THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996 TAG: 9602180066
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: STAUNTON LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
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.''
The program 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 other is The Citadel in South Carolina.
VMI's all-male admittance policy is being challenged by the U.S. Justice Department. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on 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 woman. The institute accepted its first class last fall.
Col. Michael Bissell, the VMI director for VWIL, and Bryant presented the ranks to the cadets.
Kimberly Bond, a mathematics major from Roanoke, 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.
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 was also considered, she said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Karen Zeliznak, left, receives her stripes as a platoon leader
Friday from Brenda Bryant, director of the Virginia Women's
Institute for Leadership, and Col. Michael Bissell, the liaison with
VMI.
KEYWORDS: WOMEN IN THE MILITARY MILITARY SCHOOLS by CNB