Institute Report. March 2004

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Volume XXXI, Number 6 March 16, 2004
Mobilized VMI Cadets Bid Farewell
Five cadets who are also
members of the Virginia Army
National Guard were offered words
of encouragement as they prepared
in mid-February to mobilize for
active duty overseas.
VMI Superintendent Gen. J.H.
Binford Peay III ’62 wished the
cadets well and said the Institute
looked forward to their returning to
their studies after their tour of duty.
“I’m really proud of you,” Peay
said as the cadets assembled in his
office during their last week on
Post. “Your service fits in with the
VMI tradition. Your unit is taking
on the responsibilities for a tough
area. You’ll get more out of this tour
than you’d ever get out of training
even if you never hear a shot fired.”
The cadets were permitted to withdraw from classes without academic
penalty. Their tuition will either be refunded or will be applied to the
Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III, superintendent of VMI, speaks
to cadets called to active duty. The cadets are (l-r) Jonathan
Glasscock, David Kimsey, Craig Heffner, Jonathan Lessen
and Clinton Williams.
semester they return. In addition,
they received a refund of the fees
they paid for board on a pro-rated
basis. The cadets were placed on
administrative leave for the
duration of their active duty and
will be returned to active cadet
status automatically when they are
demobilized.
The cadets are assigned to the
National Guard’s 3rd Battalion,
116th Infantry, which has been
mobilized for participation in
Operation Enduring Freedom.
The mobilized cadets are
Jonathan Lessen ’04, a biology
major; Jonathan Glasscock ’06, a
biology major and president of the
Class of 2006; Craig Heffner ’06,
an economics and business major; David Kimsey ’06, a psychology
major; and Clinton Williams ’06, a history major.
Last year, 16 cadets and two faculty members were called to active duty.
Peay Receives
Scouting Award
The Distinguished Eagle medal placed around his neck harkened
back past the eagles he once wore on his Army uniform and to the first
eagle he earned as a teenaged scout. Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62
received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in ceremonies Feb. 13 in
Richmond from the Heart of Virginia Boy Scout Council.
Peay was presented the award by cadet Christopher Authier ’05 at
the annual Friends of Scouting dinner at the Greater Richmond
Convention Center. Only a few people have received the Distinguished
Eagle award nationally, according to Craig Rascoe, council president.
Among previous recipients are such notables as James A. Lovell, Gerald
R. Ford Jr., and Richard A. Gephardt.
Along with Peay at the ceremony was Sgt. Keni Thomas, who
participated in the mission in Somalia in 1993 that inspired the movie
“Black Hawk Down.” Both Peay and Thomas reiterated the importance
Demolition began March 8 on the Post Surgeon’s house at 446
Institute Hill to make way for expansion and renovation of Crozet
Hall. The work on Crozet is expected to be completed in August
2005. The Crozet project is needed to accommodate a Corps of
Cadets twice the size of the Corps when the facility was built in
the 1930s.
Continued on page 4
PAGE 2, THE INSTITUTE REPORT, MARCH 16, 2004
College Bowl Team
Competes in Regional Competition
The VMI College Bowl Team
finished ninth in a regional
championship competition Feb.
20, and is already looking forward
to planning for participation in
next year’s competition.
“This was a very good showing
for the first time out for our team,”
said Cpl. Brad Wineman ’99, coach
for the team and an adjunct
instructor in history. “It was a great
event. After we rest and catch our
breath, we’ll start planning for next
year.”
The team won five of 13 games
in the tournament, while Cadet
Matthew P. Whalon was the team’s
high player and the No. 18 player out of a field of 67 from the 14 teams
participating in the regional tournament held in Knoxville, Tenn.
Other members of the team were cadets Jonathan F. Everiss ’06, Scott
T. Maciejewski ’05, Jason M. Long ’06, and Matthew J. Kurz ’05. Although
selected for the team, Cadet Victor E. Bockman Jr. was unable to
participate due other obligations.
James Gilbert, coach of the Davidson College team, said the addition
of VMI to the College Bowl competition was a welcome development.
“As a moderator for several of their matches, I would like to
compliment cadets Maciejewski, Whalon, Long, Everiss and Kurz not
only on a good performance, but for maintaining an especially high
Cadets Matthew Kurz, Matthew Whalon, and Jonathan Everiss
confer on a question posed during a College Bowl practice session.
standard of courtesy and
sportsmanship throughout the
tournament,” he said. “I’ve been
involved with College Bowl for
some time, and it is always
refreshing when players behave
like ladies and gentlemen. Your
cadets’ respect for the game, the
officials, and their opponents was
exemplary, and reflected great
credit on the Institute.”
The teams the VMI cadets
defeated in the Round Robin
competition where those of the
College of William and Mary, High
Point University, Murray State
University, Coker College, and
Roanoke College.
The Institute Honors Program sponsors the VMI team. The College
Bowl is a game of academic knowledge and quick recall. The questions
covered topics from literature, science, history, geography, religion,
social sciences, multicultural topics and the arts to popular culture,
sports and current events. VMI is among nearly 300 institutions of higher
education playing College Bowl this season.
Cadet Chase Porter ’05, is credited with reviving the College Bowl
program at VMI 40 years after the Institute’s team made appearances in
nationally televised tournaments. Porter was the primary organizer of
the event.
The Institute Report
Office of Communications and Marketing
Col. Ken White, Director
Lt. Col. Stewart MacInnis, Associate Director
Burton Floyd, Publications Manager
Other Contributors:
Chris Clark; Kevin Remington; Scott Belliveau ’83; CDR Timothy McElhannon, USN;
Maj. John Wranek, USA ’85, Sue Wood; Cadet Joel Andrus ’04
Printing – The News-Gazette, Lexington, Va.
The Institute Report is published by the VMI Office of Communications and Marketing. Eight
issues are printed during the academic year. Inquiries, suggestions, news items, or address
changes should be directed to Editor, The Institute Report, VMI Communications and
Marketing, Lexington, Virginia 24450-0304. Current and past issues are available on the world
wide web at:
http://new.vmi.edu/show.asp?durki=458
Telephone 540-464-7207 Fax 540-464-7443 E-Mail:vmireport@vmi.edu
Jumper to Speak at Dinner
Air Force Gen. John P. Jumper ’66 is set to be the guest speaker at the
Air Force ROTC Dining Out scheduled for April 2.
