ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, November 18, 1996 TAG: 9611180090
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LEXINGTON
A handful of high school girls got a glimpse of Virginia Military Institute over the weekend, and several say they're convinced they want to be among the school's first female cadets.
The 13 girls were among more than 100 prospective students who stayed overnight on campus, bunking in the same Spartan barracks as this year's cadets. They ate in the VMI mess, where first-year cadets known as ``rats'' greeted them by chanting, ``Raw meat, raw meat.''
By the time the cadets marched onto the grassy parade grounds Saturday morning, armed with instruments, ceremonial rifles and bright red flags, several of the girls were convinced: VMI is where they want to go next year, as long as its military discipline, crew cuts and harsh rituals do not change.
``It's awesome,'' said Amanda Kaufman, 17, a senior at Edison High School in Alexandria. She said she will attend VMI if the school accepts her. ``Coming down here this weekend definitely made up my mind.''
Alexis Abrams, also 17 and a senior at Edison, said she was amazed by the hospitality and atmosphere at the school.
``Cadets came up to us and said, `Congratulations' and `We wish you the best of luck,''' she said. ``I think the school really wants us here.''
The open house was VMI's strongest effort yet to woo female applicants. Its governing board reluctantly voted two months ago to bow to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling requiring the military college to admit women or lose state funding.
The female turnout also encouraged anxious school administrators, who were embarrassed last month when only two girls showed up for the school's first coeducational open house.
``It's positive. It's electric,'' said Terri Reddings, who started as VMI's first female counselor last week. ``A lot of people want to make sure we do it right.''
As for the cadets, they looked on the recruits with amusement and curiosity. Many cadets said they were not thrilled about integrating the campus after such a long all-male tradition. But, they said, when women are admitted they will be treated just like other ``rats,'' with all the hazing, respect and discipline that entails.
That means sexual harassment will not be tolerated, Cadet Sgt. Gabriel Hubble said.
``Most of us are really disappointed with the way things have gone. But all we can do is make the most of it,'' said Hubble, who helped the prospects find their way around.
``VMI has never backed down from any challenge before this,'' he said. ``And this is one of the biggest challenges we've faced.''
Renovating the VMI campus to get ready for female cadets will cost $5.1million, plus $700,000 more to hire extra admission staff and print new brochures, VMI Superintendent Josiah Bunting III said last week.
School officials said 10 girls have applied, including two of the 13 at Saturday's gathering. At least four more applications are expected in the next few days, and two girls who applied under the early admission deadline could be accepted within the next two weeks. VMI officials have said they hope to enroll as many as 30 young women next fall.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN\Staff. VMI 1st Classman Christopher Coatsby CNBchecks the schedule Saturday of Shannon West, 17, of Bedford, one of
the 13 young women to visit the school during a weekend for
recruiting.