Bridging the Divide: Reclaiming fairness and unity in VMI's landscape

At the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), a divide has emerged between National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes, club sport athletes, and non-athletic regular persons (referred to as NARPs). What began as a tension between athletes and non-athletes has now evolved into a deep chasm affecting VMI's core values. The disparity in how cadet-athletes, particularly those in NCAA sports, are treated compared to their peers in club sports or non-athletes is no longer just an issue of privileges but fairness to the Corps. This growing gap undermines VMI's mission of developing well-rounded cadets and challenges the institution's unity and perceived reputation by the Corps and alumni. It is time for VMI to reaffirm its commitment to treating all athletes equally, regardless of whether they participate in NCAA or club sports. For decades, VMI has prided itself on its "three-legged stool"—the balance of academics, athletics, and military discipline—each component playing a vital role in shaping the cadets who graduate. In the past, this system worked harmoniously. As reported in the 1928 Bomb, cadet-athletes were praised for their athleticism, commitment to academics, and willingness to balance these with the rigorous demands of military training. "Although sports are not allowed to interfere materially with prescribed duties," those cadets wrote, "every assistance is rendered to overcome the drawbacks of short time for practice and comparatively small number of men available." This was all Intercollegiate athletics, not just NCAA sports. The cadets praised those who chose to be a cadet first and athlete second, "Too many words of praise cannot be showered on our athletes. They are responsible for the larger part of the perpetuation of the "Spirit of V. M. I." The men who take part in athletics at V. M. I. deprive themselves of practically all of their spare time and gladly give all they have for their Alma Mater. Due to our very heavy schedule, little time is available in which to practice, but from the looks of our teams, we are sure this time is used to the best advantage." A significant shift occurred in how athletics are viewed at VMI within the Corps of Cadets. NCAA sports are now prioritized over all other athletic endeavors, among other avenues of representing VMI. The deepening divide created between NCAA athletes, club sport athletes, and NARPs undermines the core values upon which VMI was built. Cadets at VMI pay $4,046 each yearly in a mandatory "athletic fee" (one of the highest among Virginia public Colleges and Universities) and $2,526 per cadet for "Cadet Facilities/Activities" that cover all student clubs and sports. As published in VMI's NCAA 2023 Virginia Military Institute - AUP Report, VMI's "non-program Specific" Student (Cadet) Fees, defined as "student fees assessed and restricted for support of intercollegiate athletics," brought in $6,084,096. According to the VMI FY 2024 Operating Budget, football is $1,813,000, up $77K from 2023. Basketball $1,074,000 up $64K. In contrast, the Men's Cadet-Activity-Fees-2024-2025, the Basketball Club receives $7,000 - $1,067,00 less than NCAA basketball. The Men's Rugby Club, which plays through the National Collegiate Rugby League, is funded only $35,000 in the 2024 - 2025 academic year allocation. The Lacrosse Club struggles to get by with a $15,000 budget, while NCAA Lacrosse's budget was $343,000 - $328,000 more. The soccer club budget is $8,000, NCAA men's Soccer is $175,00 (+$167,00), and Women's Soccer is $236,000 (+$228,000). Women's Soccer at VMI is funded by approximately $61,000 higher than the men's team budget. Boxing that delivered a National Championship for which the Corps did not receive any privileges has a budget of $20,000, and the stipend Club coaches receive is only several thousand dollars compared to the $248,204 VMI Football's head coach earns. According to official State records, VMI's basketball head coach receives $220,626. The VMI's Football Coach is paid $248,204. The men's soccer coach receives $55,156, the women's soccer coach $70,236 (approx. $15,000 more than men's), and the Lacrosse Coach $85,135, respectively, while club coaches only receive a few thousand dollars in stipends. Perhaps the best example is the Hockey Club, whose $20,000 budget must cover all travel, ice time for practice, games, and additional expenses, as hockey is an expensive sport to participate in both on and off Post at VMI. The hockey cadets must drive to Roanoke for practices, often returning in the early morning hours with the requirement to be at Breakfast Roll Call (BRC) formations and fully participate in Corps activities. Seeing this present financial and social divide, we must move forward by recognizing that the "three-legged stool" should apply to all cadets, regardless of their athletic status. It's time for VMI to rectify the inequities that have taken root in its approach to athletics and ensure that every cadet—whether participating in NCAA sports, club sports, intramural sports, or none—receives equal treatment and respect. To truly live up to its standards, VMI must make meaningful changes in allocating resources, treating cadet-athletes, and engaging with the entire Corps. To heal the growing divide, VMI could implement changes reaffirming the institution's commitment to fairness and equality among all cadets. First, VMI should establish a level playing field regarding funding and privileges for all athletic programs. The disparity between the financial support for NCAA teams versus club sports is stark and unacceptable. For instance, while the football team receives over $1.8 million in funding, club teams such as rugby, hockey, and boxing are given just a fraction of that amount for their efforts to represent the Institute in their respective sports. This must change. Moreover, VMI should reconsider its approach to privileges. NCAA athletes receive significant advantages, including leniency regarding training schedules and academic demands, yet club sport athletes—who face similar challenges—are given little support or recognition. VMI should move toward a model where all cadet-athletes, regardless of the league they participate in, are treated equally regarding privileges, access to resources, and recognition for their hard work. Alumni, donors, and current cadets should recognize that the current system undermines equality and merit and creates unnecessary divisions within the Corps. VMI would align itself with its core principles of fairness and honor by addressing the financial and privilege disparities between NCAA and club athletes. Alumni have long supported VMI because of its commitment to developing well-rounded individuals. That commitment should extend to all cadets, not just those