Jumper, who as chief of staff is the senior uniformed member of the
Air Force, began his military career after being named a distinguished
graduate from the VMI AFROTC program in 1966.
A command pilot with 4,000 flying hours, principally in fighter air-craft,
Jumper served two tours in Southeast Asia accumulating more
than 1,400 combat hours. He commanded organizations from a fighter
squadron to the Air Combat Command before being named chief of
staff in 2001.
Schools Association Recognizes Green
Brig. Gen. Robert L. Green ’67, deputy superintendent of finance and administration, received recognition from the Virginia School Boards
Association for his support of the local school board and for the public school students in Rockbridge County.
Green supports the activities of Lt. Col. Bob Gilbert, who is a member of the Rockbridge County School Board. As comptroller for the Institute,
Gilbert reports to Green. The Virginia School Board Association prepared a certificate thanking Green for his support of Gilbert in his efforts to
make an impact on Virginia and the Rockbridge County public schools.
THE INSTITUTE REPORT, MARCH 16, 2004, PAGE 3
Underwood Departs Foundation
On March 12 Kelly R. Underwood ’00, the Director of VMI Annual Giving, left the VMI Foundation for a
position with the firm Exemplary Recognition.
“Kelly has been a valuable employee,” said Dr. James L. Adams ’71, executive vice president of the VMI
Foundation. “He brought a great deal of energy and imagination to every task related to the Annual Giving
office from his dealings with Class Agents to the effort to instruct cadets about the importance of private
financial support to VMI.
“Thanks in no small part to Kelly’s efforts, VMI Annual Giving has enjoyed excellent success, establishing
a new record in amount raised — more than $3.8 million in Fiscal year 2003,” Adams continued.
“All of us at Neikirk Hall and many cadets, faculty, and staff on Post will miss Kelly, but I’m sure all of those
people wish him well in his new endeavor.”
The current assistant director of Annual Giving, Jane Dunlap, will serve as acting director of Annual Giving
until further notice.
Changes to
Optional
Retirement
Plan
New state rules mean some fac-ulty
members participating in an
Optional Retirement Plan will have
to select new vendors to handle
their retirement accounts, and all
ORP participants will have to affirm
the investment selections for their
retirement plans by May 14.
Employees with defined benefits
retirement accounts managed by
the Virginia Retirement System are
unaffected by the change and do
not have to take any action. These
changes also do not affect the cur-rent
choice of carriers for 403(b)
tax sheltered annuity plans and the
cash match plans offered by VMI.
Though only 11 faculty members
at VMI are members of one of the
plans being eliminated, all of the
more than 100 faculty members
with ORP accounts must complete
forms and return them to Human
Resources to ensure their retire-ment
accounts are set up
according to their desires.
The changes eliminate four of six
vendors who were authorized to
manage ORP accounts for faculty
members. The eliminated vendors
are Met Life, AIG VALIC, T. Rowe
Price, and Great West. Participants
in those plans must establish new
accounts with either TIAA-CREF or
Fidelity Investments Tax-Exempt
Services Company by May 14. The
changes will be effective July 1.
The Human Resources Office
has sent out detailed information
concerning procedures to all ORP
participants. The retirement system
has posted additional information
on its Web site (www.varetire.org/
M e m b e r s / B e n e f i t P l a n s /
HigherEd.html).
Annual Giving On Record Pace
As of Feb. 29, the three funds of VMI Annual Giving — the Foundation Fund, the Keydet Club Scholarship
Fund, and the Athletic Operations Fund — have received more than $2.2 million in donations and are on
pace toward a second consecutive record-setting year.
The Foundation Fund has raised almost $1,049,000 or more than $40,000 over the total raised last year
at this time. The Keydet Club Scholarship Fund is almost $60,000 ahead of last year’s end-of-February total
with more than $807,000 received so far during Fiscal Year 2004.
It is the Athletic Operations Fund (AOF), however, that has seen the best improvement over last year’s
performance. With a total of $355,684 raised by the end of February, the AOF has taken in $116,191 more
so far in fiscal year 2004 than it did in fiscal year 2003 at this time. In other words, donations to the AOF
have increased almost 50 percent from February 2003 to February 2004.
As has been the case in recent years, however, the only thing clouding this otherwise splendid news about
VMI Annual Giving is a decline in the number of alumni donors. This year, the trend of the past few years —
fewer donors giving more money— has continued. As of the end of February 2004, Annual Giving had
received approximately $215,000 more than it had by the end of February 2003; however, the number of
alumni donors declined by 234, from 1,951 to 1,717. Moreover, each fund is experiencing the same trend.
Every gift, no matter how much, is needed and appreciated by the Institute and the Alumni Agencies. VMI
will and must continue the momentum set in programs and projects in recent years — progress recognized
in U.S. News and World Report’s national ranking of colleges. Of note is that one factor in those influential
rankings is the percentage of alumni who donate to the college. Please join those who have committed to
help VMI with your contribution to one of the funds associated with Annual Giving or another activity on Post.
Report to Investors and Honor
Roll of Donors On-Line
The VMI Alumni Agencies’ Report to Investors for fiscal year 2003 is now available on the VMI website.
For a limited time, the Honor Roll of Donors — the list of those people and institutions who made a gift
or commitment of financial support to the VMI Alumni Agencies — also will be posted on the VMI website.
A printed version of the Honor Roll will appear in the Winter 2004 issue of the VMI Alumni Review.
The Report to Investors, which describes the work of the VMI Alumni Agencies on behalf of the Institute,
can be found on the VMI site, by clicking on “Alumni,” and then on the link titled “Report to Investors.” The
Honor Roll of Donors is on the “Alumni” page as well, click the link titled “Honor Roll of Donors” to go to
the document. Both the Report to Investors and the Honor Roll of Donors are presented in Adobe PDF
format.
