VMI Communications Office's Close Ties with the Washington Post Raise Concerns

The removal of Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins as superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) has ignited a firestorm across Virginia and the nation, exposing fault lines not only around race and leadership in higher education but also around the role of media and politics in shaping institutional narratives. Wins' contract was not renewed in a 10-6 vote by VMI's Board of Visitors on February 28, 2025. In a March 6 statement, Wins directly attributed the board's decision to "bias, emotion, and ideology rather than sound judgment," warning that it threatens to return VMI to a "distant past." While racial politics have swirled throughout this saga, at least two major, and previously hidden, internal and external VMI forces now appear to have played, and continue to play, a significant role: the VMI Communications Office and the Washington Post. The paper's unusual access to internal documents, emails, and exclusive internal information — granted through arrangements with VMI's former and current Director of Communications, as well as others — created an outsized influence on the public perception of VMI, particularly the Board of Visitors' (BOV) decision not to renew Wins' contract. That special treatment helped shape a two-year arc of coverage, culminating in a pair of high-impact articles in February and March 2025, with indications that a third is in progress, timed to impact the May BOV meeting. The Backdrop: A Legacy of Change and BacklashIn October 2020, the Washington Post published a bombshell exposé chronicling alleged systemic racism at VMI. Just two days later, then-Governor Ralph Northam — a VMI alumnus — and the General Assembly's Democratic leadership issued a letter concluding systemic racism at VMI and launched a sweeping investigation into the school's culture. VMI Superintendent Gen. Peay resigned, and almost immediately after, the Northam-controlled Board of Visitors (BOV) appointed Wins as interim superintendent. Soon after taking office, Wins oversaw the removal of a statue of General Stonewall Jackson — a former VMI professor and famous Civil War General — that had stood prominently for over a century. He then began implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, conducting campus-wide training, developing transgender policies, and commissioning reviews of Civil War-related symbols. Wins has stated that these initiatives were implemented with external direction. By June 2021, a final state report concluded what it called a "racist and sexist culture" at VMI that Wins claimed his own, unpublished, "assessment" substantiated. Wins' full appointment followed in the wake of that report. A growing number of alumni, cadets, and parents were outraged. They accused Wins of implementing DEI programs that they saw as divisive and prioritizing identity over merit. A political action committee, Spirit of VMI, emerged and supported candidates like Youngkin, whose campaign pledged to roll back DEI initiatives statewide. The VMI Alumni Agencies supported Wins with increasing levels of "unrestricted funds" and disciplinary actions against alumni critics of both Wins and their internal systems, which restricted alumni voting rights and the ability to engage in open dialogue about the varying views on the issues. Washington Post's Preferential Access and Its ImpactWhat has been less examined is the special relationship between the Post, key Virginia State officials, and VMI administrators, which gave the paper a decisive role in defining the public narrative surrounding VMI. Cadets and alumni long questioned that the first notifications they received of significant issues or changes at VMI came not from the administration or Alumni Agencies, but from the Washington Post. During the state's investigation, it appears from its reporting that the Post was granted early and exclusive access to interim findings, correspondence between BOV members, and interview subjects—arrangements denied to other media outlets and alumni. In several high-profile stories from 2021 through 2025, the Post consistently framed Wins as a reformer facing entrenched racism, while critics were portrayed as reactionaries and bigots. Each time criticism arose, the Post published a new story that continued the narrative and cast VMI in an increasingly negative light. They all linked back to the Northam investigation, race, and the Civil War. Some members of the administration collaborated with the Washington Post to suppress freedom of speech at VMI by attempting to discredit The Cadet, its award-winning reporting, and the cadets who produce it. Meanwhile, the Alumni Agencies censored alumni comments when Class Agents and others sought to distribute their alternative viewpoints. Between 2021 and 2023, a series of investigative articles critically reported on VMI, revealing a pattern of internal conflict surrounding racism, diversity reforms, and media