in NCAA sports. It is time to support a system where athletes in all disciplines are recognized for their dedication and contributions to VMI. In writing this article, The Cadet is not calling for drastic changes or dismantling NCAA athletics at VMI. We are advocating for equity in funding, privileges, and recognition. The goal is not to undermine the NCAA programs but to ensure that club sports and non-athletic cadets receive the same support and opportunities. VMI can continue to excel in NCAA athletics while fostering a community where all cadets, regardless of their athletic status, are equally valued. Some may argue that VMI's financial constraints make it impossible to level the playing field between NCAA and club sports. While this may be a valid concern, it should not prevent VMI from taking smaller, meaningful steps toward fairness. This could include allocating a portion of the Institute or other funds in addition to those raised from student fees to support club sports better, or offering additional privileges to those cadets who balance athletics with the other demands of the VMI experience, as well as curbing the ballooning NCAA budgets and staffs. Critics may claim that the current system is simply a result of the natural evolution of NCAA athletics at VMI, as VMI must keep up with the evolving landscape of college sports. However, this view fails to acknowledge the harm caused by ignoring the needs of club athletes and NARPs. NCAA sports are essential, but so are club sports, and all cadets should be able to participate in athletics without being treated as second-class citizens within their institution. The Institute's commitment to fairness should not be dictated by external pressures but by VMI's core values. In his presentation and fundraising during a recent alumni lunch in Williamsburg, Virginia, VMI Alumni Association (VMI AA) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ed Johnson '79 denied that any divide between NCAA athletes and NARPs exists. Explicitly asked to comment if there "is a divide between athletes and non-athletes", Johnson responded, "I would say 'no'." Johnson's proof was the "Regimental Commander who marched the cadets down to the football game in his football uniform," as being recognized for the unity and praised by the Corps. The truth is, a large percentage of the Corps, unfortunately, saw that as a joke and marketing ploy by the administration to hide the real problem from alumni and those looking at VMI from the outside. Johnson also attributed the situation to a natural evolution to accommodate the NCAA. "With the NCAA landscape the way it is… the athletes are... not just in season permits anymore. They're in-season and out-of-season permits. So when you are out of season, you have organized activities, you are allowed to have organized exercises and drills, and that sort of thing, and so the coaches are taking advantage of that." Johnson also defended the NCAA athletes' experience as "the same, only different" compared to non-athletes in the ratline. "…when the other rats were doing organized things potentially at 6:00 AM," Johnson told alumni, "they're [permit rats] in the pool swimming, okay, even out of season. They're in the pool swimming at 6:00 AM. Okay? So their rat experience is their rat experience." Today, the divide has become a chasm between athletes, NARPs, and club athletes who genuinely try to balance the much-touted VMI "three-legged stool" of academics, athletics, and being part of the Corps. Some say that Club sports can draw millions of dollars in alumni donations. The Rugby Club is one of the most supported, gaining national attention for their efforts after being ranked within the top 20 of all Division III teams through the National Collegiate Rugby League. But the Clubs don't have direct access to these funds. For example, Rugby uses practice jerseys that are over 3 years old compared to football uniforms that are new almost every year. Club teams wash their uniforms while VMI pays hired cadets to do the laundry for many NCAA teams. Clubs can't get alumni money until they exhaust all club money for the institute, and the Commandant's Staff controls the approval. Recently, a cadet could not afford his hockey jersey, and neither VMI nor alumni funds would pay. He received the jersey through donations to an outside organization that covered the cost. Regarding the impact of the name-image-likeness (NIL) issue on the cadet-athlete divide, Alumnus Jake Spivey '85 recently wrote the VMI Board of Visitors (BOV) that "The legislature's decision to allow the colleges and universities to compensate student-athletes directly will, not may but will, have a direct, unfavorable effect on VMI athletics. It will accelerate an existing talent gap between VMI and its opponents. Since VMI considers cadet-athletes to be students first, it will lose the capacity to recruit highly competitive student-athletes based on athletic ability. VMI's opponents will not suffer this loss." Student activities in Virginia's colleges must adhere to the "viewpoint neutral" standard as any other college or university in America. Following this standard and VMI's viewpoint-neutral policy, all student organizations must be treated equally, especially when allocating funding to student activities. Adjustments are made for group size and other considerations, but the disparity between club and NCAA sports for funding and privileges at VMI appears extreme by any standard. The "VMI Home Game Permit," dated August 28, 2024, grants cadets, regardless of restrictions, "one optional BRC to use within 7 days of a home event" if they attend a listed non-mandatory soccer, basketball, or swimming competition. Very little, if anything, is given to cadets supporting the hard-working club sports teams. Further, in cases such as this past week, when the Superintendent changed optional weekday basketball games to mandatory in the middle of Final Exam preparation, the Corps lost those opportunities for those games. The time has come for VMI to confront the growing divide between NCAA athletes, club sport athletes, and non-athletes. To restore unity, the administration must acknowledge the disparities in funding, privileges, and support between these groups. By creating a more equitable system, VMI can live up to its founding principles and demonstrate that it genuinely values all cadets, regardless of athletic status. We urge the Corps, alumni, and donors to join us in demanding a fairer, more unified VMI. The Corps is only as strong as its members, and a system that fosters unity, fairness, and equality will only strengthen it. We must ensure that every cadet, whether participating in NCAA or club sports, is allowed to thrive. Article updated 12/28/2024 to correct some minor printing errors in the calculations of the club budget and salary comparisons.