VMI Class of '74 Alumni announce $19.74 Million initiative to support and empower the Corps

&emsp;&emsp;The following press release is in reference to a letter sent to the Class of 1974 by leaders within the Class as they seek to benefit VMI which is the Corps of Cadets. Over the past few years there has been growing tension between alumni and the VMI administration and its various outlets. The Cadet Foundation as mentioned below is not to be confused with The Cadet newspaper which is the independent newspaper over swhich Cadets have editorial control.These two organizations are independent, yet have often worked hand-in-hand as the goal of The Cadet Foundation is to publish The Cadet and provide support to Cadets and their activities while operating under the influence of a board which is exclusively alumni as well as current Cadets. This enables the foundation to operate in the best interest of Cadets and alumni who wish to maintain the traditions and values of the Institute and the VMI experience. Cadet Russell Crouch '24, an officer of The Cadet Foundation said: "I have the unique privilege of being on both The Cadet newspaper staff as well as a member of The Cadet Foundation. We have often worked in tandem in order to ensure the operations of the newspaper continue, but I also look forward to expanding the outreach of the foundation to various other outlets. We have been able to do this already with the VMI hockey team as well as for my Class' ring figure. With the right people in the right places, The Cadet Foundation will be able to make a significant impact on the school and the lives of the Cadets within the Corps." &emsp;&emsp;The Cadet newspaper remains independent from both VMI as well as editorially independent of other outside organizations and will forever be outside of the control of alumni or the current administration, although we hope that our interest can and will align for the benefit of the Corps. Group offers an alternative the growing number of alumni walking away from VMI in response to its divisive policies through a non-profit independently lead led by cadets and alumni to empower the Corps. &emsp;&emsp;From the Press Release by Ron Stelmasczyk '74, James Cottrell '74, Mike Andriani '74, Gene Rice '74, John Williams, Jr. '74 – A growing group of Virginia Military Institute Alumni (VMI) from the Class of 1974 initiated a campaign today for their class gift of $19.74 million to VMI to commemorate the class' 50th reunion. In an extensive letter to their "Brother Rats" (classmates), the group addresses the increasing turmoil among VMI alumni. "[We] have learned," it began, "that a lot of you have "walked away" from making contributions to VMI as a form of effective protest against the many changes made at VMI over the last two years commencing with the forced resignation of Superintendent General "Binnie" Peay in November 2020 to address alleged systemic racial and sexual discrimination at VMI. These include changes to the Ratline, Corps and Class systems, Honor system and the introduction of controversial practices based on the principles of "DEI" i.e., Diversity, Equity and Inclusion derived from Critical Race Theory (CRT). Alumni across all classes share your concerns about these changes. This letter is to inform you of an alternative to the "all or nothing" option that will confront you when you consider the Hobson's choice of contributing to the Alumni Agencies that encourage and financially support these damaging changes or contributing nothing to voice your opposition to them." &emsp;&emsp;Instead of donating to the VMI Alumni Agencies, the group offers an alternative way forward it's letter that "unifies Alumni while ensuring your gift goes only to those aspects of the VMI experience deserving of Alumni support." Their approach is for donations to go to The Cadet Foundation, to be used to fund programs and projects that directly benefit cadets but not those that would impose divisive changes derived from political agendas and policies on the Corps, Ratline and Honor System. &emsp;&emsp;According to the letter "We desire to take a stand and save what is left of the VMI experience; restore OUR pride as VMI Alumni; and, most importantly, preserve the VMI ethos by ensuring donations directly support projects that benefit cadets and DO NOT fund programs and policies that force changes on the Corps, Ratline, and Honor system, resulting from political agendas and ideologies such as CRT, a divisive DEI Program, and others." &emsp;&emsp;The group's letter to their Brother Ratss details specific instances of policies and changes at VMI that a growing number of alumni question. These include: Fall 2022 Rat matriculation was down almost 25% at VMI from 2021, while at the same time most Senior Military Colleges, such as the Citadel and Texas A&M met quotas or experienced gains. VMI's stated plan, briefed to the BOV at their September 2022 meeting is to "Achieve Out-of-State enrollment to 55%/45% In-State." Honor System Changes - The current administration, supported by the Agencies and the BOV continue to make substantial changes to the VMI experience, including the Honor System. VMI justifies those changes to the Honor System