ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 14, 1996 TAG: 9611140060
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
From the U.S. Justice Department's viewpoint, only seven women have applied to Virginia Military Institute because the school's not doing enough to recruit more.
VMI sees that number as part of an "encouraging" recruitment effort that's well under way. In papers filed in federal court last week, Superintendent Josiah Bunting noted hundreds of other women have inquired about attending VMI. The school expects an inaugural class of 30 women next fall.
Justice Department lawyers made it clear Wednesday they are not confident VMI is doing all it should to integrate women. They want U.S. District Judge Jackson Kiser to order VMI to file a detailed plan within 30 days on exactly how it will integrate women into the 157-year-old cadet corps.
The sides argued the motion Wednesday in their first court appearance together since the Supreme Court ruled in June that the state-supported school must admit women.
The Justice Department wants details on everything from recruitment to the honor code to access to the VMI alumni network.
``A military organization like VMI would not enter a battle without a battle plan,'' Justice Department attorney Judith Keith told Kiser. ``They should tell us what that plan is . The defendants have stonewalled us.''
Virginia and VMI say they don't want to set down details that they might have to change later. Nor do they want the Justice Department overseeing their every move.
"They're worried women will not be at VMI this fall," deputy state attorney general Bill Hurd said. "That is a fear they need not have." He said VMI is working, and has "not simply mumbled to ourselves we're open to women and then [sat] on our hands."
After the hearing, VMI Bunting said the "provision of a complete and detailed plan to the Justice Department, we feel, is a direct challenge to our independence and honor, and I might add, to our professionalism."
Late last week, VMI filed with the court an update on its efforts to recruit women. Work started Sept. 21, the day the school's governing Board of Visitors narrowly agreed to admit women instead of attempting to go private.
The court papers cited $5.1 million from the state, to be drawn on VMI's funding for next year, which has already been appropriated. Hurd said Gov. George Allen has allowed VMI to transfer that money, but still will submit a budget amendment Dec. 20 for approval from the General Assembly.
The money includes $4.3 million for capital projects, including bathrooms for women in the barracks and four academic buildings, women's dressing for sports facilities, and alterations to the post hospital.
A separate $767,552 will pay for operational changes, such as hiring a new assistant commandant and the recruiting officer who started work this week.
Recruitment efforts include a direct mailing to 31,532 women, contacts with hundreds of high school guidance counselors and athletic coaches across the country, and acquisition of a Department of Defense mailing list of ROTC students.
Among Keith's concerns Wednesday was whether scholarship money will be available for young women. In VMI's endowment are scholarship funds earmarked for young men. Bunting said after the hearing that one-third of VMI's $185 million endowment is unrestricted, so no qualified female scholarship applicants will go without their awards.
It is unclear when Kiser will rule on the Justice Department's request.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: DON PETERSEN\Staff. VMI Superintendent Josiah Bunting called theby CNBgovernment's demand a "challenge to our independence and honor."
color. Chart by staff. KEYWORDS: MGR