Invitation to event against anti-Semitism at UVA for the VMI family

Editor's note: The flowing letter was sent to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Executive Officer to the Superintendent, VMI Chief of staff, Commandant, Chaplain, The Cadet, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Promaji and the VMI Alumni Association. The Cadet is reprinting it as a service to our readers. If any cadets plan to attend, please let a member of The Cadet staff know. An open invitation to the VMI Family to support religious freedom: On behalf of a growing group from the University of Virginia (UVA) Family of alumni, faculty, parents, staff, students and friends of UVA, I'm inviting members of the VMI Family to join us at the UVA Rotunda the week of March 18, 2024 (specific day TBD) to support religious freedom and stand against anti-Semitism. We've all read and watched news accounts of the disturbing increase in anti-Semitism on US campuses. Many of you may now be aware of how severe this has now become at UVA. The student and faculty protests and harassment of Jewish students in Charlottesville is significantly increasing but receives no public attention. The UVA Administration has been made aware of the incidents, including physical attacks on Jewish students, but to date has done nothing. Members of the UVA Family are organizing a group of UVA Christian alumni to convene on the Rotunda off the Lawn the week of March 18 in support of our Jewish friends. This is to be a unifying event confirming religious freedom and tolerance so is, of course, open to all faiths to show we stand together. I would love to have alumni and other members of the VMI Family join us, especially Cadets and Cadet Christian groups. I'm approaching other colleges asking their central VA alumni to attend as well. A special invitation goes out to the staff of The Cadet newspaper to attend as an independent, unbiased member of the media so your award-winning student journalists can cover this important event. We plan to hold the event one afternoon the week of March 18 to allow as many Cadets and students from other schools to attend as possible after class. Please contact me at: tom74@comcast.net if there is any interest and I can provide more information over the next two weeks confirming the date and time. Cadets and cadet clubs can also contact me for any help they may need in submitting permits and arranging other support to attend. Thank you for your help. Tom NealeUVA'74tom74@comcast.net