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Can We Call It the “War” for VMI Now?
The U.S. Department of War has issued a statement regarding a bill in the Virginia legislature that would transfer control of the Virginia Military Institute to the Board of Visitors of Virginia State University. “The Department of War is monitoring Virginia House Bill 1374, focused on the governance of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), with…
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If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORDSUBJECT: STATEMENT FROM CADET LEADERSHIP ON THE MEANING AND FUTURE OF THEVIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE We write neither in anger nor in defiance, but in duty. We represent the Virginia Military Institute Corps of Cadets as leaders entrusted with responsibility for the Corps’ discipline, morale, and welfare. We live daily under the system now…
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VMI & the Task Force
by Gordon C. Morse Virginia Military Institute, defined in the broadest sense of its extended community, may wish to reconsider its collective commitment to being correct and thoughtful. Meaning, under the circumstances, consider this to be a threat assessment. VMI’s loyalists should not confuse a proposed legislative “study”—a proposed task force, in this instance—for being…
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“I Can Say VMI Is the Most Inclusive Environment I Have Ever Been a Part of”
Is the Virginia Military Institute a racist institution that warrants General Assembly intervention? Maybe the Virginia legislators should ask these two young men.
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VMI in the Crosshairs
Washington Post headline: “Virginia Democrats target military college’s funding after anti-DEI push. Democrats launch effort that could ultimately end Virginia Military Institute’s status as a state-funded university.” Money quote: “We need to determine whether this is an institution capable of change,” said resolution sponsor Del. Dan Helmer (D-Fairfax), who previously forced VMI to protect students…
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Leadership by Example Has Broken Down at VMI
by George Mayforth My recent visit to the Institute during Parents Weekend—an occasion traditionally marked by pride in the Corps and confidence in the VMI system—left me with observations that must be addressed openly and honestly. These concerns do not arise from distant rumor or nostalgia; they come directly from what I witnessed on Post.…
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Judge Affirms Senate Dems’ Power Grab
A Fairfax County circuit county judge has sided with state Senate Democrats who filed a lawsuit to prevent eight public university board members appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin from continuing to serve. The Democrats claimed that an 8-to-4 vote June 9 by a Senate subcommittee during a special session required no other action. Youngkin and…
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Righteousness Repeated
Virginia leads the way. by Gordon C. Morse George Kennan, one of the titans of 20th century American diplomacy, appeared in April, 1951 at the University of Chicago to present a series of lectures. He was there to explain, more or less, the first half of the 20th century. “In the fabric of human events,” Kennan said,…
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Teddy Gottwald on the Record with the Washington Post
Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff with the Washington Post is writing an update about the Virginia Military Institute based on the news peg of Teddy Gottwald’s tenure as president of the VMI Board of Visitors coming to an end tomorrow. Rosenzweig-Ziff submitted questions to Gottwald by email. I publish those questions — and answers — before the Post…
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Peay Breaks Silence to Defend VMI Board Member
Ever since he resigned in 2020 as superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute under pressure from then-Governor Ralph Northam, J.H. Binford Peay III has refrained from commenting on the furors raging at the military institute. Even as his 17-year legacy was being trashed and VMI was depicted as a racist, sexist institution, he held his…