An absent Breakout

Lack Of Respect The last few days have seen a good deal of agitation in the Corps over, as is often the case, a phase of the rat line. The Class of 1958, it seems, awoke suddenly to the idea that the ratline under their administration just wasn't all that it should have been. The question was, "what to do about it?" The answer: "The rat line will continue until such time as the first class decrees otherwise." This, after bloody Sunday and the previously announced date on which the rats would be emancipated. Naturally enough resentment arose on the part of underclassmen as to what they called "double-dealing." But it must be remembered that it is the First Class that says when the rats will get out, not the underclasses, for they will someday have the same privilege. The reasons expressed by the first class are explained in somewhat along this line of reasoning: The rats, a minority admitted, had seemingly decided they were out of the rat line before they actually were. A notable lack of respect and discipline on their part. Too, we have the age-old theme of "the thirds have failed to properly enforce the ratline" and ["]we want to see that next year's third class does not do the same thing." Perhaps some good may come out of this action by the First Class in that the rats may regain a little of the respect for the upper class that they seem to have lost. Perhaps. The objective is certainly commendable but a little forethought on the part of "the powers that be" would have kept the upper-classes content. True, the first class may not be interested in keeping the underclassmen "content" but arousing their ire for no good purpose is senseless, particularly this late in the year when there is supposedly the strongest unity of the year evident in the Corps. &emsp;&emsp;The above text comes from the 19 May 1958 issue of The Cadet, in which the newspaper reports on the failure of the Rat Mass to maintain the integrity of their character, which had formed throughout the Ratline to that point, and the incurred judgment of the First Class. Situations such as these were not uncommon in previous years at VMI where the First Class held sole responsibility over the Ratline system and its application. Many instances of "Resurrection" (an increase in the difficulty of the Ratline in order to reform standards and reorient a straying Rat Mass) occurred in many years, but this short anecdote pulled from a rather unalarming edition of the newspaper unknowingly references the initial stages of an event in VMI's history which, to this day, remains a singular and significant occurrence. &emsp;&emsp;The Ratline was indeed prolonged by the First Class following the event known as "Bloody Sunday" - a day similar to modern day Breakout and Resurrection Week. Much to the displeasure of the Rats and some members of the underclasses, this extension would not be for a mere week or two, but would continue into the final exam period and the last week of the school year. This was recounted by Richard Linquist '61 who said; "We went through Bloody Sunday and the Last Supper and anticipated being let out of the Ratline that night. 1958 held a Class meeting and decided that we had just gotten 'too casual'. After the Class Meeting, we were expecting them to give our Class an Old Yell. Instead, they gave an Old Yell for "Resurrection!" We went through two miserable days of the 1st Class running a resurrection, then stayed in the Ratline." This was, of course, an uncommon event; however it wasn't simply a spiteful act by the First Class but a response to definable and very present issues within the Rat Mass. Lou Shuba '61 noted that he may have been responsible to some degree as he reminisced; "I'm sure that I was one of the culprits that resulted in our never being let out of the Ratline and having another resurrection! I believe that the event occurred after "Bloody Sunday" and the "Breakout " from the Company rooms. I was standing in ranks above the parapet preparing to go to class when an upperclassman came along and decided to step on the toe of my shoe and twist his foot on it. I immediately responded and did the same thing to him. He was very indignant about my behavior as a Rat. Within 1-2 days our Resurrection began!" It's not uncommon for Rats to be punished individually or as a collective; however, Jim Miner '61 referenced a specific event that threw the Rats back into the Ratline. "My strong recollection is that we had Bloody Sunday, Breakout as you described it, except it was the entire company (in my case D) in a corner room which was hung with hay mattresses to protect us poor dears. Once we fought clear, then to the old courtyard for our first Old Yell. Done deal, until someone said the wrong thing to the wrong 1st. '58 held a Class meeting, and voted us back in. There we stayed." The most interesting aspect of this Resurrection is the fact that the Rats had already broken out to some degree, establishing themselves at least in a minor way as an official Class. While the standard practice in the current day would be to administer a punishment to the new Class through the Genral Committee (GC) system, it seems as though the First Class, having the privilege to reinstate the Ratline system at their discretion, truly did run the Ratline back in 1958. &emsp;&emsp;Regardless of each individual's opinion on the matter, it came to pass that '61 was thrown back into the Ratline. This would last, according to Richard Linquist '61, "until the last day of Final Exams." He recalled this timeline in his words; "I believe that Stirling Williamson '58 told Wyatt Durrette ['61 Class President-elect] on the last day of exams at DRC [Dinner Roll Call] [that the Ratline was over]. Right after, we all assembled in the Sally Port and gave an Old Yell for each of the Classes '58, '59, and '60 and then gave a really loud one for '61. Some wanted to bypass '58 because of the extended Ratline, but Wyatt [Durette - incoming '61 Class President] told us we had to have some class, so we gave '58 a very subdued Old Yell. I think it was after Friday DRC when Finals ran Saturday to Tuesday. I think that '58 was getting "civilian privileges" and Stirling just wanted to clear up that last little bit. At any rate, it was a relief." While this can be corroborated with other members of '61, there are a few who remember the instances quite differently as the clarity of Breakout appeared to be muddled at the time. Jim Miner '61 stated that "My remembrance is cloudy past [being placed back into the Ratline], but I do not remember being let back out. I have asked friends from '58 about this last, but have never gotten what I would consider clarification, so I consider that we are still Rats." This was also the case for Philip Orndorff '61 who was actively working to be removed from the Ratline 50 years later saying; "The first indication I ever heard that we had been let out was at our 50th when I was trying to work up support for a petition to '58 to let us out. I was told Williamson told our Class officers after graduation that the Ratline was over for '61. That brings up the question though if '58 had the authority to release us since they had already graduated." Although reports are conflicting among both the members of the Rat Mass and their dykes' Class, the legendary Class of 1961 has not only become recognized as a Class, but has also maintained their legendary reputation as "the Class that never broke out." &emsp;&emsp;This incident stands as a symbol of the Ratline and the discipline that arises from this system which is unique to VMI; a system run and administered by the First Class and molded according to their judgment. The Rats and underclassmen may have been dissatisfied by the choice to reinstate and continue the Ratline, but who were they to determine the course of '58's Rats? It's through this unique privilege and responsibility that the First Class and the Corps are able to maintain the integrity and tradition of VMI and all that it claims to be. This may lead to Ratlines which are shorter or longer than the last yet the concept of "earned, not given" has been central to the Ratline since its inception. The reality of this concept in the modern day is up for debate as the autonomy of the Corps seems to be directed more than inspired; however, that seems to be a topic for a separate argument. The ultimate truth is that the conduct of '58+3 resulted in a unique and legendary Ratline which remains a tale told to all Rats, either in a motivational capacity or one of warning. Regardless, the Classes of '58 and '61 remain a symbol of VMI and a representation of how a Ratline is effectively administered.