based upon the findings in the Barnes and Thornburg report called for by the Northam Administration. Even though evidence outlined in the report demonstrated the system performed as designed and without bias, changes were made in the name of "equity" and "DEI." The VMI Superintendent directly stated DEI funding is being expended from the General Assembly's appropriation, which is forbidden. BOV Member Lara Chambers recently challenged the VMI administration's request for $800,000 for DEI questioning if the DEI classes were "doing more harm than good". The VMI BOV approved a $100,000 performance bonus to Maj. Gen. Wins in addition to his $620,000, annual salary of which 47% (over $300K) is paid with Alumni Agency funds. Awards benefiting cadets, as well as Cadet Clubs such as The Civil War Round Table, were cancelled by VMI because of links to the Civil War, Stonewall Jackson, and distinguished alumnus, sculptor, New Market Cadet, first Jewish VMI graduate and member of the VMI Class of 1864, Sir Moses Ezekiel. Free speech at VMI is under attack to include the administration attempting to make The Cadet newspaper a "club" under the Commandant's office and previosuly working with the Alumni Agencies for The Cadet to fall under the Alumni Association Communications Office that resulted in a formal warning to VMI from The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and the Student Press Law Center (SPLC). &emsp;&emsp;Given recent attacks by the VMI Superintendent and his staff on social media and in group emails together with the rejections of alternative views and the elimination of member's right to vote by proxy by the Alumni Association detailed in their letter, the group sees their effort as an example for others. According to the letter, "In taking this stand, VMI '74 will serve as the catalyst for other VMI classes to switch their contributions from the VMI AA to The Cadet Foundation, and use "the power of the purse" to restore areas of free speech, the voices of all alumni, and especially the power of the Corps to run the Corps. &emsp;&emsp;The action by these members of the Class of '74 follow similar actions by donors and alumni to stop funding VMI given its current operations. Doug Conte '75, recently withdrew a $1,000,000 pledge to VMI in his will. In an open letter from the VMI Class of '86 to VMI BOV, VMI Alumni Association, the VMI Parent's Council and the VMI Corps of Cadets signed by some 100 Brother Rats announced withholding funds until changes are made in how VMI operates. Another donor changed a $900,000 commitment from VMI to the Tunnel to the Towers Foundation in protest. &emsp;&emsp;According to Ron Stelmasczyk and his group, their initiative, focusing on working with Cadets together with alumni, provides an alternative to ensure cadets are not harmed but have a strong voice in how donor funds are applied. The group is already in contact with some donors who left VMI but are now considering supporting this initiative. With VMI's increasing debt due to enrollment drop, the cost of participating in Division I athletics and other areas, the group's initiative comes at a critical time for VMI. &emsp;&emsp;The Cadet Foundation, a 501(c)(3) recently founded by Alumni and cadets, is totally separate from the VMI Alumni Agencies and the VMI Administration. The organization's mission is "to unite Alumni and cadets in programs that preserve, protect and advance the core Virginia Military Institute (VMI) ethos of duty, honor, country and development of citizen-soldiers through a shared VMI experience for all." The Cadet Foundation supports freedom of speech at VMI, the Honor Code and system, the power and authority of the Corps to run barracks, the Class system, the Ratline and other programs for Cadet academic and other development. The Cadet Foundation is dedicated to providing funding and other support to cadets and cadet activities directly, without political or other influence. The Cadet Foundation is controlled by a board made up of current cadets and VMI Alumni. It will provide money and other activities to directly benefit cadets, and will be advised by cadets and Alumni representatives. The Cadet Foundation's leadership and its proposed Advisory Board are, and will continue to be, exclusively VMI Alumni and current cadets. According to The Cadet Foundation, they are already reaching out to Cadets in Barracks to gather ideas and to form the advisory committee and begin work soon. &emsp;&emsp;The Points of Contact for the initiative are: Ron Stelmasczyk '74, James Cottrell '74, Mike Andriani '74, Gene Rice '74, John Williams, Jr. '74 and for further information and to contact the Class of '74 leaders for the initiative alumni and '74 BRs are encouraged to visit the website: www.thecadetfoundation.org/VMI74 or email VMI74@thecadetfoundation.org. &emsp;&emsp;Editor's note: "The Cadet Foundation is a non-profit organization which has often worked hand-in-hand with The Cadet newspaper providing its funding for publishing and other reportive ventures as well as providing for the Corps in many aspects. It has assisted where applicable and when able and will continue to support the Corps which is VMI." - Cadet Russell Crouch '24