Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 23, 1993 TAG: 9309230126
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Mary Baldwin College in Staunton and Southern Virginia in Buena Vista were identified last week as colleges working with VMI attorneys on a plan to accommodate women.
The front-runner appeared to be Mary Baldwin with this week's news of a proposed program that would provide leadership education for women without the military component. The program - which sources said was in the hands of Gov. Douglas Wilder - appeared to have knocked a proposal to house women VMI cadets at Southern Virginia out of consideration.
But sources at Southern Virginia said Wednesday that the college's proposal is very much alive.
Amy Woody, president of the student council, said student leaders met Tuesday with college administration for a briefing.
"What we've been told is that VMI is still considering it," Woody said. "Rumors that they have already chosen Mary Baldwin are strictly rumors."
Student leaders were told Tuesday of a proposal to house women cadets at the college, Woody said. The college itself - a two-year private school - would not change "in any way, as far as curriculum or tradition of our school," she said.
"The only military factors would be where the girls are housed and possibly a drill hall in a new gymnasium, where they would do physical training and things that cadets at VMI do," Woody said. "Whether they'll be in uniform, I don't know. But if they wanted the full military experience, I would think they'd be in uniform."
Woody said many of the college's student leaders were excited about the proposal, more because of its saving-grace qualities than anything else.
The college has had financial difficulties, brought on partly by a stagnant enrollment and rising costs. Col. John Ripley, president of Southern Virginia, announced this month that employee salaries and benefits were being reduced to cut costs.
"Obviously, we need some financial support and need to up our enrollment next year in order to be more sound financially," said Grace Sarber, the college's public relations consultant.
Woody said if the college were to receive any government money or government support as a result of the VMI proposal, "the college would flourish."
"We've had a lot of budget cuts and are hurting as far as enrollments," she said. "This could do a lot for our college."
The student council voted by consensus Tuesday in support of the proposal "when we heard how beneficial it would be for the school," Woody said.
"We could get enrollment up, improve things financially, and the name of the school would be better known," she said. "Publicity for the school would be overwhelming."
If the proposal is accepted, Southern Virginia would come close to being a first. There are no all-women's military colleges in the nation.
Not all students at Southern Virginia shared Woody's excitement.
Amy Burnette, a second-year student from Lynchburg, said she is opposed to the idea of linking forces with VMI.
"The problem that VMI is having is their own business," Burnette said. "Southern Virginia is by no means affiliated with VMI, except for the fact that Colonel Ripley used to be on the faculty there."
Ripley, who was not available for comment Wednesday, once headed the Navy and Marine ROTC program at VMI.
"Everyone here is pretty much friends, like a family," Burnette said. "If [women cadets] came here, it would really be different. They can stay in a hotel as far as I'm concerned. Why can't VMI just take one floor of barracks and make it for women?"
Woody believes some of the opposition is rooted in misinformation. Much of the harsh reaction is from students who don't understand what's going on, she said.
"Student council and student leaders are the only ones who have been informed about it and how it would work," Woody said. "Other opinions are not educated opinions."
The U.S. Supreme Court in May upheld an appeals court ruling that the admissions policy at state-supported VMI was unconstitutional.
The appeals court gave the Lexington school three options: admit women, set up a parallel program or go private and lose state funding that provides $10 million of the school's $27 million annual budget.
VMI's lawyers are due in U.S. District Court on Monday to present a proposed means of compliance with the court order. VMI's board of visitors is scheduled to meet with its lawyers Saturday to devise such a plan.
by CNB