Any questions about the Report should be directed to Scott Belliveau ’83, the VMI Foundation’s director
of communications. He may be reached by telephone at (540) 464-7287, extension 242, or via E-mail at
reportrequest@vmiaa.org.
PAGE 4, THE INSTITUTE REPORT, MARCH 16, 2004
VMI Museum Continues
Operations During Renovation
The VMI Museum plans to open a temporary exhibit on the history
of VMI in the George C. Marshall Museum next April while the bulk of
its collection is prepared for storage to allow renovation of the lower
floors of Jackson Memorial Hall.
Beginning in 2005, J.M. Hall will undergo nearly a $3.4 million
renovation to the 100 and 200 levels in order to provide more space
for the nearly 12,000 items in its collection. Many of those artifacts
have national and international interest. The museum is scheduled to
reopen in the renovated J.M. Hall space in 2007. All the funding for
the renovation has been privately donated.
While the renovation is in progress much of the museum collection
will be moved into the Preston Library’s secured and climate-controlled
storage area. A few of the more popular exhibits, such as Jackson’s
horse, Little Sorrell, will be displayed in the Marshall Museum. The
VMI museum shop will also be relocated to the Marshall Museum
during the renovation project.
The museum, which is currently limited to the 200 level of J.M.
Hall, does not have enough room to display all the pertinent artifacts
in the collection, according to Executive Director Col. Keith Gibson.
Among the items the museum finds difficult to display now are the
Henry Stewart Antique Firearms Collection, which contains over 800
individual pieces, the uniform that Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson wore
when he was given the name “Stonewall,” a helmet that belonged to
Gen. Patton, as well as an array of medals won by alumni over the
decades.
One of the main objectives during the renovation is to make room
for more items highlighting the accomplishments of alumni.
“These are the reminders of future accomplishments of today’s
cadets,” said Gibson, referring the vast array of various artifacts
belonging to both famous and unfamiliar alumni that have come
through the Institute.
In the renovation plans, a room is set a side on the 100 level to be
the new home to the VMI Alumni Story. This will be similar somewhat
to the recently added Hall of Valor, which represents hundreds of
combat decorations; however, the Alumni Story room will represent
over 1,000 alumni in both the military and civilian world.
The VMI Museum was founded in 1856, making it the oldest museum
in the state, and until 1970 the museum was part of the archives in
Preston Library. The museum is also professionally accredited by the
American Association of Museums and receives as many as 50,000
visitors each year, which Gibson said makes it a model for many small
museums nationwide.
Nearly every one of the 12,000 items cataloged in the collection
was donated by an alumnus or by the family of an alumnus, he said.
of Scouting as “a powerful positive force in the growth and
development of boys into men.”
The dinner at which Peay received his award was also a pledge
drive for Virginia businesses to give support to the Scout program,
and over the course of the evening more than 700 business leaders
pledged their support for “character building of our youth” in the
form of over $430,000.
Among Peay’s accomplishments cited when his Distinguished Eagle
award was presented were that during his military career he rose to
the rank of full general and was noted for his work in both Operation
Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield, where he commanded
the 101st Army Airborne Division. Last year he was named VMI’s
superintendent.
Peay, a native of Richmond, received his Eagle Scout Award in
1954.
The Heart of Virginia Council consists of nearly 600 Boy Scout and
Cub Scout troops and packs with about 20,000 scouts in the Central
Virginia area, including Richmond.
Peay Wins Scouting Award
Continued from page 1
Scout Executive Robert A. Tuggle congratulates Gen. Peay for
recieving the Distinguished Eagle Award. Lookng on is Cadet
Christopher Authier ’05.
THE INSTITUTE REPORT, MARCH 16, 2004, PAGE 5
Band Draws Awards
During Mardi Gras Parades
Tobacco Users Given Help to Quit
The Colonel Mike E. “Doc” Monsour Center for Cadet Development
and Counseling is mounting an awareness campaign to encourage and
help cadets who use tobacco products to stop.
The campaign began with posters put up around Post citing reasons
to stop using tobacco, said Maj. Mary Andre, director of cadet
development and counseling. One day in mid-February an information
table was set up at Crozet Hall during the lunch and evening meals.
Andre said more than 200 cadets sought information and signed
pledges not to start using tobacco, to help friends quit, or to seriously
consider when they would quit using tobacco. Ninety-two cadets are
currently working to quit using tobacco.
“We want to support those who want to stop,” Andre said. “They
have made a conscious decision to quit. They have decided there are
very good reasons for them to go through a process that many of them
will find difficult at times. But, every one of them is capable of stopping.”
An average of 30 to 40 percent of college students in Virginia use
tobacco products; at VMI, however, 54 percent of cadets reported in a
recent survey that they had used tobacco during the previous month.
Besides being higher than the state average, tobacco use among cadets
here is higher than the national average of 35 percent of students, and
the average at military schools, where 26 percent of students reported
using tobacco products.
‘Quit kits,’ which contain literature, candy, tips for quitting, worry
stones, sunflower seeds, a computer CD to help cadets develop
individualized quitting plans, and other materials, have been distributed
to cadets working to quit.
“Some cadets say they are smoking or dipping snuff just while they’re
here at VMI,” Andre said. “They plan to stop when they graduate, but
they often discover that is a very stressful time and that quitting then is
not as easy as they thought.”
There are many reasons to quit using tobacco, and the awareness
campaign will highlight many of those. Ultimately, Andre said, individuals
must arrive at the reason they find compelling enough to see them through
what can be a more difficult process than they may at first expect.
“We want to support them when they decide they want to quit,” Andre
said.
The campaign is funded by a grant from the American Cancer Society
and a grant from the Virginia College Cooperative for Tobacco Use
Reduction. Also participating in the campaign are the Post Hospital and
the Cadet Counseling Staff, which is made up of cadets who are peer
counselors and peer health educators.
For more information, contact Andre at 464-7667.
The VMI Regimental Band, Pipe
Band, Color Guard, and Band
Company staff marched more than
10 miles in parades, played four
standing concerts, won an
important award, and were seen by
more than 800,000 people during
two and a half days of
performances in New Orleans and
Mobile, Ala., last month.
