VMI Cadet. March 20, 1998

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Court backs student’s
Web site
CLEVELAND - A 16-year-old
high school junior is back in school Tliurs-day
after a judge overturned the 10-day
suspension he received for using his per­sonal
Web site to post critical comments
about one of his teachers. Sean O’Brien
had already served eight days of his sus­pension
when a federal judge issued a tem-poraiy
order Wednesday. The Web site,
which said a band teacher had a bad hair­cut
and favored some students over oth­ers,
was shut down after O’Brien’s March
6 suspension. A full hearing is scheduled
next month on a complaint that the dis­trict
violated the student’s First Amend-mcTit
rights.
Ray could get iiirlough if
he admits guilt
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - James Earl
Ray could be a free man soon if he would
just admit he killed Martin Luther King
"and quit spinning these crazy stories,” a
prosccutor said Thursday. However, Ray’s
attorney says John Campbell’s olTer is
completely out of the question. The 70-
year-old Ray, seriously ill with liver dis­ease,
was denied a furlough last year. But
Campbell said authorities may look at Itay
dilTerently if he would “admit the obvi­ous.”
Ray was sentenced to 99 years in
prison in 1969 after pleading guilty to kill­ing
the civil rights leader, but he has been
trying to retract the guilty plea ever since.
Teen hacker charged in
airport incident
BOSTON - A teen-age boy w;is
charged Wednesday witli shutting down
an airport communications system, tlie
first case in which in a juvenile was
chai^cd in federal court with computer
lacking. Justice DepartmentofTicials said
the Massachusetts boy, whose name was
not released, hiis agreed to plead guilty
and faces two years probation, a fine and
community service. According to autliori-ties,
the boy brake into a Bell Athmtic
computer system in March 1997, stalling
communication between the control tower
and aircraft at Worcester Airport for six
hours. No accidents occurred.
World
Kosovo Serbs stage
counterprotest
PRISTINA, Yugoslavia - Cliant-ing
"Kosovo is Serbia,” thousands of tlie
province’s minority Serbs gathered in
their biggest protest in years Thurstkiy,
countering rising separatist sentiment
among Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians.
Hours before tlie 30,000-strong Serb
rally in tlie provincial capital, Pristina,
25,000ethnic Albanians staged theirown
protest. Meanwhile, French and Ger­man
envoys trying to bring peace to the
region have announccxi a potential bieiik-through,
saying Balkan power-broker
Slobodan Milosevic lias agreed to witli-draw
tlie special police forces blamed
for some of the 80 killings.
Taiwan grounds airline
after fatal crash
TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwiin’s pre­mier
grounded one domestic carrier
Thursday and ordered comprehensive
safety checks on the rest following tlie
latest crasli of a passenger plane. Tlie
Fonnosa Airlines Saab 340 slammed
into the sea shortly after takeolT late
Wednesday, killing all 13 people aboard.
The crash was the airline’s tliial in tlie
last tlirec yeare. In grounding all Fonnosa
Airlines fliglits, I’remier Vincent Siew
told tlie Cabinet Tliureday tliat gove;n-ment
supervision of flight safety ap­peared
to have been lax.
Rats Take the 2001 is Formed
News briefs are compiled from the
USA Today web site.
Justin Lewis
Guest Writer
All she could do was sob after reach­ing
tiie top of the muddied breakout hill at
the Virginia Military Institute.
Fourth Classman Angela Winter
became the first female in VMI history to
scale the muddy breakout hill, becoming a
member of the Corps of Cadets. Follow­ing
in her path were 383 other rats, includ­ing
22 women.
, Everyone seemed to breathe a
sigh of relief after getting through the first
coed ratline with barely a scratch to show.
“I’m pnoud that the Corps of Cadets got
througli the first year without any major
problems,” said Third Classman Paul
Belmont.
Concem was running high it
seems, as school officials swiirmed around
this year’s breakout with scrutinizing eyes
to make sure nothing went on that would
hang a dark cloud over this year’s end to
the ratline. Virtually all contact was pro­hibited
in order to ensure safety for tlie rats,
much to the dismay of many upperclass­men
who felt breakout was diluted for this
reason.
One obvious change this year
was the small amount of water used on
breakout hill. Firet Class President Kevin
Tmjillo explained tliat the administration
It took the Rat mass over an hour and a half to have everyone clear the hill. They could only do it by helping each
other up against the hundreds o f upperclassmen that waited at the top poised to push them back down.
wanted to use as little water as possible due
to cold weather. Temperatures hovered
be^veen 36 to 43 degrees for much of the
day, with snow flurries at times. According
to firefighter Chad Conner, around four
thousand gallons o f water was eventually
sprayed on the hill. Last year’s brvakout
had fourteen thousand, producing much
muddier and difficult conditions.
