Honor Conference at VMI

bruno · Dec 17, 2011

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=546776029759

Attached link announces an intercollegiate conference on Honor and Integrity in Colleges and High Schools that is being put on by the VMI leadership center in March. The video has a number of Cadets speaking on the subject

It's an interesting and pretty timely topic. The Honor Code pervades every facet of life at VMI which you get from the snippets from these cadets speaking. It appears to me that they are on a mission to spread this way of thinking- it should be pretty interesting. BTW without telling you which Cadet it is, one of those speaking in this is a now first classman with very close ties to our forum's very own RahVaMil. (one of the speakers in this clip was her Rat)

easter2 · Dec 17, 2011

Thanks for the share Bruno!

pennak · Dec 17, 2011

bruno said:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=546776029759

Attached link announces an intercollegiate conference on Honor and Integrity in Colleges and High Schools that is being put on by the VMI leadership center in March. The video has a number of Cadets speaking on the subject

It's an interesting and pretty timely topic. The Honor Code pervades every facet of life at VMI which you get from the snippets from these cadets speaking. It appears to me that they are on a mission to spread this way of thinking- it should be pretty interesting. BTW without telling you which Cadet it is, one of those speaking in this is a now first classman with very close ties to our forum's very own RahVaMil. (one of the speakers in this clip was her Rat)

Excellent. The link is on my facebook page. Pretty cool that the VMI cadets are doing this. Only at VMI.

RahVaMil2009 · Dec 17, 2011

bruno said:
BTW without telling you which Cadet it is, one of those speaking in this is a now first classman with very close ties to our forum's very own RahVaMil. (one of the speakers in this clip was her Rat)

She's the one who speaks from 1:11-1:19 and again from 3:00-3:04. :smile:

(C'mon, you knew I had to brag.)

It sounds weird to those who aren't familiar with the Dyke System, but I honestly do not think it's possible for anyone to be prouder of someone who's not their biological kid than I am of Bridget Conley '12 (the one in the video) and Kaity Harrison '12.

This conference will be awesome. The educational events hosted by the Center for Leadership and Ethics at VMI are absolutely phenomenal. I just missed it as a cadet (construction was finished during my First Class year), but I live close enough now that I've been able to attend a few events. CAPT Rabern and her team are incredible.

I don't think I'll be able to attend this conference, but I would do it in a heartbeat if I could.

-jmb-

bruno · Feb 12, 2012

I think this is really a timely conference with some very interesting and relevant speakers . I wish that this subject was given as high a priority on HS and College campuses around the country as I think that the concept of absolute personal honesty and integrity is under increasing attack.

...The agenda for the conference includes presentations by educational psychologist Eric Anderman; David Callahan, author of The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead; James Stewart, author of Tangled Webs: How False Statements are Undermining America: From Martha Stewart to Bernie Madoff; and Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta. Kathleen Rice, Nassau County, N.Y., district attorney who is currently prosecuting an SAT cheating case, will also address the conference.

Rabern said the focus of the biennial conference on the epidemic of cheating in America’s high schools, colleges, and universities originated with members of VMI’s Honor Court.

“We began the planning in the spring of 2011,” she said. “Since then, we’ve come to find out this is a national epidemic that begins in elementary school and continues through the highest levels of the American education system.”

Speakers will cover topics including who cheats and why, toleration, accountability, and moral courage. Small group discussions and workshops are also planned to encourage ownership and motivate positive change...

patentesq · Feb 12, 2012

I think it is excellent that VMI is doing this. Thank you for sharing.

I recently was involved in a major corporate transaction involving a lot of money in which my adversary had an opportunity to do the right thing or to do the wrong thing (which likely would never have been noticed). Without going into details, my adversary had the moral courage to bring the issue to my attention, even though bringing it to my attention was entirely against the financial interests of the party with which I was negotiating. We dealt with it, and both parties are now benefitting from the transaction.

This frankly was a learning experience for me, because in my line of work, too many opt for the wrong approach. This made me realize that there is still a lot of good in this world, despite all the news reports to the contrary. This conference at VMI will serve to remind everyone that doing the right thing is always better than doing the wrong thing.

People who do the right thing always come out on top, which likely explains why VMI grads and other former military officers thrive so well in the corporate world as business leaders.

bruno · Mar 9, 2012

patentesq said:
I think it is excellent that VMI is doing this. Thank you for sharing.

I recently was involved in a major corporate transaction involving a lot of money in which my adversary had an opportunity to do the right thing or to do the wrong thing (which likely would never have been noticed). Without going into details, my adversary had the moral courage to bring the issue to my attention, even though bringing it to my attention was entirely against the financial interests of the party with which I was negotiating. We dealt with it, and both parties are now benefitting from the transaction.

