Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 2, 1993 TAG: 9306020164
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BONNIE V. WINSTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
After a meeting in closed session for more than two hours in the Richmond offices of its chief lawyer, the board asked that the plans be ready for its Aug. 5 meeting. The plans eventually would be submitted to U.S. District Judge Jackson Kiser in Roanoke.
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear VMI's appeal in a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit challenging its single-sex policy.
VMI is one of two state-supported, all-male military colleges in the country. The Citadel, in Charleston, S.C., is the other.
By refusing to hear the appeal, the high court let stand a federal appeals court decision that VMI either must admit women or become private or that a parallel military-style program be established elsewhere at state expense.
No timetable has been set up by the court for a remedy to be put in place. Further court challenges are expected no matter what decision is reached.
Dr. Harvey Sadow, president of VMI's board, told reporters there "was no motion to give up and allow women." But asked whether the option of becoming co-ed would be reviewed by lawyers, Sadow said, "Don't put words in my mouth. The board has no choice at this time. All remedies will be studied. Let the board meet and discuss them thoughtfully and then I'll have more comment."
In a unanimously-approved statement read to reporters after the private session, the board said it would submit an alternative to the court "while reserving the position that the current admissions policy is constitutional."
Maj. Gen. John Knapp, VMI's superintendent, has talked informally with the head of Virginia Tech's cadet corps about possibly beefing up the Tech program to provide VMI-style training for women.
Knapp, who attended Tuesday's board meeting, declined comment on the progress of those talks.
by CNB