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®hc l-iMJ. Olaiirt* 9 America's Last Independent College Newspaper VOLUME L X X V II Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia, April 24,1987 N U M B E R 24 CoL Barrett Retires by Eric Buchanan At the end of this school year, VMI will be losing one of its most influencial and talented professors. This loss will be felt by almost all people associated with VMI. This man is Col. John G. Barrett. His retirement is probably the most tragic to those who will attend VMI in the future and will not have a chance to learn from Col. Bar-rett. Col. Barrett has often been referred to as an important part of the VMI experience. Col Barrett has been teaching at VMI since 1953, and with the exception of summer school, has taught nowhere else. He has been a visiting professor at such schools as Tulane, UVa and Washington and Lee. VMI's most published professor, he has written three boolcs and is editing three others. Col. Barrett teaches American History and Civil War History, which is the area of his expertise. Possibly his most important book was the first to cover Sherman's March through the Carolinas. His class lectures are almost always en-joyable and invariably in-teresting, made so by his vast knowledge and personal in-terest in the subject. Adding to the interest of his lectures are his own anectotes, many relating his experiences as a Naval reserve officer in the Pacific in World War II. The Cadet staff recently in-terviewed Col. Barrett to find out his plans for retirement, what he has learned and ex-perienced in his years of teaching, as well as his at-titudes toward the Institute. Premier in Col. Barrett's at-titude toward VMI is his ap-proval of its finished product. He states that VMI, like all systems has faults, but it must be doing something right to pro-duce the alumni it does. When asked what he would change Col. Barrett mentioned shorten-ing the Rat Line, and forcing all of the faculty to wear uniforms. He also questions the "produc-tiveness" of Saturday classes. Col. Barrett also felt that he saw "no appreciable dif-ference" between cadets in the class room at VMI and students at other schools. His approach to teaching is the same whether he is teaching at VMI, or teaching at W&L. He feels that "cadets are just as responsive as (students) elsewhere. You have a built-in advantage of (continued on page 7) First Class Takes Punitive Action Against Seconds by Lloyd Bell Last Friday, the class of 1987 celebrated their last birthday in barracks amid the open hostil-ities of members of the lower three classes. What began as a traditional celebration soon digressed into a heated ex-change of obscenities for which the second class was held whol-ly responsible. Due to their refusal to apologize for the inci-dent, the First Class under the leadership of Neal Naff recanted most of the Second Class' privileges. According to many First Classmen, the incident began when toilet paper and other ob-jects were thrown on the First Class. Second Class President Adam Volant denied, however that the Second Class was the sole instigator. He claiined that "the majority of the paper started from the fourth stoop." Even though the second class did participate, he did not see these actions as "the root of any major problem." Naff dis-agreed. "The idea of a First Class being treated that way is incomprehensible," he said. Many Second Classmen be-lieve the incident Ijegan when members of 87 made obscene gestures at the underclasses. Volant claimed that immediate-ly following '87's old yell "a ma-jority (of firsts) turned to the upper three stoops and gave the middle finger with their uprais-ed arms." Naff claims that "we didn't do it unprovoked," and very few did it at all. Whatever the case, the Sec-ond Class is being held responsi-ble for the night's events much to the consternation of Volant who believes his class is playing the scapegoat for actions in which all the underclasses were involved. However, Naff claims that "they participated to a greater extent, a greater number, and to a nastier degree than any of the other classes." Naff sees the Second Class as "Corps leaders" who influenced the actions of the third and fourth class on the night of the party. Volant disagrees. "No one particular class' actions lead the other," he claims. "Your proposed 'punitive ac-tion' is nothing more than singl-ing out one element of an entire unit in order to make an exam-ple." Naff commented that "re-spect is obligatory" by virtue of being in the First Class. He pointed at the General Commit-tee's role in assuring proper respect is paid for the up-perclasses. If respect is not "obligatory," he argued, "than why is it a penalty when it is not received"? Volant coun-tered that "the respect you de-mand is not a valid request after the right you had was sacrificed by your middle finger." Consequently, Naff did indeed take "punitive action" against the second class resulting in the loss of most of their privileges, in an attempt to "send a mes-sage" to the rest of the corps and reaffirm First Class authority. The action may pro-ve to be purely symbolic; how-ever, due to upcoming exams and the arrival of graduation. Whether Naff's "message" will be received by the Corps is debatable, but the friction and animosity among the two classes will definitely be vicmedas an unfortunate con-clusion to an otherwise suc-cessful vear. The entire Cadet staff wishes Col. Barrett an en-joyable retirement. Subscribe Now! For 1987-88 THE VMI CADET LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA 24450 I would like to subscribe to The VMI Cadet for the 1987-88 year at $13.00 on post and $15.00 off post. ( )BiHm« ( )aiMkorCaili*iwlond Nflina* Address City Zip Sate
Object Description
Repository | Virginia Military Institute Archives |
Collection | VMI Cadet Newspaper |
Title | VMI Cadet. April 24, 1987 |
Issue Date | 1987-04-24 |
Volume/Number | Volume 77, number 24 |
Publisher | Virginia Military Institute |
Publication History | The Cadet (originally the Keydet), VMI's student newspaper, began weekly publication in the fall of 1907. Not published 1943-44, 1944-45, 1945-46 |
Frequency | Weekly during academic year, except during examinations and vacations |
Subject |
Virginia Military Institute -- Publications. Virginia Military Institute -- Cadet life. College student newspapers and periodicals -- Virginia -- Lexington. |