controversies tied to The Cadet, an independent, student-run newspaper. A Washington Post article dated June 1, 2021, titled "VMI has tolerated 'racist and sexist culture' and must change, investigation finds", summarized a state-ordered investigation that found VMI had fostered a "racist and sexist culture." The following week, on June 5, 2021, "VMI's Future: After Racism Investigation, Alumni Resist Change" highlighted backlash from alumni and dismissed their criticisms as politically motivated, placing Superintendent Cedric Wins in the role of a reformer fighting those resisting institutional change. Amid growing criticism, VMI's first Black superintendent, Cedric Wins, became a central figure in multiple reports. In the January 28, 2022, article "Cedric Wins, VMI's Black superintendent, blasts White diversity critics", Wins condemned opposition from groups like the Spirit of VMI PAC, which labeled diversity efforts as "woke." He defended the reforms as necessary and overdue, stating that a vocal minority resisted evolving traditions. The November 21, 2022, piece "VMI's First Black Superintendent Under Attack by Conservative White Alumni" concluded that Wins was facing racially coded attacks, particularly from alumni like Matt Daniel of the Spirit of VMI PAC, and alleged efforts to undermine Wins' leadership through targeted and racially biased language. The conflict also extended to The Cadet newspaper. On April 16, 2022, "VMI alumni decry critical race theory, push to reverse diversity reforms," the paper's revival in 2021 was alleged to be part of what the administration claimed to be a broader campaign against diversity reforms by a small group of alumni. VMI officials, including spokesperson Bill Wyatt, distanced the Institute from The Cadet, stressing that it had no official affiliation. The controversy deepened on May 31, 2023, when "A VMI student newspaper won a major prize. But now there are questions", accused cadets of plagiarism and their supporters of conflicts of interest, and biased reporting, particularly on DEI-related topics. Despite this, a follow-up on June 29, 2023, "VMI student paper award upheld after plagiarism, conflict-of-interest probe" confirmed the journalism award was upheld, but reinforced the administration's accusations and stopped short of fully reporting that the Virginia Press Association's independent probe exonerated The Cadet. An independent investigation by alumnus John Arthur '79, provided to the BOV at the time, documented extensive cooperation with the Washington Post and other media critical of VMI by VMI's Director of Communications at the time, Mr. William Wyatt. This included providing hundreds of pages of information critical of The Cadet and its alumni supporters, as well as supporting the administration's narrative against its critics, which was heavily used and referenced in the May and June articles. In response to calls for an independent investigation into the involvement of the superintendent and his staff with the Post, the former BOV President, Mr. Tom Watjen, deferred to MG Wins. Wins, in turn, appointed the VMI Title IX Officer and Inspector General, one of his direct subordinates, to conduct the investigation. The report cleared her boss and his staff of any wrongdoing. Wins refused to disclose the report, even to the BOV, claiming protection under "superintendent's working papers." Wyatt was promoted to the position of Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, accompanied by a pay increase. Notice of Meeting – no mention of contract talks.On Feb. 25, 2025, VMI posted the required Public Meeting Notice (dated Feb. 24, 2025) for a Special Meeting of the BOV. Neither the notice nor the accompanying agenda made any mention of either the superintendent's contract or any matters being discussed, except to say "Upon convening the meeting, the board will move immediately into closed session to discuss only matters lawfully exempt from open meeting requirements." Official VMI records are now public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and provided to The Cadet detail a deeper relationship between the Post and some VMI officials that emerged during the controversy over the Superintendent's contract. The timeline from those records details the coordination between VMI's current Director of Communications, Ms. Sherry Wallace, and Post reporter Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, starting Feb. 26, 2025, two days before the BOV Special Session. These records made available to The Cadet and available on the VMI FOIA site and for download with the online version of the article show that the first disclosed exchange between VMI's Director of Communications and the Washington Post reporter occurred at 12:19 PM on Feb. 26, 2025, with her introduction, "Thanks so much for reaching out!" The email provided a copy of MG Wins' current employment contract, the date and time of the Special Meeting, and a link for more information. It referenced the Director of Communications