The trip marked the ninth time
Band Company has participated in
Mardi Gras events in New Orleans
and their first return to Mobile
since 1978.
The band placed first in the
Endymion Parade in New Orleans
on Feb. 21, winning the coveted
Mendelson Plaque. Among the bands and military groups at the parade
were those from Virginia Tech and the Citadel, as well as a number of
other military bands. The Endymion Parade had over 40 bands and 75
floats. The seven-mile parade took over five hours to complete. Many
area alumni saw the event live or on television and complemented the
band on its military excellence.
The band arrived in Mobile on Feb. 22, and through the invaluable
assistance of Dr. C.M.A.“Max” Rogers IV ’83, they performed several
concerts and marched in a parade in the course of the next day and a
half. The cadets were warmly received in Mobile and were swarmed by
citizens who greatly appreciated their presence. Rogers made sure the
cadets were well provided for and
fetted by an appreciative and happy
crowd full of VMI alumni, namely
Vester Thompson ’40 and Robert
A. Guthans ’51.
Lt. Col. Michael J. Woloshuk Jr.
’72 was at the controls of one of
two aircraft used to fly cadets to
the events. A C-135 from the 434th
OSS/CCC from Grissom Air Force
Base in Indiana, and a C-130 from
440th AW OSF/OSK from
Milwaukee, Wis., flew the cadets
from Richmond to New Orleans,
then the following day to Mobile
in style, while giving the cadets a
terrific experience in Air Force
transportation. The cadets
returned by bus when poor weather in Mobile prevented military aircraft
from landing to pick up the cadets and staff.
Brodie Wins Arts Award
Col. John Brodie, director of the Regimental Band, was recognized
as the Arts and Entertainment Individual of the Year for Lexington and
Rockbridge County.
The chamber of commerce and civic clubs nominated candidates
for the award, and area residents selected winners by voting in October
and November. Brodie was presented with a plaque at a recogintion
breakfast at Evans Hall at Washington & Lee University.
Band members march in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.
PAGE 6, THE INSTITUTE REPORT, MARCH 16, 2004
Cadet Uniform Changes Announced
VMI’s Uniform Committee recently finished its work and made
recommendations to the Superintendent for uniform changes. The
committee’s discussions led to policies that are intended to trim away
the clutter that has been accumulating on cadet uniforms by simplifying
them, providing a more professional appearance to the Corps by making
uniforms more “uniform,” and upholding VMI traditions.
Most of the policies will take effect in the fall, with others phased in
as funds become available. Money saved as a result of policy changes is
being used to help underwrite the cost of other uniform changes.
The committee of nine cadets and five faculty members focused on
preserving the traditional VMI Corps appearance of a uniform that is
cleaner and more consistent than those worn by other military colleges.
The committee deliberated over the issues during a concentrated two-week
period, and the cadet members frequently sought opinions from
fellow cadets between committee meetings and reported those opinions
to the full committee.
The discussions centered on the committee’s mission: to clean up
the VMI uniforms, remove distracting items, and provide the Corps with
quality uniforms in sufficient quantities to meet daily requirements. Most
items in the current cadet clothing bag were discussed. In some cases,
cadet members proposed exchanging current uniform garments for
different items, adding items, and making other changes.
The new policies are:
— Class patch and nametape will remain unchanged on the duty
jacket. Athletic patches will be smaller, the sports names will be removed
from them, they will be produced in subdued colors, and they will be
centered above the nametape. The Post Tailor shop will replace the
athletic patches, and will return the old patches to the cadets as
souvenirs.
— Pips will be eliminated from the black shirts. Tie bars will be
eliminated, with male cadets tucking their ties into their shirts below
the second button. The committee discussed adopting neck tabs for the
female uniform and decided neck tabs will be worn next year on a trial
basis. The changes will make the shirt easier for cadets to set up prior
to wearing. A third black shirt is in the process of being issued to cadets.
— White belts will be eliminated from the Rat uniform, with the
white nametapes and shoulder boards without crests considered by the
committee sufficient to identify the cadets as Rats. After Breakout, the
new 4th-Class cadets will be issued new shoulder boards with crests.
— Long skirts will provide female cadets with a uniform suitable for
formal occasions. Details of the design and color of the skirts have yet
to be decided; though, it is anticipated those details will be settled in
time for the skirts to be on hand well before Ring Figure.
— The heel on the female pump will be wider and lowered from 1 1/2
inches to 1 inch, making them more stable and more suitable for marching.
— Each sports team having its unique travel suit will be a thing of
the past, with a single design being used by all members of the Corps.
The running-style all-weather suit of black pants and black, red, and
yellow zip-up jacket with the VMI logo will be fielded to athletes
participating on NCAA teams in time for the fall season. The suits will
be issued to sports club teams and the remainder of the Corps as funding
permits. A matching polo shirt is anticipated to be added as funding
becomes available.
The process of selecting the travel suit for athletic teams was begun
with last year’s cadet-faculty uniform committee. Twelve athlete and
non-athlete cadets tested various versions. The single uniform is
expected to better identify the wearers as VMI cadets than the current
variety of travel suits used by teams. The suits are intended for wear
while in an official travel status, with the Commandant specifying
appropriate occasions for wear.
A uniform change not considered by the committee but which will
take effect next fall eliminates polywool pants and polywool skirts, which
are not compatible with many other uniform items. The money saved
by this policy will be applied toward increasing the issue of other uniform
items for each cadet, such as increasing the number of white ducks
from four to seven and providing an extra pair of wool pants. Polywool
pants will be turned in by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th class cadets during
uniform turn-in prior to summer furlough.
The simplified uniforms and the increased number of some uniform
items are expected to make the Corps look better and make life easier
for cadets, allowing greater flexibility to take care of laundering and
alterations. The simplified, more austere uniform appearance will
further differentiate VMI cadets from cadets attending other military
schools.
