Family feud or fratricide?

"Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear."—Harry Truman Merriam-Webster defines a feud as "a mutual enmity or quarrel that is often prolonged or inveterate" so a family feud is just such a quarrel between family members. In the case of The Cadet, the administration, cadets, and alumni members of the "VMI Family". In the case of The Cadet and the Virginia Press Association (VPA) the media outlets who share membership in the VPA are their own "family of journalists". Merriam-Webster also defines fratricide as "one that murders or kills his or her own brother or sister or an individual (such as a countryman) having a relationship like that of a brother or sister." When asked about the articles by Cardinal News and Washington Post questioning the VPA's recent contest and specifically the Journalistic Integrity & Community Service award won by The Cadet, Ms. Betsy Edwards, VPA Executive Director, responded, "These articles were written by VPA members. We thought it prudent to undertake an independent, outside investigation. Our goal in commissioning the inquiry into the 2022 VPA contest was to validate the contest results and determine that we followed all the rules. We believe this report speaks for itself and now consider VPA's involvement in these matters concluded." We could not agree more on two important points. First, the report by the VPA's independent investigator speaks for itself in exonerating The Cadet of any allegations and having the awards, to include the Journalistic Integrity and Community Service Award, stand. Second, and equally important, we agree the articles questioning the awards were written by VPA members. They, not the VPA, are accountable for the content of these articles just as the VMI administration is both responsible and accountable for its involvement not only in the articles themselves, but in initiating and advancing the controversy surrounding what should have been the cause for great celebration for the entire VMI Family. As our reporting on the controversy, and the associated articles will show, The Cadet, its staff, the former editors, and alumni diligently followed the policies of the BOV President, Mr. Watjen, the VMI superintendent and his administration, as well as the VMI Alumni Agencies leadership in handling such matters "in house" and avoiding the press. The current staff of The Cadet decided early on we would allow the VPA to act as it felt right without any pressure and we would not "air dirty laundry" in public challenging the administration as a member of the VMI family. The former staff back to re-starting The Cadet in 2021 and our alumni and other supporters agreed. VMI did not. It is almost unheard of for news publications to attack each with the vigor we saw. It is also almost unprecedented for large publications such as Cardinal News and, especially, the Washington Post to attack a college newspaper with such vigor. We have no desire to get into a family feud with our fellow VPA members on this issue other than to respond with facts to their reporting. The actions by the VMI administration, however, in deliberately initiating, and then perpetuating the controversy is another matter. The articles published by Cardinal News and the Washington Post include views and agendas provided directly by the administration. The administration, and both publications, have had their say. The BOV, with the notable exception of Member Mr. Teddy Gottwald '83, has remained silent to date. We, therefore, have no responsibility to engage them further. The administration chose the national media as their means to air grievances against The Cadet justified, by the superintendent, as "Defending VMI". They will receive no space here to adjust their position when it comes under scrutiny. What makes the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution unique in the world is that the right to free speech is not granted, it is assumed to be a basic right from the start. While other countries have freedom of speech in their constitutions, they all say some form of, "You have the right to freedom of speech," while the United States Constitution specifically states that no laws will be made to take away that right to free speech. In a series of articles to follow, The Cadet will address the issues raised by laying out the facts as we know, and can support, them. The Cadet will respond and defend ourselves. We thank the increasing number of cadets and alumni, especially former staff of The Cadet, who have come forward with their research and investigation results to inform our research and reporting. The Cadet will separate these articles over the next issues so we may tell good stories of VMI and not just the bad. This has always been the intent of The Cadet since its creation. To our readers as an explanation, and not an apology, some of this reporting will cast members of the administration in a negative light. Some, particularly in the administration, will say we are hurting VMI, casting VMI in a negative light, and that is wrong. We beg to differ. The actions of individuals reflects badly on VMI, just as the content of their reporting by the Cardinal News, Washington Post and others in the media writers reflects on their publications. What those who control those publications choose to do is their decision just as what the VMI BOV, alumni, parents and cadets choose to do with the information we provide is their decision. As with our other articles on changes at VMI, if the Corps chooses not to stand, unified, against what they feel is wrong it also remains their decision. The Cadet can only report and, in some cases, opine. Let there be no doubt, we love VMI, and holding those accountable who soil it only makes VMI better. According to the VPA, The Washington Post has a daily print circulation of over 500,000 in Virginia alone. Its national and international circulation, including online is in the milliona of persons. As an online publication, Cardinal News reaches a very large readership. The notifications sent out by the administration with the Alumni agencies reach tens of thousands of alumni, cadets, parents and the public. The Cadet, on the other hand, prints a mere 1,000 copies per edition with most distributed free in barracks and on post. We have just over 100 online subscribers. We are not so naïve as to believe our reporting will repair the immense damage done to the reputations and business of those involved. What we can, and will do, is respond in speaking truth to power, although we have already suffered the wrath of that power. Our truth will become part of VMI's history, for future generations to know. Even a mouse can roar if it has the heart of a lion. As we move forward in this matter, we, the staff of The Cadet, and our supporters, feel as David must have felt facing Goliath and share what may have been young David's thought as we load the pebble that is The Cadet into our slingshot of truth: "We haven't got a chance, but we're going to take it." Rah Virginia Mil!