VMI superintendent resigns after Black cadets describe relentless racism

Well- General Peay has been in the job longer than any other Supe (other than the first Supe Gen Smith). He's done a great job raising the endowment, building new infrastructure and improving the basic quality of the school. He is not a young man and I think that the last year has been really tough from all kinds of perspectives- and I think that this was just one step beyond what he wanted to deal with. I'm not minimizing or even disputing the individual accounts that were published in the article. But I do believe that they do not represent the experience of most Cadets of color nor do they represent the ideals that the school is based on. However, the effort to dispel that impression and move on is going to be pretty intensive and long lasting, and I suspect that an 80 year old man just saw it as something that needs to be the focus of someone new and fresh. Good luck and best wishes to Gen Peay and thanks for all you have done for VMI and the nation. I know there are some really qualified people out there in the wings- it will be interesting to see who accepts the position.
 
As of June of this year, he is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Parsons Corp, an American technology-focused defense, intelligence, security, and infrastructure engineering firm headquartered in Centreville, Virginia.

washingtonexec.com

Parsons Adds Retired Gen. Darren W. McDew, David Wajsgras to Board | WashingtonExec

Parsons Corp. has appointed retired Air Force Gen. Darren W. McDew and former Raytheon executive David Wajsgras to its board of directors. "We are fort ...
washingtonexec.com washingtonexec.com
 
That's crazy, do you guys think it was a long build up to this point of resignation, or like Cox said "General Peay was not afforded the respect he deserved by the Governor and the other elected officials who saw fit to demand his resignation only days after calling for an investigation of incidents alleged in the news media" referencing the blackface scandal of Northam. Would love to hear others thoughts.
 
The Washington Post story was a hit job and the other article was as well. While General Peay did an excellent job, he was in his 80's and probably should have retired earlier. He definitely did not deserve this kind of treatment from a disgraceful alumnus, Northam. The genesis of the recent dispute was Gen. Peay requiring everybody to go to VP Pence's speech and a minority group wanting to boycott for political reasons. Everybody has to go to these check formations. You do not have the right to boycott and escape punishment. We had to go to Jimmy Carter's speech back in the day, even though I would have liked to have "boycotted." The Confederate flag story is also suspect. VMI banned the Confederate Flag on campus in any form in 1990, I was there. They created a special New Market Flag with no Confederate symbols. We weren't allowed to hang any flags/posters in our rooms. Yes, I did have to salute the Jackson Statue but I thought little of it and it was done more for humor than anything. I'm still waiting for people to acknowledge that Stonewall Jackson and his wife started a minority school and church in Lexington... The root cause, I believe, is that there has been a persistent athlete vs. non-athlete tension in barracks. It was noticeable when I was there and it was noticeable when my son visited as a recruited athlete. Most of the blacks are athletes thus, the racial element comes in. Another element, is that the ratline is very personal and one would be hard pressed to say that they weren't personally insulted or singled out at one time. Of all the good things Peay did, he failed at athletics. I'm sure I will get hell for this, but VMI has to make room and understand minorities/majorities that get a scholarships and are not really into the military and the traditions. VMI is a great school. It will adapt and overcome.
 
vmi1991fromva said:
The Washington Post story was a hit job and the other article was as well. While General Peay did an excellent job, he was in his 80's and probably should have retired earlier. He definitely did not deserve this kind of treatment from a disgraceful alumnus, Northam. The genesis of the recent dispute was Gen. Peay requiring everybody to go to VP Pence's speech and a minority group wanting to boycott for political reasons. Everybody has to go to these check formations. You do not have the right to boycott and escape punishment. We had to go to Jimmy Carter's speech back in the day, even though I would have liked to have "boycotted." The Confederate flag story is also suspect. VMI banned the Confederate Flag on campus in any form in 1990, I was there. They created a special New Market Flag with no Confederate symbols. We weren't allowed to hang any flags/posters in our rooms. Yes, I did have to salute the Jackson Statue but I thought little of it and it was done more for humor than anything. I'm still waiting for people to acknowledge that Stonewall Jackson and his wife started a minority school and church in Lexington... The root cause, I believe, is that there has been a persistent athlete vs. non-athlete tension in barracks. It was noticeable when I was there and it was noticeable when my son visited as a recruited athlete. Most of the blacks are athletes thus, the racial element comes in. Another element, is that the ratline is very personal and one would be hard pressed to say that they weren't personally insulted or singled out at one time. Of all the good things Peay did, he failed at athletics. I'm sure I will get hell for this, but VMI has to make room and understand minorities/majorities that get a scholarships and are not really into the military and the traditions. VMI is a great school. It will adapt and overcome.
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That was a great answer filled with insight. I hope people can read it and think about your words before reacting. The tension between Permits and Non-permits is real. I really love VMI and I'm grateful that my son chose to attend, no place is immuned to conflict, I'm confident VMI will, in your words, "adapt and overcome."
 
Vile threats posted by anonymous people on social media...I'm shocked. Who knows the ethnicity of anonymous posters.
New masthead for the wapo:
"Democracy dies from within when the press abrogates their responsibilities replacing them with their agenda.":mad:
 
Devil Doc said:
wow, Stonewall is a goner.

www.foxnews.com

Virginia Military Institute removing Stonewall Jackson statue from campus

Virginia Military Institute is removing the statue of Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson from its campus and established diversity initiatives amid mounting allegations of racism at the public college.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com
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You could see that removal coming, along with the creation of a "diversity" office, and the new "focus on gender." The leftists will not be denied until all bow the knee in submission to their demands! General Peay was the final obstacle standing in their way. Now, it's on to the re-writing of the curriculum, shaming of male culture, etc. ... No warriors need apply!
 
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Completely unfair to VMI, but perhaps this great Institute will be better in the long run. This place has a storied history of great accomplishments... .
Good luck VMI, Semper Fi!
 
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$19 million in annual state funds isn't all that much in the scheme of things. Wonder if this will be the tipping point for the alumni and other donors to make up the difference and go private.
 
franknd said:
$19 million in annual state funds isn't all that much in the scheme of things. Wonder if this will be the tipping point for the alumni and other donors to make up the difference and go private.
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That is an interesting thought...
Always amazed that such a small school, with a student body of just 1,600 Cadets, can cause such a ruckus!
Folks can’t just let VMI be VMI!!!
Maybe going private is the best way this unique institution can effectively produce the Citizen Soldiers of which they are so proud! Sign me up as a donor!!!
 
Landy91 said:
That is an interesting thought...
Always amazed that such a small school, with a student body of just 1,600 Cadets, can cause such a ruckus!
Folks can’t just let VMI be VMI!!!
Maybe going private is the best way this unique institution can effectively produce the Citizen Soldiers of which they are so proud! Sign me up as a donor!!!
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I have no skin in the game since I don't have any tie or allegiance to VMI, but the notion that this particular governor gets to exert what amounts to a heckler's veto over a longstanding superintendent with his record is bizarre to put it mildly, and I'm sure infuriating to many with allegiance to VMI. In that context, I would guess that a lot of them are ready to tell the Commonwealth to shove its $19 million.
 
franknd said:
I have no skin in the game since I don't have any tie or allegiance to VMI, but the notion that this particular governor gets to exert what amounts to a heckler's veto over a longstanding superintendent with his record is bizarre to put it mildly, and I'm sure infuriating to many with allegiance to VMI. In that context, I would guess that a lot of them are ready to tell the Commonwealth to shove its $19 million.
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Agree, and couldn’t have said it better myself!
 
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