Reply #8: Official VMI response [View All]

Printed in full as this is a press release.

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http://www.vmi.edu/show.asp?durki=5537&site=11&return=212

VMI Responds to Cadet Halloween Photos on the Internet
28 January 2005
Office of Communications and Marketing

VMI has been made aware of the possible involvement of a small number of VMI cadets in various insensitive and inappropriate photographic poses appearing on a website unaffiliated with VMI. Photographs taken during a Halloween costume party in Barracks last October 2004 that showed VMI cadets parodying Nazis and stereotyping other groups have been posted to an Internet chatroom. While recognizing cadets have rights as private citizens to express themselves, VMI is disappointed in their behavior and judgment.

The photographs were taken by a cadet who posted them to a photo album on a non-VMI Web site. Upon learning that the photos had been re-posted to the public chatroom unaffiliated with VMI, the cadet voluntarily removed the photos from his photo album.

VMI cadets have engaged in Halloween activities for several years. This event was approved by the Institute and supervised by cadet leaders and the officer in charge of the Barracks. VMI believes that only a few cadets engaged in inappropriate behavior.

VMI does not condone such behavior, and this matter will be investigated accordingly. The investigation has been turned over to the Officer of the Guard Association, the cadet organization responsible for investigating cadet misconduct. The Officer of the Guard Association will report its findings to the General Committee, which will develop recommendations for any disciplinary action indicated by the investigation. The General Committee is made up of the three class officers from the upper three classes at VMI (sophomore, junior, and senior) and has a major role in maintaining standards of conduct within the Corps of Cadets. The General Committee's recommendations will be reviewed by the VMI administration before they are implemented. By allowing the Corps to police itself under supervision by the administration, we believe cadets will more readily recognize the inappropriateness of this behavior and see the importance of correcting it.

The Institute use this incident as part of VMI's continuing strong efforts to educate the Corps in civility and respect for others. The conduct of the investigation into this matter by the Corps is central to this effort; in this way cadets will take ownership of an important cultural issue that must be addressed.

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Last Updated On: 1/28/2005 1:13:01 PM