and the reporter's previous phone conversation, as well as her commitment that, "I'll get back to you as soon as possible on the other items we discussed." This leaves no doubt that the Post knew MG Wins' contract was the subject of the Special Meeting, although that was not disclosed to the public. Four minutes later, at 12:23 PM, the Post reporter sought clarification on the meeting's agenda, specifically questioning whether it would focus on the superintendent's contract and if a decision was anticipated. The VMI Director of Communications indicated that she was compiling the requested information and inquired about the Post reporter's deadline. He replied at 2:24 PM, expressing a preference for receiving the information by the end of the day, or by 11:00 AM the following morning at the latest. Demonstrating a commitment to meeting the journalist's timeline, the VMI Director of Communications responded at 2:25 PM, stating she would do her utmost to provide the information by day's end, and again two minutes later, demonstrating her eagerness to support the Post at 2:27 PM that "we're pulling the bonus data for you now…As soon as I have bonus info, I'll know the dates and will be able to find the appropriate board minutes." February 26, 2025, at 6:19 PM, the VMI Director of Communications again demonstrated her eagerness to work herself and staff late to meet the Washington Post's needs by sending a comprehensive email to the Post reporter, including: A statement from Maj. Gen. Wins, regarding the state budget in, praised the same General Assembly that removed two BOV members and cut VMI's Center for Leadership Phase II (CLE II) budget. Clarification on board meeting notifications and procedures for closed sessions. A detailed list of bonuses received by Wins from 2021 to 2024. Applicant statistics were compiled by the VMI staff specifically for this purpose and provided in an attached spreadsheet. Links to Board of Visitors meeting minutes and archives for further context. This level of detail equipped the Post reporter with substantial material ahead of the board meeting. She included the personal employment contract and related financial information for Gen. Peay. However, the Post had not requested it, stating it would be "helpful for comparison purposes", which showed an intent for the article to draw comparisons between Wins and Peay. Wins' statement acknowledging the General Assembly cut CLE II from the budget further substantiates that he knew the assertion he would later make in his March 6, 2025, statement that he secured the CLE II funding for VMI was false. Later that evening, at 6:28 PM, the Post reporter raised concerns about potential discrepancies in VMI's application counts, referencing a significant increase in 2024 and questioning if counting methods had changed. The VMI Director of Communications, at 6:31 PM, expressed unawareness of such concerns and committed to consulting with the strategic enrollment team "first thing in the morning" to meet his deadline. By 6:34 PM, the Post reporter elaborated on allegations that VMI might be inflating application numbers by including incomplete applications. He offered to discuss the matter further over the phone, suggesting a shift to verbal communication to potentially avoid creating a written record. February 27, 2025: Board Composition, Further Allegations, Evening Communications, and Shift to Phone CallsThe following morning, February 27, at 10:23 a.m., the VMI Director of Communications relayed information from the Strategic Enrollment Division, asserting that VMI had not altered its application counting methods and did not include incomplete applications in its totals. She attributed the increase in applications to initiatives such as adopting the Common Application and eliminating application fees. A subsequent email at 10:27 AM reaffirmed that incomplete applications were not counted. During this same period, The Cadet and several alumni independently discovered that the VMI data portal, with this information, was offline and not available to the public. At 3:03 PM, the Post reporter supplied a link to the January 2023 presentation and introduced new allegations from Black cadets regarding racism at VMI. Specifically, "I have talked to half a dozen or so Black cadets who say there is still racism occurring at VMI. They told me they routinely have the N-word directed toward them, they described an incident in October where 30 or so Black cadets were marched to the barber to get their haircut while no White cadets were, they forwarded emails of their complaints being dismissed by the Title IX Office and said generally there is a culture of racism among the cadets and some of the staff." He requested comments from the school and Maj. Gen. Wins, setting a 6:00 PM deadline. At 3:05 PM, the Post reporter inquired about the seating status of two new board appointees by Governor Youngkin and their participation in the upcoming meeting. His response confirmed the Post's intent to publish the