This frankly was a learning experience for me, because in my line of work, too many opt for the wrong approach. This made me realize that there is still a lot of good in this world, despite all the news reports to the contrary. This conference at VMI will serve to remind everyone that doing the right thing is always better than doing the wrong thing.

People who do the right thing always come out on top, which likely explains why VMI grads and other former military officers thrive so well in the corporate world as business leaders.

Patentesq- I don't know if I agree that "people who do the right thing always come out on top". While I wish that were true-I kind of think that they don't always come out on top- we've all seen self serving jerks in all fields who make it to the very top of the pyramid and make decisions that benefit themselves at the expense of both the organization and their subordinates. But I think that when things are really on the line, what saves the situation is people who do the right thing: they act with integrity and selflessness to do "the right thing" regardless of the personal cost.
The closing address of this Honor Conference was given by MOH recipient Salvatore Giunta. I wish I could have been there and heard him speak.

http://www6.vmi.edu/Content.aspx?id=10737420909

"His most direct piece of advice to those gathered for a conference on lying, cheating, and honor was to do right.
“Right is not always the easiest path,” he told the group before narrating the events that led to his receiving the Medal of Honor. “It’s up to you whether you’re going to choose the easy wrong or the hard right. That’s a simple decision, but it’s up to us.”...

..."Then a specialist and rifle team leader, Giunta followed squad leader Staff Sgt. Erick Gallardo, a leader he believed in, into fire.

“A good follower,” he told the cadets in his Jackson Memorial Hall chat, “is someone who believes in you. … You can say, ‘Hey, look, we’re going to go to hell, and it’s going to be scary, and it’s going to be dangerous.’ A good follower will follow you anywhere you want to go.”

That’s because a good leader, said Giunta, leads by actions, which will speak louder than words.
“You don’t have to remind people you’re the boss,” he told the cadets. “Prove to us you’re the boss. Lead us like the boss, and you’ll be treated like the boss.”

Pretty good advice applicable whether you are a soldier or in civilian life

You are an officer by law, but you are a leader because of your personal actions and personal integrity. People follow you at moments of crisis because they are sure that you will do the right thing- and that you are not just telling others to put themselves in jeopardy, but share the risk yourself.

bjkuds · Mar 9, 2012

bruno said:
The closing address of this Honor Conference was given by MOH recipient Salvatore Giunta. I wish I could have been there and heard him speak..

DS was fortunate enough to be able to talk with him at length. He said that he was one of the most impressive human beings he has ever had the pleasure of meeting, also one of the best speakers there.

bruno · Mar 14, 2012

Lest you think that honor is an issue only at the school level, or that a personal and institutional honor code is irrelevant, or that leadership and personal integrity are somehow just military issues: there was an interesting article in today's New York Times.

"Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs"

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/opinion/why-i-am-leaving-goldman-sachs.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

...I have always taken a lot of pride in advising my clients to do what I believe is right for them, even if it means less money for the firm. This view is becoming increasingly unpopular at Goldman Sachs. Another sign that it was time to leave.

How did we get here? The firm changed the way it thought about leadership. Leadership used to be about ideas, setting an example and doing the right thing. Today, if you make enough money for the firm (and are not currently an ax murderer) you will be promoted into a position of influence...

...I hope this can be a wake-up call to the board of directors. Make the client the focal point of your business again. Without clients you will not make money. In fact, you will not exist. Weed out the morally bankrupt people, no matter how much money they make for the firm. And get the culture right again, so people want to work here for the right reasons. People who care only about making money will not sustain this firm — or the trust of its clients — for very much longer.

The thing that VMI is proudest of, and which current cadets and alums share in, is the absolute nature of the honor code- it's a one strike and you are gone policy. But that is for a good reason- your personal integrity is something that can't be compromised- whether you are an Infantry 2LT leading a platoon on a patrol, or a stock broker advising your clients, or any of the millions of positions in between. Your word has to be your bond. I'm impressed that Mr Smith finally just had enough and walked away from a pretty significant and highly compensated position because he felt that the company had no sense of integrity and honor.

Greg Smith is resigning today as a Goldman Sachs executive director and head of the firm’s United States equity derivatives business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

pennak · Mar 14, 2012

bjkuds said:
DS was fortunate enough to be able to talk with him at length. He said that he was one of the most impressive human beings he has ever had the pleasure of meeting, also one of the best speakers there.

My DS felt the same way.

bruno · Mar 16, 2012

tpg- you teach some ethics courses I believe to Business grad students (I think that you said this once?)- did you come away with any thoughts on lessons/points that you might be able to impart to your students?

Honor Conference at VMI

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