ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996 TAG: 9602190063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: STAUNTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
A Radford woman was named commanding officer when the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership, the state's alternative to admitting women to VMI, conferred ranks on its first class of cadets.
``You are the ones who have given sustenance to the program,'' VWIL director Brenda L. Bryant said at Friday's ceremony. ``You have with your achievement confirmed the value of the creation of VWIL.''
VWIL was established at Mary Baldwin College, a private all-women's college, as an alternative to Virginia Military Institute, one of two state-supported, all-male military colleges in the nation. The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., is the other one.
VMI's all-male admittance policy is being challenged by the U.S. Justice Department. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about the case in January, but has yet to hand down an opinion.
In the meantime, the state is following an appeals court ruling that allows the state to establish a parallel program for women. The institute accepted its first class last fall.
Kimberly Bond, a mathematics major from Radford, earned the top rank of VWIL commanding officer. As commanding officer, she will be responsible for establishing communications among the cadets and keeping them informed of upcoming events, she said after the ceremony.
Bond went to high school at Randolph-Macon Military Academy.
Conferring ranks strengthens military structure within the 41-member class of freshmen.
"It gives us leadership positions within the group," said Trimble Bailey of Roanoke, who was named sergeant major in charge of the color guard. "Now we can look up to each other."
Rank was based on academic performance; physical fitness scores; drills and ceremonies; and leadership activities, such as the wilderness and leadership challenge programs, Bryant said. Overall commitment to the VWIL program and its standards also was considered, she said.
Col. Michael Bissell, the VMI director for VWIL, and Bryant presented the ranks to the cadets.
Staff writer Allison Blake contributed to this report.
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