Cadet newspaper reporter Shawn
Jones interviews Dr. J. Alfred
Broaddus Jr., president of the 5th
District Federal Reserve Bank of
Richmond. Broaddus, who spoke to
cadets in Jackson Memorial Hall,
gave an overview of the Federal
Reserve and discussed business
ethics. The March 5 talk was part
of the John W. and Jane M. Roberts
Lecture Series.
Federal Official Addresses Cadets
THE INSTITUTE REPORT, MARCH 16, 2004, PAGE 7
Civil Rights Hero Honored
Daniels Courtyard Dedication March 25
It was June 1961 when Jonathan Daniels last walked the Post in his
cadet uniform; however, with the dedication of the Jonathan Daniels
Arch and Courtyard on March 25 his words will always echo through
Barracks.
Above the archway connecting the Barracks with the Courtyard will
be a quote from Daniels’ graduation address to the Institute as the 1961
valedictorian. It will read, “I wish you the decency and nobility of which
you are capable.”
Daniels is a “prime example of a citizen soldier,” said Col. Keith
Gibson ’77, executive director of the VMI Museum. Though he did not
serve in the military, he served in “an army with a religious ministry.”
A student at the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Cambridge, Mass.,
after his graduation from VMI, Daniels followed his convictions and
calling to Alabama in hopes of making a difference in the nation’s civil
rights struggle. On a sultry August
day in 1965 Daniels died during a
bloody confrontation when he
pushed a black teenaged girl
named Ruby Sales out of the way
of a shotgun blast.
That sacrifice touched many
lives and will be permanently
remembered at VMI with the
Courtyard and Arch.
The ceremony dedicating the
Daniels Courtyard and Arch will
begin in Jackson Memorial Hall at
11 a.m. on March 25. The Rev.
William Rankin, a seminarian with
Daniels who later became dean of
the Episcopal Theological School,
and Donzaleigh Abernathy, who’s
father played a very active role in
the civil rights movement, will be
featured. Rankin will give the
invocation, after which Abernathy will speak on the topic of “civility.”
The courtyard dedication follows the presentation in J.M. Hall. At this
ceremony, Rankin will comment on the life of Daniels, and a 3-by-4-
foot bronze plaque will be unveiled. Brig. Gen. Lee D. Badgett ’61,
professor of economics and a “Brother Rat” of Daniels, will assist in the
unveiling. The dedication will be followed by a luncheon and viewing of
a video production made by Kelci Williams, a high school senior from
Uniontown, Kan. The video, titled “I Just Shot Two Preachers,” describes
events leading up to and surrounding Daniels’ sacrifice. It won the
National History Day Competition for the senior individual documentary.
Other guests who have been invited to the unveiling include Ruby
Sales; Emily Daniels Robey, Daniels’ sister; Richard Morrisoe, who was
also shot in the incident in which Daniels was killed; and several other
friends and colleagues of Daniels. Morrisoe spoke to the Corps at the
2003 Daniels ceremony.
In May 2002, the Board of
Visitors approved the renaming
and re-sculpting of the courtyard
between Maury-Brooke Hall and
Old Barracks. The construction
began by installing paving bricks
in the alleyway leading to the
courtyard from Letcher Avenue.
In addition to the plaque that will
be unveiled, the two benches now
in the center of the courtyard will
be moved to the sides and flower
boxes will be planted around the
plaque and near the steps entering
the courtyard from Letcher Avenue.
The courtyard will be identified by
lettering on a wall at the entrance
to the courtyard and also be visible
from Letcher Avenue.
‘Three Soldiers’ statuette donated.
James Moore ’58 will present a statuette
copy of Frederick Hart’s “Three Soldiers”
sculpture from the Vietnam Memorial to
the VMI Museum April 20. According to
Col. Keith Gibson, museum director, the
statuette is likely to be displayed in the
Periodical Reading Room of Preston Li-brary.
The Periodical Reading Room is
dedicated to the members of the Class of
1969 who died in Vietnam.
Daniels Story Told in Iraq. Capt. Thomas Brashears ’95, who is
currently deployed in Iraq, gives a short talk on the life of Daniels
a part of the 1st Armored Division’s Black History Month activi-ties.
In his remarks, Brashears highlighted the efforts and sacrifices
of Daniels.
PAGE 8, THE INSTITUTE REPORT, MARCH 16, 2004
International Program Grows
Lt. Col Dale Davis ’82 arrived at VMI in 1997 with a mandate from
then Superintendent Lt. Gen. Josiah Bunting III to build a strong inter-national
education program that would befit an institute with a mission
tying it and its graduates to an increasingly interconnected world.
Now, after seven years on the job as director of international pro-grams,
Davis is leaving with the satisfaction of knowing the greatly
expanded variety and number of study abroad and other international
educational opportunities is helping prepare cadets for today’s world.
“We’ve established a lot of programs, and we have a vastly increased
participation,” Davis said. “Now our involvement in international pro-grams
is at a level you’d expect from a college serious about educating
its students to succeed in a world where they are very likely to find
themselves working and living abroad, whether it be leading Marines
in Afghanistan or leading the sales unit of a multi-national corporation
in Bangkok, Thailand.”
Each year, as many as 130 cadets participate in various international
programs. Among the international programs are recurring exchange
programs, summer study abroad opportunities, and semester- or year-long
study at overseas colleges and universities.
Not only do cadets have opportunities to study overseas, but the In-stitute
has developed a deep commitment to ensure those opportunities
remain available, Davis said.
“Gen. Peay has placed special emphasis on the expansion of our
military academy exchanges, while retaining the strongest of relation-ships
with premier civilian institutions like Oxford and St. Andrews,”
he said. “ We look forward to sending an increasing percentage of our
cadets to international military academies. However, these initiatives
will take time. It takes an average of three to four years to get a pro-gram
rolling from the initial interest.”
While having someone focused on establishing and maintaining re-lationships
is important, the liveliness of an international program also
depends on the interest and commitment of faculty members. That is
where VMI has a particular strength, Davis said.
In fact, even before the international program director position was
established, individual faculty members had initiated their own pro-grams,
starting with Col. Tom Davis’ arrangements with the Royal Military
College of Science in the mid-80s. Others involved previously were Col.