“We got cheated,” exclaimed
Fourth Classman Lee Harrison when told
of the dismal amount of water used this year.
Despite a less muddy hill, Truj illo
was happy with the success o f this year’s
breakout. Aftereveryratmadeitupthehill,
the whole mass marched into barracks
where after a few "old yells” Trujillo an­nounced
they were “released” from the
ratline and officially the class o f2001. No
more yelling, no more straining.
On tlie fourth stoop where new
Cadets congratulated each other, emotions
ran high.
hi one room three females from
Delta Company held each other and re^
fleeted on their accomplishments through­out
tlie year. "We were trying to take it all
in,” explained one of the females, Kelly
Sullivan, in tears.
Fourtli Classman Maria Vasille
expressed her relief after bnsakout when she
said, "I’m just glad I made it up the hill.” '
In a year where VMI found it­self
under the intruding eye of the medid
and tlie Justice Department, things turned
out on the positive. Despite all the success;
new questions have surfaced as VMI finds
itself having to deal with future issues such
as dating policies. Also, the Cadet Assimi­lation
Committee has been asked to relay
the news of possible locks on all barracks
doors to the rest of the Corps, for tlieir rcaci-tions
and opinions.
Third Class Historian Justin
Wood said it best when asked to reflect oti
this year’s breakout, "We’ve proven all our
critics wrong this year. Time and time agaiii
VMI has risen above adversity. There’s
nothing the Coqjs can’t handle.”
Binge Drinking Focus of Alcohol Task Force
Tabitha Stump
News Writer
On March 9, the Attorney
General’s Task Force on Drinking by
College Students met for the first time in
Richmond. This task force consist of
Attorney General Mark Early, the high­est
ranking state olVicial, and representa­tives
from all of the public colleges in
the state of Virginia.
Attorney General Early says he
believes "the first and most important
step to combating binge drinking and al­cohol
abuse on Virginia campuses is to
understand the extent of the problem and
its negative efTects on our students aca­demic
perfonnance, safety, and health.”
A nationwide study conducted by the
National Center on Addiction and Sub­stance
Abuse at Columbia University
reported that last year 40 percent of aca­demic
problems and 28 percent of drop­outs
at colleges and universities.
According to the Core Insti­tute,
a 1998 report revealed that binge
drinkers are 3.5 more times likely to be
victims of physical violence. A Colum­bia
University report shows that 95 per­cent
o f violent crimes that happen on
campus is alcohol related, 90 percent o f
all reported campus rapes-including date
rape-occur when alcohol is being used
by the assailant or victim, and 80 per­cent
of all vandalism on campuses is also,
alcohol related.
Several investigations reveal
that binge drinking is directly linked to
suicide, sexually transmitted diseases,
and drunk driving fatalities. Some pri­mary
effects o f binge drinking arc un­protected
or unplanned sexual activity
and injuries.
Several attendees and guest
speakers gave emotional accounts o f the
loll alcohol has taken on their lives.
Michelle Perry, a student at Radford
University, told the story of how she was
involved in a drunk driving accident and
how she had lost a friend in a fatal but
similar situation. Colonel Jeffery Levy,
President of LeaseLinc Inc., spoke on the
parent perspective of alcohol abuse. His
dent.
There are eight scheduled meet­ings
throughout the state during tlie next five
months. During this time, tlie sub-commit­tees
at each of tlie schools will be meeting
to make suggestions on policy, ways to edu­cate
!ind inform, and activities that would
increase the awareness of the binge drink­ing
problem on Virginia campuses. Tlie
focus will be on “positive, tangible goals”
that will encourage personal responsibility
and self discipline, educate Virginia students
about health and safety dangers related to
alcohol, and create an atmosphere that fos­ters
academic achievement. The Attorney
General would also like to see them estab­lish
a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol-re-and
enhance the efforts of parents, students
and l(x:al communities, ensure the laws of
the Commonwealth are strongly and swiftly
enforced. Finally, find a way to dismantle
the culture of binge drinking and replace it
with common sense.
Colonel Robert Green, direo-torofCadetAffairs,
was the VMI repre­sentative
at the conference. The confer­ence
was very informative and set up the
framework for and gave direction to the
VMI task force. He believes it was a
"good, positive start.” Colonel Green
estimates the next VMI task force meet­ing
to be in the next two weeks. It’s final
recommendations and findings are due
to the Attorney General no later than July
Dean Promoted
to General
Dale Durlach
News Writer
In ceremonial tradition,
Allen Farrell was promoted to the
rank o f Br ig ad ie r Gene ra l and
named Dean o f the faculty. This
ev en t o c c u r re d on Wednesday
November 11 in JM Hall. Those
that were present in c lu d ed the
Faculty, members o f the ROTC
d e p a r tm e n t s , f r ie n d s an d the
C o rp s . T h is c e r em o n y c om ­menced
with Gen e ra l Bu n t in g
giving a b r ie f introduction about
the life and character o f the man
receiving this award. In paraphras­ing,
General Bunting commented
that Farrell was a patriot, a most
distinguished veteran, and more
■relevant to VMI, the epitome o f a
citizen soldier. In his biographical
history Farrell’s experiences com­bine
duty and honor as a model
soldier with academic excellence.
