VMI in the news

@Capt MJ's post was excellent, as usual, but I feel @justdoit19 sums it up perfectly with this:
Sexual assaults is everyone’s responsibility.
As much as it is women's responsibility to make smart choices and protect themselves, it is equally men's responsibility to change attitudes about how they view women and what they deem acceptable behavior. It is men's responsibility to call out their counterparts when they are making lewd remarks, intentionally getting a woman drunk or putting something in her drink. It is men's responsibility to look out for the safety of the women around them the same way they would look out for one of their male friends who they thought was in danger of being harmed.
 
I agree with all the comments about sexual assault/harassment - awful, despicable, etc. However, actual statistics, cases, and even the biased investigation do not support systemic racism or sexism at VMI. It just doesn't. That's why the WaPo focuses on Stonewall Jackson's statue and throws the race and sex card cards. Of the four new VMI BOV appointees', one is a female West Point grad, which you aspire to be. The others are highly successful alumni that have college aged daughters. Further, these were normal/regular appointments that occur every four years. Youngkin did the same at every VA public college: Mary Washington, William & Mary, George Mason, UVA, VA Tech, JMU, Longwood, Virginia State, Norfolk State, ODU, CNU, and Radford (I may have left some off). Also buried deep in the WaPo article is this: "The new makeup of the VMI board includes nine White men, four Black men, two White women, one Hispanic man and one Native American woman." Thus, 33% female and 35% minority. Only the WaPo takes a normal VMI BOV election cycle to gas light readers...
 
Hello all. I am female and it has long been my dream to serve our country as an officer in the military. I will be graduating HS in June 2023. I just started the application processes for USMA and Army ROTC Scholarship. Obviously USMA is my top choice but being realistic I think I will have a better chance to get into an SMC and use the ROTC route to commission into full service duty. Though ROTC can be done at so many different schools, I am only interested in attending an SMC where ROTC and the Corps of Cadets is not an extra-curricular activity but deeply embedded into the schools core values. VMI has been one of my top choices for over a year now but recent articles like the one below are starting to give me pause. The articles comments are even more disturbing. Make no mistake about it, my grit and determination to achieve success as a military leader are unquestionable and 100% intact. This article is telling me that, as a women, at VMI I will be treated differently and subjected to misogyny and rape. So I put it out here to this community to give me the honest and true opinion of VMI from those that have actually attended VMI and other such schools like the Citadel.

First, I give you much credit for looking at the bigger picture. I cannot speak for VMI, only for the Citadel. When my dd was considering attending, we stopped several female cadets while walking around to get their honest opinion. We found the consensus was that the "old way" was not tolerated and that there was a clear chain of command in place to report issues. She ended up at a service academy, but would have been comfortable attending the citadel My ds (sophomore now) has females in his company and they are treated the same and protected as if they are their sister. I have heard the same from friends of mine that have daughters there. I'm not saying the Citadel is perfect (no military school, service academy or regular uni is), but I hope that helps. As a side note,, I believe Citadel has a program now that if you get an ROTC Scholarship, they pick up whatever isn't covered. Including tuition if its only a 3 yr scholarship. Good luck!
 
First, I give you much credit for looking at the bigger picture. I cannot speak for VMI, only for the Citadel. When my dd was considering attending, we stopped several female cadets while walking around to get their honest opinion. We found the consensus was that the "old way" was not tolerated and that there was a clear chain of command in place to report issues. She ended up at a service academy, but would have been comfortable attending the citadel My ds (sophomore now) has females in his company and they are treated the same and protected as if they are their sister. I have heard the same from friends of mine that have daughters there. I'm not saying the Citadel is perfect (no military school, service academy or regular uni is), but I hope that helps. As a side note,, I believe Citadel has a program now that if you get an ROTC Scholarship, they pick up whatever isn't covered. Including tuition if its only a 3 yr scholarship. Good luck!
WytchiePoo - yes, The Citadel “Service to Country” scholarship pays for the first year for cadets that have earned 3 year ROTC scholarships prior to enrolling at the college. In addition all cadets that have earned 3 and 4 year ROTC scholarships prior to enrolling are eligible to receive room & board waivers during the semesters they are receiving their scholarships.
 
VMI is VERY different from any other SMCs in our country and there is no doubt the school has many very unique (some might say harsh) traditions; honor court, Rat line, etc. Assault, abuse, and mistreatment of any kind is not tolerated there. But everyone has a tough time as a rat!
I know John Adams and several others on the board personally and can say they are outstanding Americans. Thank goodness for the new governor and those who choose to serve at such a great school.
After seeing the bias attacks on VMI from disgruntled “former” students, the false reporting by Ian Shapira of the Washington Post, and the far left racist attacks on VMI from the former governor, it is indeed uplifting to see reason and intelligence rebounding at America’s first state and only “all military” college.
God bless VMI!
 
I can tell you from experience that most of the negative things you hear about military schools are sensationalized and greatly inaccurate so don't be put off by what you hear on social media or read in newspapers; the reality is generally considerably different. This forum itself is rife with disinformation and deliberate inaccuracies.
 
Thank you all for the replys and input. The far left radicals that keep takkng stabs at VMI, is actually what makes VMI even more attractive to me. The further the radical left pushes, the more I want to dig in. My Army ROTC application is just about complete too. I'm hoping to get good news after the board first meets in October. It's going to come down to me choosing between VMI or VTCC... tough choice.
 
Hello all. I am female and it has long been my dream to serve our country as an officer in the military. I will be graduating HS in June 2023. I just started the application processes for USMA and Army ROTC Scholarship. Obviously USMA is my top choice but being realistic I think I will have a better chance to get into an SMC and use the ROTC route to commission into full service duty. Though ROTC can be done at so many different schools, I am only interested in attending an SMC where ROTC and the Corps of Cadets is not an extra-curricular activity but deeply embedded into the schools core values. VMI has been one of my top choices for over a year now but recent articles like the one below are starting to give me pause. The articles comments are even more disturbing. Make no mistake about it, my grit and determination to achieve success as a military leader are unquestionable and 100% intact. This article is telling me that, as a women, at VMI I will be treated differently and subjected to misogyny and rape. So I put it out here to this community to give me the honest and true opinion of VMI from those that have actually attended VMI and other such schools like the Citadel.

Hi, I'm currently a Cadet at VMI, so here's my 2 cents.

Simply put and this is solely my own opinion, the WaPo articles are simply hit pieces that have been going on for about 2 years now. The author conveniently neglects to illustrate in his article that statistically, sexual assaults happen at a much lower rate than at other schools. I have heard of them happening but I do not know the specifics.

That being said, my experience at VMI has been extremely positive. Yes, it's the most difficult thing I've ever done but it's by far the most rewarding. It will challenge you in new ways every single day, but at the same time it will put you on the path to success, just as it's done since its founding. The bonds you forge during your cadetship will remain for the entirety of your life, and I can say with certainty that I would walk over hot coals for any one of my Brother Rats.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to PM me! Hope this helps!
 
I couldn’t access the article you reference but a couple of quick thoughts albeit from the perspective of a dad with sons. (We have taught them to respect women. Also, my son is on AROTC scholarship at an SMC, not VMI, although it was on his short list.)

Sexual assault is a potential danger on any college campus. I don’t think VMI is worse. I’m not sure if it is better.

There are many forces, particularly in the media, that seem intent on bringing down VMI. The Washington Post is one example.

I agree it is both good that you are aware of the potential danger and sad to me that you need to be.
That's what I thought too. I've seen many articles talking about how prevalent racism, sexism, and hazing are in these schools, but I never believe them fully.
 
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Holy crap, you're back!
 
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