VMI's 2024 The Bomb Controversy: Cadets Demand Accountability Over Administrative Errors

The Virginia Military Institute's (VMI) 2024 yearbook, The Bomb, has sparked outrage among recent graduates of the Class of 2024 following widespread errors and claims of administrative overreach. At the heart of the controversy is the omission of nearly 20% of First Class cadet biographies, replaced by a generic placeholder: "I am grateful for all the people in my life that have supported me to this point in my cadetship." For many cadets, the yearbook is not merely a memento but a historical record of their time at VMI. The discovery of missing biographies, incorrect photos, and administrative interference has fueled demands for accountability, with new alums pushing for a reprint and a formal investigation. The issue came to light when members of the Class of 2024 received their copies of The Bomb and found their biographies absent. While some cadets received last-minute notifications about potential issues, others who had submitted their bios on time were shocked to see them missing altogether. Frustrated by what they perceived as administrative mismanagement, a group of 2024 alumni submitted a formal letter to VMI's Board of Visitors (BOV) ahead of its September 2024 meeting. The letter criticized the Commandant's staff for exerting excessive control over the yearbook's production, sidelining cadet leadership, and undermining VMI's long-standing traditions. "The Bomb was the first college annual in the nation and remains the oldest independent such publication in the country," the letter states. "As they are attempting to do with The Cadet, the administration staff took over The Bomb. The administration ruined that for the Class of '24." One of the most glaring mistakes involved Sam Estes '24, whose biography and photo were entirely omitted. Instead, the yearbook mistakenly featured the bio and images of Sam Estes '22, leaving the Class of 2024 graduate absent from his own yearbook. Other cadets reported similar frustrations. One graduate claimed he submitted his biography multiple times, even resending it in late spring, yet his entry was still replaced with the placeholder text. Another cadet successfully submitted his bio through VMI's administrative system and found it missing entirely. Critics argue that the problems stem from administrative overreach. Unlike previous years, the 2024 edition of The Bomb lacked an independent Editor-in-Chief. Instead, it was overseen by a "Cadet-in-Charge" with the Commandant's staff making key decisions, managing finances, and controlling operations. "Who reviewed and approved the proofs?" one alumnus asked in the letter to the BOV. "Why was CSM Rubenstein running this area of The Bomb and not cadets?" Further complicating the controversy are findings from two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests filed with VMI and provided to The Cadet. FOIA requests 24-54 revealed that all communications with the yearbook company were handled solely by the Commandant's staff, excluding cadet input. Additionally, VMI received an $18,000 refund from the yearbook company, yet the budget allocated to The Bomb staff was only $12,000, leaving a $6,000 discrepancy. The BOV has not addressed this financial gap. FOIA request 24-85, which sought all communications related to cadet submissions for The Bomb, returned a troubling result: "The requested records could not be found or do not exist." This contradicts administrative claims that cadets received ten email reminders to submit their bios, raising concerns about transparency and potential FOIA violations. In the wake of mounting pressure, VMI officials suggested issuing a supplemental insert with corrected biographies, which would be mailed to graduates and included in online versions of The Bomb. However, this solution has done little to appease frustrated alumni, and there is no evidence that any such correction was ever made. A search of VMI's online archives revealed that the school ceased digitizing The Bomb after the 2010 edition, casting doubt on the viability of an online correction. Moreover, alumni reported that the administration has not followed through on promises to engage with the Class of 2024's leadership. Despite claims that CSM Rubenstein would reach out to the Class President, no such communication appears to have taken place, leaving graduates skeptical of the administration's commitment to resolving the issue. The Board of Visitors has yet to take formal action. The issue was not addressed during the BOV's September 2024 or February 2025 meetings. With the next meeting scheduled for May 2025, many graduates feel their concerns are being dismissed. In response to an inquiry from The Cadet, the BOV stated: "The letter about issues with The Bomb was not submitted in public comment [period] and the full BOV did not receive it, to the best of my knowledge… We have only recently asked the VMI Administration about the Bomb-related issues in that letter. More to follow." To date, no follow-up has been issued. This controversy highlights a broader issue for many alums: the erosion of cadet-led traditions at VMI. The Bomb—once an independent, student-run publication—has become another example of increasing administrative control, a trend that critics say threatens the Institute's values. Graduates argue that without accountability, future editions of The Bomb risk similar mismanagement. Some warn that continued inaction could alienate alumni and damage VMI's reputation. "The Institute can afford to correct these omissions," the alumni letter emphasizes. "What it should NOT do is ignore this." As the debate continues, members of the Class of 2024 remain hopeful that their voices will be heard—and that future cadets will be able to reclaim the legacy of The Bomb as a cadet-led tradition and have their wrongs regarding mistakes in their annual righted. SUPPORT US: True to its founding, The Cadet remains independent, cadet-run, and relies on donations to operate. Please help us preserve the voice of the Corps and alumni by making a tax-deductible donation at: https://thecadetfoundation.org/participate-and-support/