Digital Publisher | Virginia Military Institute Archives |
VMI Archives Records Group | Publications |
Rights | Materials in the VMI Archives Digital Collections are intended for educational and research use and may be used for non-commercial purposes with appropriate attribution. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. Acknowledgement of the Virginia Military Institute Archives Digital Collections is required. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information. |
Type | text |
Format | application/pdf |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Issue Date | 1987-04-24 |
Full Text Search | ®hc l-iMJ. Olaiirt* 9 America's Last Independent College Newspaper VOLUME L X X V II Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia, April 24,1987 N U M B E R 24 CoL Barrett Retires by Eric Buchanan At the end of this school year, VMI will be losing one of its most influencial and talented professors. This loss will be felt by almost all people associated with VMI. This man is Col. John G. Barrett. His retirement is probably the most tragic to those who will attend VMI in the future and will not have a chance to learn from Col. Bar-rett. Col. Barrett has often been referred to as an important part of the VMI experience. Col Barrett has been teaching at VMI since 1953, and with the exception of summer school, has taught nowhere else. He has been a visiting professor at such schools as Tulane, UVa and Washington and Lee. VMI's most published professor, he has written three boolcs and is editing three others. Col. Barrett teaches American History and Civil War History, which is the area of his expertise. Possibly his most important book was the first to cover Sherman's March through the Carolinas. His class lectures are almost always en-joyable and invariably in-teresting, made so by his vast knowledge and personal in-terest in the subject. Adding to the interest of his lectures are his own anectotes, many relating his experiences as a Naval reserve officer in the Pacific in World War II. The Cadet staff recently in-terviewed Col. Barrett to find out his plans for retirement, what he has learned and ex-perienced in his years of teaching, as well as his at-titudes toward the Institute. Premier in Col. Barrett's at-titude toward VMI is his ap-proval of its finished product. He states that VMI, like all systems has faults, but it must be doing something right to pro-duce the alumni it does. When asked what he would change Col. Barrett mentioned shorten-ing the Rat Line, and forcing all of the faculty to wear uniforms. He also questions the "produc-tiveness" of Saturday classes. Col. Barrett also felt that he saw "no appreciable dif-ference" between cadets in the class room at VMI and students at other schools. His approach to teaching is the same whether he is teaching at VMI, or teaching at W&L. He feels that "cadets are just as responsive as (students) elsewhere. You have a built-in advantage of (continued on page 7) First Class Takes Punitive Action Against Seconds by Lloyd Bell Last Friday, the class of 1987 celebrated their last birthday in barracks amid the open hostil-ities of members of the lower three classes. What began as a traditional celebration soon digressed into a heated ex-change of obscenities for which the second class was held whol-ly responsible. Due to their refusal to apologize for the inci-dent, the First Class under the leadership of Neal Naff recanted most of the Second Class' privileges. According to many First Classmen, the incident began when toilet paper and other ob-jects were thrown on the First Class. Second Class President Adam Volant denied, however that the Second Class was the sole instigator. He claiined that "the majority of the paper started from the fourth stoop." Even though the second class did participate, he did not see these actions as "the root of any major problem." Naff dis-agreed. "The idea of a First Class being treated that way is incomprehensible," he said. Many Second Classmen be-lieve the incident Ijegan when members of 87 made obscene gestures at the underclasses. Volant claimed that immediate-ly following '87's old yell "a ma-jority (of firsts) turned to the upper three stoops and gave the middle finger with their uprais-ed arms." Naff claims that "we didn't do it unprovoked," and very few did it at all. Whatever the case, the Sec-ond Class is being held responsi-ble for the night's events much to the consternation of Volant who believes his class is playing the scapegoat for actions in which all the underclasses were involved. However, Naff claims that "they participated to a greater extent, a greater number, and to a nastier degree than any of the other classes." Naff sees the Second Class as "Corps leaders" who influenced the actions of the third and fourth class on the night of the party. Volant disagrees. "No one particular class' actions lead the other," he claims. "Your proposed 'punitive ac-tion' is nothing more than singl-ing out one element of an entire unit in order to make an exam-ple." Naff commented that "re-spect is obligatory" by virtue of being in the First Class. He pointed at the General Commit-tee's role in assuring proper respect is paid for the up-perclasses. If respect is not "obligatory," he argued, "than why is it a penalty when it is not received"? Volant coun-tered that "the respect you de-mand is not a valid request after the right you had was sacrificed by your middle finger." Consequently, Naff did indeed take "punitive action" against the second class resulting in the loss of most of their privileges, in an attempt to "send a mes-sage" to the rest of the corps and reaffirm First Class authority. The action may pro-ve to be purely symbolic; how-ever, due to upcoming exams and the arrival of graduation. Whether Naff's "message" will be received by the Corps is debatable, but the friction and animosity among the two classes will definitely be vicmedas an unfortunate con-clusion to an otherwise suc-cessful vear. The entire Cadet staff wishes Col. Barrett an en-joyable retirement. Subscribe Now! For 1987-88 THE VMI CADET LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA 24450 I would like to subscribe to The VMI Cadet for the 1987-88 year at $13.00 on post and $15.00 off post. ( )BiHm« ( )aiMkorCaili*iwlond Nflina* Address City Zip Sate |