Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 22, 1994 TAG: 9405220017
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
This year - one in which the matter of VMI tradition has received a lot of publicity - precedent would be broken, Superintendent John Knapp said, for a speech by another influential person who has "warmly and publicly supported this institution."
The 4,000 or so gathered Saturday in Cameron Hall showed their appreciation by repeatedly applauding and cheering Gov. George Allen's bare-knuckled defense of the school's male-only admission policy.
They were obviously delighted with his promise to continue the fight against the "oppressive boot of federal interference [that] usurps the right of the people of Virginia to set their own policies and control their own destiny."
The governor charged that the "arrogant, meddling . . . federal bureaucratic nannies and pests who have fought for so long to change VMI's admission policy are not interested in equal educational opportunity, despite their public words.
"No, their campaign against VMI is motivated by an obsession with destroying VMI as we have know it, because they blanch at what VMI stands for: the traditional American values and virtues of moral character, personal discipline, self-reliance and an unabashed and unashamed love of home, state and country - and the willingness to fight to defend them. In other words, the most politically uncorrect value of modern times - patriotism.
"Your very existence stands as a perpetual obstacle to their attempts to undermine traditional American values and culture, and remake America in their own relativistic, valueless and cartilaginous image." The crowd loved every word.
Echoing a sentiment first expressed by then-Gov. Harry Byrd almost 70 years ago, Allen said, "VMI has never failed Virginia, and Virginia will never fail VMI."
After the address, Knapp took the microphone to "assure you, sir, we will not give in. We will not give up."
A federal judge ruled recently that the state can maintain the all-male policy at VMI if a similar state-supported program is offered to women.
Allen defended the Women's Institute for Leadership to be created at Mary Baldwin College, contending in a press conference after graduation that the "few women who may want" a VMI-type educational experience can be served just as well there.
He said later he expects the admission fight to rise eventually to the U.S. Supreme Court.
While joining in on the joyous nature of the day, Allen didn't ignore recent allegations of honor-code violations by VMI cadets. He drew another round of applause when he said "so-called `pressure' is no excuse for compromising trustworthiness or honor."
All the public and media attention to the admission battle and the honor violations hasn't gone unnoticed on campus, said new graduate Christopher Doyle. On the other hand, "it hasn't been a major distraction."
Doyle, a New Jersey native who is a three-year letterman and former captain of the VMI lacrosse team, said, "We knew it would be in court a long time. . . . We knew we would graduate without seeing women admitted."
A "strong supporter" of the all-male admission policy, Doyle said he also would support the creation of all-female institutions for the "excellent and unique education" single-sex schools can offer.
Doyle, one of the majority of VMI cadets who did not receive a military officer's commission at graduation, nevertheless will enlist in the Marine Corps this summer.
Of the 222 graduates, 87 received military commissions.
Michael A. Richardson, selected by his classmates to give the valedictory address, also defended VMI's admission policy. And he encouraged his "brother rats" to "be honorable, for honor is the fuel which lifts and drives the human spirit."
by CNB