ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 25, 1997 TAG: 9702250101
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETTY HAYDEN SNIDER STAFF WRITER
Virginia Military Institute will emphasize its policies on sexual harassment, hazing and fraternization during cadet orientation, which soon will include women for the first time.
The Lexington college outlined the orientation plans in its latest required report to the federal court in Roanoke, which was filed Monday.
"Sexual harassment training will focus on the high standards of behavior customarily expected of everyone on the VMI post," the report said. The illegality of sexual harassment and VMI's "intolerance of such misconduct" will also be covered.
Students found guilty of hazing will be expelled and reported to local authorities as required by state law, the report said.
VMI also presented its policy for dating among cadets and faculty.
Upperclassmen cannot date freshman cadets while they're still rats, or display "abnormally friendly behavior" toward them. Cadets holding military rank cannot date anyone within their chain of command or appear "abnormally friendly."
Faculty and staff members cannot date or attempt to date cadets.
All cadets, faculty and staff will receive five to six hours of training in April, with follow-up sessions several weeks later, to help with the assimilation of women into the corps.
There will be a second orientation session in August for rats, new employees and anyone who missed the April sessions.
The report also included the school's latest admissions figures. Forty-three women have applied, 21 have been accepted and seven have made deposits.
The Supreme Court ruled in June that the all-male school had to admit women or give up public funds.
The school must file progress reports after each quarterly Board of Visitors meeting. The next report is due in May.
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