Ed Dooley, Col. Wayne Thompson, and Col. Kathleen Bulger-Barnett.
Today, the vibrancy of the highly successful summer study abroad
opportunities depends on the participation of faculty members. There
are regularly six or seven overseas trips during the summer, with indi-vidual
faculty members taking the lead on each.
The international program office also helps faculty members seek
Fulbright Scholar grants to fund work at overseas colleges, and assists
with the Institute’s visiting scholars program that sponsors faculty mem-bers
from international universities in their work here. It also helps
with cultural programs on Post, exposing the VMI community to inter-national
cultures.
“This exposure to the world beyond our borders is important to ca-dets,”
Davis said. “The nature of this new, increasingly interconnected
world requires they be able to move seamlessly across cultural and
linguistic boundaries. If they can do that, they will have a competitive
advantage over their peers, whether they serve in the Armed Forces,
government service, or the private sector.”
While the international program has been a major focus for Davis,
he is also proud of the Arabic language program he started in the De-partment
of Modern Languages and Cultures. It is now the foreign
language course with the second highest enrollment in the department.
“That has been a very important program when you look at the events
occurring in the world today,” he said.
April 1 marks the start of a new phase in Davis’ international career.
He leaves VMI to start work in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
“This was an opportunity I really couldn’t pass by,” Davis said. “But
when it’s over, I fully intend to come back to Lexington. I love VMI and
am very grateful to Lieutenant General Josiah Bunting III, General J. H.
Binford Peay, and Brigadier General Casey Brower for the faith and
confidence they have placed in me.
“Most of all I am grateful to the cadets. They keep you young and
they renew your faith. Many pundits speak of America in decline but
when I look out over the parade field on any give Friday afternoon I am
reassured. As long as VMI produces great young leaders, America will
remain strong.”
ECE Recruiting CD Earns Award
VMI’s Environmental and Civil Engineering Department’s recruiting CD was awarded 5th place by the National Newspaper of Admissions
and Marketing for schools for special publications in the schools smaller than 2,000 category.
ECE was the only department from any college to win an award; all the other winning entries were for an entire college or university.
VMI Cadets join students from other colleges and universities to
take advantage of the Institute’s International Program.
THE INSTITUTE REPORT, MARCH 16, 2004, PAGE 9
Sheldon Spies a World of Spies
Spies.
They can be found in the most unexpected places. Look closely enough,
even where you wouldn’t expect to find them — perhaps especially there
— and you’re likely to find one. Or two. Or dozens.
Col. Rose Mary Sheldon finds plenty in the Bible. She provides a sampling
of biblical spy stories in her article, “Spy Tales,” in the October issue of
Bible Review.
Spying itself is something that Sheldon finds to be neutral. Whether it is
good or bad comes down to which side one is on. Good leaders — on
whichever side of a conflict — use espionage as one of the tools available to
them; bad leaders overlook it.
Among the spies and spymasters Sheldon highlights in her article are Moses, David, Delilah, and Judith.
Biblical spies are employed to seek out information on economic matters, military readiness, and the inten-tions
of opposition leaders. Joshua uses information from spies to plan that famous attack that resulted in
the tumbling down of the walls of Jericho.
“A small country with its back to the sea, often surrounded by hostile forces and more frequently than not
occupied by huge military forces, the people of the Bible survived by their ability to keep an eye on their
neighbors and their enemies and their sons,” Sheldon writes as she concludes her article. “Expert intelli-gence
and subtle disinformation earned them their independence more than once.”
The article is an outgrowth of a book Sheldon is preparing on the same subject. Her interest in biblical
intelligence, counterintelligence, and disinformation is an extension of her interest in spying throughout
ancient and medieval history.
“You don’t study ancient history just to study it,” she said. “You study it to find parallels to what is
happening today.”
She finds numerous incidents recorded in ancient manuscripts which parallel problems that confront
leaders today. Could an understanding of how similar problems were handled centuries ago be helpful
today? Sheldon thinks the answer is yes.
VMI offers Sheldon an academic environment virtually unique in which the study of espionage can be
pursued. The study of intelligence matters fits quite naturally with the military character and the culture of
the Institute. The cadets she teaches have an appreciation for the important role intelligence plays in shap-ing
events.
“Spying has been done since the beginning of time,” Sheldon said. “Either you do it or you don’t do it. If
you don’t do it, you’re inviting something like 9-11.”
Basu
Examines
Oil Case
An article co-authored by Maj.
Atin Basu, assistant professor of
economics, is to be published in a
forthcoming issue of the refereed
journal, Research in Law and
Economics.
Other co-authors of the article,
“Titan Agonistes: The Wealth Effects
of the Standard Oil (N.J.) Case,”
are economists from Georgia
Southern University, Clemson Uni-versity,
and the University of
Mississippi.
The paper explores the puzzling
wealth effects of the Standard Oil
of New Jersey antitrust case that in
1911 resulted in the breaking up
of John D. Rockerfeller’s company.
Basu and his fellow authors found
that the most plausible reason why
the market failed to react to news
of the trust’s dismantling is that in-vestors
anticipated that the
government’s antitrust sanctions
would be ineffective.
Dellinger Elected as
Language Association Delegate
Maj. Mary Ann Dellinger, assistant professor of Spanish, has been elected to a three-year term as a South-ern
region representative to the Delegate Assembly of the Modern Language Association of America.
The association is North America’s largest and oldest professional organization for professors of foreign
languages and English. The assembly includes 108 delegates from throughout the United States and Canada.
Hoadley to Receive
Engineering Society Award
Col. Peter W. Hoadley, professor of civil engineering, is to receive the Tony Tillman Award at the annual
meeting of the Southeast Section of the American Society for Engineering Education early next month.
The Southeast Section presents the Tillman award in recognition of outstanding contributions in field of
engineering. The award was established by the section to honor Tillman, who was active in the society and
was dean at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Ga.
Teaming
up to
Publish
An article by Col. Tappey H.
Jones, professor of chemistry, and
1st Lt. Vic Zottig ’01 was recently
published in the Journal of
Chemical Ecology.
