
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 6, 1990                   TAG: 9004060943
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VMI LEADER'S LETTER WAS MISREAD

IN HIS March 30 article, Paxton Davis assailed a recent letter sent to VMI alumni by Maj. Gen. John W. Knapp, VMI superintendent. Davis described the letter as "obnoxious" and advocating a "monolithic" response to the current challenge to VMI's admissions policy. He ended by stating that the superintendent's letter urges "alumni to remain silent on the issue," and he concludes that "VMI does not believe in the principle of free inquiry amongst free and equal people."

Davis' interpretation of the superintendent's letter is erroneous, and his attempt to read authoritarian motives into the letter does him and the institute a disservice. Gen. Knapp's letter is a call for informed discussion and reasoned debate on the issue: nothing more, nothing less.

Far from attempting to gag or otherwise stifle free inquiry, institute officials and the VMI Alumni Association have encouraged faculty, staff, cadets and alumni to express their opinions. Newspapers around the state carry letters from VMI supporters on both sides of the issue.

Gen. Knapp's call to avoid "a shrill and meaningless shouting match" speaks to method, not content. Davis' rhetoric that VMI is seeking a "monolithic response" just does not match reality.

\ J.W. LANGHAMMER\ President, VMI Alumni Association\ LEXINGTON

by CNB