THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 27, 1996 TAG: 9607270004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 29 lines
Regarding the comments suggesting that admission of women to VMI is the unfathomable, I say: Wake up and smell the cappuccino.
This is the '90s, nearly a new century. That schools like VMI have lasted even this long is nothing short of amazing. These bastions of male supremacy and male bonding have seen their day and served their purpose. They are outdated now.
I've heard not one reasonable excuse why a man should not receive a higher education alongside a woman. And, frankly, I can't think of any young women in this day and age who would not prefer to work, play, date or marry a man who can respect a woman as his equal.
As for one letter writer's remark that a woman would not receive her degree from the ``real'' (read: he-man) VMI: Who cares? VMI has long been respected for its academic excellence and standards of discipline in spite of all the macho garbage.
An institute with class (pardon the pun) would swallow its little pill and roll into the 21st century, leaving its shoulder chips behind.
The best of luck to all the future cadets of VMI. And to the whiney protesters against equality, I say, in the words of my young generation: Get over it.
JENNIFER GOURLEY
Virginia Beach, July 18, 1996 by CNB