The article, “The Venom Alka-loids
from some African
Monomorium Species,” describes
specific poisonous compounds
that are present in various species
of ants that live in Kenya and South
Africa. The paper is an outgrowth
of undergraduate research per-formed
by Zottig under Jones’
mentorship.
Zottig intends to further his
chemistry education when he com-pletes
his service with the U.S. Army.
Col. Rose Mary Sheldon
PAGE 10, THE INSTITUTE REPORT, MARCH 16, 2004
Faculty Pursue
Research Interests
Six faculty members will be taking leaves of absence to pursue other
scholarly work and pedagogical projects during the next school year,
Brig. Gen. Charles F. Brower IV, deputy superintendent and dean of the
faculty, announced recently.
In Fall 2004, the Wachtmeister Faculty Development Leave will allow
Col. Dale Buckner, professor and civil engineering department head,
to conduct research with the Virginia Transportation Research Center
that will result in a publication in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal
and presentations at professional meetings. The research will also en-hance
his teaching in civil engineering.
Col. Soe Than, professor of mathematics and computer science, will
conduct research in the spring of 2005 to develop a new course: Math-ematical
Foundations and Computer Algorithms in Cryptography. He
received the VMI Awards Faculty Development Leave for this work.
Recipient of the Ayres Faculty Development Leave, Col. Rose Mary
Sheldon, professor of history, will take leave during the spring of 2005
to complete two publications: an article for the journal Small Wars
and Insurgencies and a book manuscript, The Friedman Collection:
Army Cryptology from 1917 to 1969: An Annotated Bibliography.
In addition three faculty members have received Jackson-Hope Fac-ulty
Development Leaves.
Lt. Col. Karen Gutermuth, associate professor of business and econom-ics,
is to conduct research for three articles on medical malpractice and
prepare a new elective upper-level course on economic health care.
Col. George Piegari, professor of mathematics and computer sci-ence,
will conduct research with other colleagues at Furman University
to create an online repository of learning modules that cover standard
conceptual topics in computer literacy courses and such concepts as
web development and Java Scripting.
Lt. Col. David Rachels, associate professor of English and Fine Arts,
will take leave to complete his book titled Mark Twain’s Civil War.
VMI Engineers Take
Top Prizes in Regional
Competition
Papers presented by Virginia Military Institute cadets at a design com-petition
conducted by the Virginia Mountain Section of the Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers won first and second places in com-petition
Feb. 19.
The two teams of VMI cadets took the top honors away from two
student teams from Virginia Tech.
First place went to a paper titled “Autonomous Fire-Fighting Vehicle:
Trinity Fire-Fighting Robot Competition.” The paper was written by ca-dets
Edward P. Cooper ’04, Wei-Han Jeng ’05, Christopher B. Johnson
’04, John B. Puvogel ’04, M. Ryan Shealy ’04, David J. Smit ’05, Joshua
L. Wright ’04, and Matthew R. York ’04.
The robot that was the focus of the paper was designed to meet the
requirements of a capstone design course taught over two semesters by
Col. Dan Barr ’74, Col. Dave Livingston, and Lt. Col. Todd Smith ’85.
The team will be going on to compete in the Trinity Fire-Fighting Robot
contest to be held at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., in mid-April.
The first place award included a check for $300.
Second place went to a paper titled “Medical Internet-Aware Refrig-erator
for Use by Elderly Diabetic Patients.” It was authored by cadets
Matthew R. York, Thomas A. Largi ’05, Paul A. Kuwik ’05, and Dennis J.
Crump ’06.
The research and development for this project was part of an inde-pendent
study project conducted with the support of the Wetmore Fund
for Cadet Research. Maj. Jim Squire and Col. Dave Livingston were ad-visers
for the project. In addition the second-place award, the cadet
team was awarded a $225 prize.
Governor Mark Warner chats
with cadets Paul Bryan ’05,
Tim Johnson ’05, and Curtis
Ivins ’06 at the VMI Legislative
Reception which was held in
February. They were among 12
cadets who visited the State
Capitol and met with
legislators, alumni,
and friends.
THE INSTITUTE REPORT, MARCH 16, 2004, PAGE 11
ROTC’s Marshall-New Market Battalion
Holds Annual Dining-In
On Feb. 5, Army ROTC’s Marshall-New
Market Battalion held its annual Dining-
In at the Virginia Horse Center.
Participating were approximately 300
cadets from VMI, Mary Baldwin College’s
Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership,
Washington & Lee University, and Southern
Virginia University.
Dining-In has a long history. Beginning
in the early 18th century, the British Army
incorporated the practice of formal din-ing
into their regimental mess system. An
important feature of the mess was mess
night. Usually held once a week, it was a
formal mandatory gathering of the offic-ers
of the regiment to bring the officers
together in a fraternal atmosphere. The mess night, or “Dining-In,”
became a tradition in all British regiments.
The close association between the British and American armies during
the world wars led the U.S. Army to adopt the Dining-In as a tradition in
its own regiments. Today, Dining-In is a tradition in most Army units.
The Army ROTC Dining-In at VMI fulfills the same role for the
Marshall-New Market Battalion. Presiding over the occasion were Col.
William L. Faistenhammer ’74, professor of military science and Chris-topher
C. Russo ’04, cadet commander of the Marshall-New Market
Battalion.
The honored guest and speaker was Maj.
Gen. Robert E. Wagner ’57 U.S. Army
(Ret.), a renowned cavalryman, Vietnam
combat veteran, and the first command-ing
general of the U.S. Army Cadet
Command. Other honored guests in-cluded
Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tate ’55 U.S.
Army (Ret.), also a cavalryman, Vietnam
veteran, and former deputy commander
of I Corps and chief of the Armor Branch;
Brig. Gen. Charles F. Brower IV U.S. Army
(Ret.), VMI dean of the faculty; Brig. Gen.
Michael N. Bissell U.S. Army (Ret.), com-mandant
of VWIL Corps of Cadets; Air
Force Col. Robert C. Lynn, professor of
aerospace studies; Marine Col. Thomas E.