article to have an impact before the BOV meeting: "…we need to publish our story first thing tomorrow morning because of the board meeting." The VMI Director of Communications confirmed at 3:32 PM that both appointees had been seated and would participate fully in the February 28 meeting. At 8:19 PM, as a follow-up to what the VMI Director of Communications referred to as "our phone conversation a little while ago" and continuing to work late with the staff to meet the Post's deadline, she provided detailed responses regarding application data and addressed the allegations of racism and Title IX complaints. She noted that relevant offices had no records of the reported incidents and that no formal complaints had been filed concerning the specific allegations: "…we've checked with IG/Title IX, the office of Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion, and the office of the commandant (in charge of cadets) and no one has received any report or information about 30 black cadets being marched to the barbershop. No formal complaints have been filed with IG/Title IX office this year or last year that included anything related to hair (a formal complaint is what indicates that someone wants the Institute to take action to resolve a report of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct). IG/Title IX dismissed two complaints in February. One of them was related to an allegation of race-based harassment (not related to hair). The complaint was dismissed because the alleged conduct would not constitute "Harassment" as defined in General Order 16 (Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Misconduct). However, the reported action may not violate GO 16 but may still violate other policies/regulations so we refer them to the institute official with disciplinary authority unless the complainant requests that we not do so. In this case, the matter was referred to another division to take action and it is my understanding that is in process now. "Regarding the query about the General Committee, and 85% of the cadets appearing before GC are students of color, we are looking at those records but can't collate all of it tonight. The GC records aren't tracked by race, so it requires a manual search and comparison to determine. We're working on it, and I can get you the actual figures at a later date." The progression from emails to suggestions of phone calls, as seen in the Post reporter's 6:34 PM email, indicates a potential attempt to discuss sensitive matters without creating a public record. This shift, along with the intense level of effort the VMI Director of Communications and VMI were willing to invest in conducting research for the Washington Post without compensation, raises concerns about preferential treatment and transparency, especially given the implications of the information being exchanged and the costs others incur to fulfill FOIA requests. February 28 – March 5, 2025: Live Coverage, Board Vote, and Post-Meeting CommunicationsOn the morning of February 28, 2025, the VMI Director of Communications emailed the Post reporter a direct link to the VMI Board of Visitors livestream, stating, "If they have to take any action after closed session (like a vote), that will happen on camera." She noted that additional live session discussions might also occur. During the closed session, the Post reporter texted the VMI Director of Communications, asking, "Do you have any sense how long they'll be in closed session for?" The VMI Director of Communications, who was not in the closed session, replied candidly, "Truly no idea. I'm watching the livestream myself. If someone in the room gives me a heads up that they are coming back, I'll text you." At 11:41 AM, she followed up with a brief message: "Session up soon." Shortly after the board reconvened and voted not to renew Maj. Gen. Wins' contract, the Post reporter texted the VMI Director of Communications: "Just saw the vote. Is there any chance Maj Gen Wins would want to get on the phone and discuss? Or send a statement?" She responded: "I will find out." The Post reporter followed up by asking if Maj. Gen. Wins planned to remain in his position until June. The VMI Director of Communications confirmed: "MGW does not wish to speak at this time, but I expect a statement from BOV President Johnson Adams soon, which I will share with you. MG Wins will continue to serve as superintendent through June 30 (end of his contract)." [the Director of Communications misidentified BOV President John Adams as "Johnson" Adams] The Post reporter expressed understanding and gratitude, also requesting to be informed when the official motion and vote would be posted online. The VMI Director of Communications responded with a "heart emoji" and promised to follow up. By 2:40 PM, the Post reporter inquired about the timing of President Adams' statement. The VMI Director of Communications quickly replied: "I just got final approvals, give me 5." Minutes later, she confirmed: "Just sent, you're the first media