He was described as being "beau­tifully
educated” in schools such as
Trinity and Tufts University receiv­ing
his degree in French literature
before jo in in g the war elTort in
Southeast Asia. At'ter serving two
tours in Vietnam he became a pro­f
e s so r o f F re n ch at Hamp to n
Sydney College up until he was
hired as the acting Dean at VMI.
General Bunting concluded his re­marks
by commenting on the com­mitment
and selflessness shown
by the Dean in serving the needs
o f the corps not only academically
but as a counselor and mentor as
well.
After General Bunting’s
complimentary address, Colonel
Hammond read the orders to pro­mote
Farrell to the rank o f Briga­dier
General and to appoint him as
DeanofFacultya t VMI. With this
General Farrell took the micro­phone
to address the audience and
to emphasize his appreciation to
the corps for their support in en­dorsing
him as the continued Dean
o f the fa cu lty . R e fe r r in g to
Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Gen­eral
Farrell joked, "1 know the Ides
o f March is just around the cor­ner."
With the conclusion to his
witty remarks, the corps stood up
to give this “ teacher / leader” a
standing ovation.
son was killed in a drunk driving acci- lated violence and vandalism, strengthen 31,1998. Superintendent and
Cadtets Tour Europe
Jeremy Obenctiain
News Editor
Superintendent Josiah Bunting, Ma­jor
Dale Davis and two VMI cadets. Sec­ond
classman Mike Purdy and Fourth class­man
Hassan GibH, visited three countries
in two weeks to explore and establish for­eign
exchange programs for cadets and pro­fessors.
The contingent leftVMIon 24 Feb­ruary
and spent five days in Engjand, a week
in Morocco and a day in the Netherlands
and returned to VMI on 9 March. Accord­ing
to Arabic professor Major Dale Davis,
the trip was a complete success in helping
expand VMl’s overseas programs and, “it
far exceeded our expectations.”
The VMI contingent’s frrst stop
was London, England where they visited
Sandliurst Royal Military Academy. The
Royal Military Academy already has an
exchange program with the US Military
Academy and VMI is attempting to begin
a similar exchange program in the future.
The next stop was the Royal Military Col­lege
at Shrivingham, where two VMI ca­dets
(Second classmen Grant Eddy and
Twin Dam) are now studying. The College
has a long running exchange with VMI and
allows two cadets a semester to study en^-
neering with tuition payed.
Next, the delegation headed to
Morocco to further expand exchanges be­tween
various universities and visit the fa­cilities
for this summer’s VMI summer
abroad program in Fez. First in Casablanca,
tlie contingent visited the American School
where Major General Bunting talked to stu­dents
about attending college in tlie United
States. Next, they visited the Moroccan
Maratime Institute, a military style institute,
in hopes of starting an exchange fbr inter­ested
cadets at both institutions. After a brief
stop in the Moroccan capital o f Rabat, the
contingent headed to the cultural, intellec­tual
and historical center of Morocco, Fez,
Cadets Purdy and Grari with General Bunting at Windsor Castle
Fez is the cite for VMl’s summer abroad
program in Morocco, After visiting VMI’s
summer abroad facilities, the delegation had
the privilege to visit a new Moroccan, En­glish-
language university, A1 Akliawayn
which is situated in the mountains outside
General Bunting poses at Chella, a
12th Century Moroccan Necropolis
of Fez, There, General Bunting formally
signed an agreement establishing a profes­sor
and student exchange to begin next fall.
Major Dale Davis, who plarined
and organized the trip, is hopeful about ex­panding
VMl’s study abroad programs, es­pecially
in Morocco, As an Arabic profc^
sor, head ofVMI’s foreign study prograrnj,
and having lived in Morocco for two years
Major Davis explained that the trip,” was
to explore exchange opportunities between
Morocco’s institutions of higher learning
and VMI,” When asked to describe Mo­rocco,
Major Davis said, “A wonderfyl
country. You can’t explain its beauty tb
pt'ople,,, you have to take them there. The
average American’s concept of Morocco is
far fiiom reality..,you have mini skirts and
jellabas, discos and mosques.” Second
classman Mike Purdy expressed hope in
expanding VMl’s foreign study abroad op­portunities
saying, “ 1 wish that all cadets
could go overseas at least once to France,
Russia, Spain Morocco.,,wherever. With
support from alumni. Generals Bimting and
Farrell and Major Davis I think we can turn
that into a reality.”