Minor, professor of naval science; and Dr. Monte S. Nyman, president
of Southern Virginia University.
Each member and guest of the battalion enjoyed the traditions of the
Mess — a balance between strict rules of formality and good-natured
rivalry. Providing entertainment for the occasion was the 82nd Airborne
Division’s All-American Chorus. Composed of troopers from nearly ev-ery
unit in the division, the chorus performed a medley of skits and
songs customary to both the Army and the Airborne. Their antics, com-bined
with camaraderie of the Marshall-New Market Battalion, made
the evening a tremendous success.
Powell Leaving NROTC
Lt. Christopher C. Powell ’96 has spent the last
two and a half years as an assistant professor of
Naval Science, teaching, mentoring and helping
to commission 60 Navy ensigns and Marine Corps
second lieutenants from VMI. With a recently com-pleted
MBA in hand, he will soon venture forth to
work in an office far removed from the cockpit
he once called his cubicle.
Powell earned his “Wings of Gold” in 1997. He
was then selected for tactical jets and received
orders to Sea Control Squadron Forty One (VS-
41) in San Diego, Calif., to train in the S-3B Viking.
During his training tour at VS-41, Powell mar-ried
the former Lisa Hodge. Their daughter,
Lindsay Ann, was born in San Diego. In March
1999, after completing training, Powell reported
to his first operational fleet squadron, VS-38, the Fighting Red Griffins.
Soon after completing air wing training in air-to-ground tactics at
Fallon, Nev., the Fighting Red Griffins deployed with Carrier Air Wing
Two (CVW-2) onboard USS Constellation (CV-64) for a deployment to
the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf. After a brief show-of-force mis-sion
to the Korean Peninsula following the sinking of North Korean
gunboats by the South Korean Navy, the Constel-lation
arrived on station in the Persian Gulf in
August.
For three months, VS-38 flew in support of Op-eration
Southern Watch, flying missions of armed
surface reconnaissance, electronic support, and
providing airborne tanking for CVW-2 aircraft over
Kuwait and southern Iraq.
In December 1999 the Constellation brought
Powell and his shipmates home.
After a stand-down period, followed by a series
of battlegroup workups, Powell completed a sec-ond
cruise aboard the Constellation that was very
similar to his first. After being informed of the
opening at his alma mater’s Naval Science De-partment,
Powell requested orders to VMI. He
quickly integrated back into life at VMI and found the opportunities to
mentor and guide the cadets very rewarding.
At the NROTC Unit, he has taught four different Naval Science courses
in addition to accomplishing a myriad of collateral duties. Powell will
leave active duty in July, but he will continue to serve as a member of
the Naval Reserve.
Cadet Frank A. Dolberry ’06 greets Col William L.
Faistenhammer, professor of military science as Maj.
Gen. Robert E. Wagner ’57 U.S. Army (Ret.)and Cadets
Mark T. Searles ’06 and Christopher C. Russo look on.
Powell with wife Lisa
and daughter Lindsay Ann.
PAGE 12, THE INSTITUTE REPORT, MARCH 16, 2004
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COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING OFFICE
LEXINGTON, VA 24450-0304
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Championship Team Honored
During its 40th Reunion
The Keydet Club hosted a 40th
reunion of the 1964 VMI Basket-ball
Team Feb. 20-21. In the winter
of 1964, this group of VMI men and
their coaches came together as a
team to create one of the most
memorable seasons in the history
of VMI basketball by capturing the
Institute’s first Southern Confer-ence
Championship.
The starting lineup for the ’64
Keydets were team co-captains Bill
Blair ’64 at shooting guard and the
late Bobby Watson ’64 at center;
Joe Kruse ’65 at point guard; and
forwards Jeff Gausepohl ’64 and
Charlie Schmaus ’66. Supporting
from the bench were: Jeff Crump
’64, John Prosser ’65, Godwin
Jones ’65, Jackie Cooper ’66, Jim Guy ’66, Jack Hartung ’66, Butch
Lazaroff ’66 and Bill McClure ’66. They were coached by the late
“Weenie” Miller and his assistant, Gary McPherson. Fred Kelley was the
team’s trainer, and “Buzz” Birzenieks ’64 and the late Jim Barker ’62
were team managers.
The Keydets were in fourth place heading into the Southern Confer-ence
Tournament, but they had a first team All-Conference player and
five starters with double-figure scoring averages. VMI began the tour-ney
with a big win against Furman (77-73), and squared off in the
semifinals against “Lefty” Dreisell’s Davidson team — a team that had
beaten VMI twice in the regular season (one game with a score of 129-
91). Davidson, captained by Terry
Holland, who later was athletic di-rector
at the University of Virginia,
had a record of 21-3 and was
ranked in the top 10 in the nation
going into the tournament.
What a semi-final game it turned
out to be! As the media stated, “VMI
Pulled Off the Hoop Feat of the
Century!” with an 82-81 win over
the Wildcats. Many believe this was
the best game VMI basketball has
ever played. The Keydets went on
to beat George Washington, 61-56,
for the Southern Conference cham-pionship.
Seven members of the team re-turned
to Lexington on Feb. 20 for
a reunion banquet: Blair, Kruse,
Gausepohl, Schmaus, Prosser, Cooper, and Jones. Also joining them
was team manager “Buzz” Birzenieks ’64 and Terry Holland.
On Saturday, Feb. 21, teammate Bill McClure ’66 joined his team-mates
as guests of Gen. and Mrs. Peay for lunch at the Superintendent’s
Quarters. Afterwards, everyone headed to Cameron Hall for the VMI-Liberty
basketball game. During halftime, the team was introduced to
the crowd and presented with a “Piece of the Pit.”
That weekend the team and Lois Ford of Chicago, sister of the late
Bobby Watson, announced the establishment of the 1964 Champion-ship
Team Basketball Scholarship in Memory of Coach “Weenie” Miller,
Teammate Bobby Watson ’64 and Manager Jim Barker ’62.
Members of the team that won the 1964 Southern Conference
basketball championship were honored during half time at the
VMI-Liberty game last month.