outlet to receive." At 3:37 PM, the VMI Director of Communications emailed the Post reporter the roll call vote details: Yes to extending: Edgar, Fain, Garcia, McKnight, Watjen, Williams No to extending: Gottwald, Hartsock, Inman, Janis, Joustra, Mobbs, Phillips, Reardon, Todd, Adams Ex officio (non-voting): Mr. Ring A link to the Board of Visitors page was included for reference. Shortly after the VMI Director of Communications' email, The Washington Post published an article headlined "VMI Board won't renew contract for first black superintendent", detailing the board's decision not to renew MG Wins' contract despite what it alleged, without substantiating documents, was Wins' record of progress. The article emphasized how all ten votes against Wins came from Gov. Youngkin's appointees, raising concerns of political and racial bias, although one of the BOV members it focused most harshly on, Mr. Teddy Gottwald, was previously appointed to the VMI BOV by former Gov. Ralph Northam before he resigned before the Jackson Statue controversy. The only cadets included in the coverage were six Black cadets who credited Wins with improving their safety and inclusion at VMI. The piece detailed their personal experiences with racism on campus, including use of racial slurs, social media harassment, and a disturbing group chat titled "Everyone and the black," accompanied by a fried chicken emoji. The Black cadets described ongoing racism on campus and credited Wins with fostering a safer, more inclusive environment. The piece portrayed the vote as a step backward, driven by ideological opposition to DEI, and suggested that VMI is now at risk of regressing without its first Black leader. The story drew national attention and framed the BOv's decision not as a personnel matter, but as a politically motivated act of racial regression. The story did not include any of the information provided by the VMI Director of Communications, confirming the absence of any racism-related allegations at VMI; however, there is no record that she took any action to correct the Post's negative reporting. On March 5, 2025, the VMI Director of Communications provided another important update: the resignation of board member Tom Watjen '76, sharing an internal message sent by BOV President John Adams to board members. Adams noted that BOV member Hugh Fain would temporarily serve on the Executive Committee and that new committee assignments would follow. The email reiterated her commitment to supporting the Post, stating, "I am getting updates on your other queries, thanks." This also indicates multiple other engagements that were either conducted by phone to avoid creating a record or that were not released in response to the FOIA request. March 6, 2025: Superintendent's StatementRecords released for March 6, 2025, show texts between the VMI Director of Communications and the Post reporter, including one at 12:08 PM, where both the text and response indicate "edited". The clear text from the Post reporter establishes his knowledge MG Wins was about to issue a statement, "Hey hearing there may be a statement from Gen. Wins today? Any chance I could see an embargoed version?" The VMI Director of Communications responded, "Funny, I was just about to call you" again demonstrating actions to bother alert the Post and use telephone rather than text that would create a record. Then, at 3:20 PM on March 6, MG Wins issued a statement directly to the Corps of Cadets, faculty, staff, and the BOV via general distribution, without prior notification to the BOV. Just one minute later, at 3:21 PM, the VMI Director of Communications sent the same statement to the Post reporter via email. At 3:25 PM, she followed up by forwarding the statement officially. Soon after receiving the official copy of MG Wins' statement, the Post followed up with a second article, headlined "VMI leader blames 'bias' and 'ideology' for vote not to extend contract." It contained statements from former BOV President Watjen, who resigned after the vote on MG Win's contract, and prominently featured Wins' statement condemning the vote as partisan and harmful to VMI's future. The Post also reported on backlash from cadets who said they feared for their safety, noting that some had been doxxed via the anonymous app Jodel. The article painted a portrait of a school slipping back into intolerance without its first Black leader. At 3:30 PM, Marianne Hause, Media Relations Specialist for VMI, emailed MG Wins' statement to a group of media contacts, including the Staunton News Leader, The Daily Progress, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Cardinal News. The Washington Post was the only national newspaper that the released documents show VMI proactively sent a copy. The timing and nature of these disclosures have raised concerns about transparency, particularly given the possibly missing or edited records in the FOIA response and the manner in which MG Wins' statement was disseminated independently of the Board. These interactions provided at least the Post reporter with advanced access to sensitive information, facilitating the publication of articles that portrayed VMI and its BOV in a negative light. This coverage appeared to influence public opinion regarding the Board's deliberations on renewing the Superintendent's contract. Gen. Cedric T. Wins' contract and continues to incite controversy that seems to be focused on reversing the BOV's decision and allowing MG Wins to remain in his position. These interactions collectively paint a troubling picture of apparent compromised transparency and a potentially coordinated media strategy that shaped public perception and possibly influenced institutional governance by a VMI office whose responsibility is to the Institute and the BOV, and not to any individual. The Fallout: Politics, Cadet Safety, and Board ResignationsIn the wake of the February and March articles, VMI saw protests and internal tension. One board member, former President Tom Watjen — a Democratic appointee — resigned, stating that he could contribute more to the school from outside the BOV. Watjen previously told the Post he supported Wins and was "not aligned with the majority" on the BOV. He also said he did not share Wins' view that the BOV's decision not to renew the contract was based on bias. Meanwhile, other alumni praised the decision to end Wins's tenure, blaming him for drops in enrollment and for what they characterized as divisive DEI programs, later rebranded as "Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion" and "Inclusive Excellence." More recently, on April 11, 2025, before VMI or the Alumni agencies sent any notification to the Corps, faculty, staff, alumni, or the public, the Post reporter published, "VMI board president quits amid controversy over school leader's contract" on the sudden resignation of BOV President John Adams. The article focused on connecting the resignation to the Board's decision not to renew MG Wins' contract, and again raised the controversy surrounding the contract and allegations of racism. The Pattern ContinuesAdditional VMI records made available from other FOIA requests posted to the VMI website indicate the Washington Post is planning yet another article, this time focusing on individual BOV members, alumni, and The Cadet itself, according to FOIA records provided to The Cadet and that The Cadet subsequently verified as authentic from FOIA 25 – 45 on the VMI FOIA page. The FOIA, submitted March 18, 2025, by the Washington Post requests "Emails, message and any other communications between [NAME REDACTED] and [NAME REDACTED] between June 2022 and March 17, 2025, mentioning The Cadet newspaper, Cedric Wins or diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Any other communications between board members about [NAME REDACTED] and The Cadet between July 2023 and March 17, 2025." If the trend from 2021 continues, the story will likely be timed for publication immediately before the May BOV meeting to continue the narrative framing Wins as a reformer against entrenched racists, reactionaries, misogynists, and the victim of reporting controlled by alumni in some perceived conspiracy not to extend MG Wins' contract rather than an objective consideration of his performance. The Broader Context: Media, Power, and Public InstitutionsThe Washington Post's framing of the VMI saga — apparently enabled by privileged access and close ties to VMI's leadership — helped shape, and continues to significantly shape, the climate in which the BOV's vote occurred. By continuously elevating stories that highlighted systemic racism and portraying Wins as a lone reformer under siege, the paper arguably placed added pressure on both his supporters and detractors while making a fact-based dialogue on the issues problematic. Some State lawmakers warned that the BOV's actions could risk VMI's funding, reputation, and have other negative impacts. At least one budget item for the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics (CLE) Phase II was cut in the 2025 state budget, though Democratic legislators claim the action had no connection to the BOV's decision on MG Wins' contract. For supporters of Wins, his ouster marks a regression. For critics, it's a course correction. However, for VMI itself, the legacy of MG Cedric Wins—and the media environment that chronicled it—leaves the Institute at a crossroads. As Wins prepares to depart on June 30, the question remains: will VMI move forward, or backward? Whatever the outcome, it is undeniable that preferential media treatment played a pivotal role in how this story unfolded — and how history will remember it. The Cadet is 100% self-supporting. Please consider making a donation at this link to help us remain one of the oldest independent college newspapers in Virginia. Editor's note: The actual texts, emails, links to articles, and other substantiating records referenced are posted and available to the reader in the online version of this article at www.cadetnewspaper.com