VMI Cadet. April 28, 2006

              O n e o f t h e
O l d e s t C o l l e g e
N ew s p a p e r s
I n d e p e n d e n t l y
R u n B y C a d e t s
S i n c e 1 9 0 7
VOLUME XCIX F r id a y , A pril 2 8 t h , 2 0 0 6 IS SUE 23
Week in
Review
News
Recruitment and
Retention Conference
Despite popular belief, the
staff members who reside in
those large, cushy...pg 2
Cadet Research
Recognized
The Undergraduate Research
Symposium, held annually at
VMI, took place last Thursday,
April 20% 2006. Cadets...pg 3
Buarter Master's
epartment
One common complaint
among VMI cadets centers
around the prices at the QMD.
Many cadets believe the...pg 3
Opinion
Looking Back: Year in
Review
Most of the opinion pieces
written are one sided, point out
flaws without ever saying how
to fix them, or state the obvious
merit about a...pg 4
Accomodations for
out of state Cadets
As the year is finally coming to
a close, cadets seem to find it
overwhelming to deal not only
with exams, but also...pg 4
Entertainment
Dating Standard
Operating Procedure
Well it's that time of the
year again, ah yes - Spring.
The time of year when a young
man's fancy turns to romance.
The sun is shining, the birds
are singing, the flowers are out,
and cadets are in white uniforms
that actually look good. The
cadets are no longer stuck in
uniforms that remind me of a
gothic farmer who only owns
three pairs of pants...'tis lovely
indeed...pg 5
S ec t io n s
News..................... 1
Opinion................. 3
Sports................... 4
Entertainment....... 5
Hunfior.................... 6
Secretary of Defense to Address the Corps
I
T he C'iuli‘1, sludcnl newspaper oi' the
Virninla Mihtary Inslitule, was estab­lished
in the Fail dC 1907 and has In-en
CDntinued since lliat time. Oiu newspajKT
is puhlished eveiy Kiiday aftenuxin <UinnK
the aeadeinie year, e.\cept dining Corps
tiips, holidays alid e.\;un |x'ri(Kls. A yearly
suhseription is $2.5 on I’ost and $80 olV
Post. The Cadet olliees are located on
die third floor of Mauiy lirooKe Mall.
'I’he Cadet OllUe 1‘lione;
VMI Bo.\ 7 (,ilO) Ki8-8,i37
l.e.viiiRton, VA OITiee Kinail:
2H.''i()-0801 vniiCadet®vnii.edu
T he Cadet is a ineinl>er ol the I’lihliea-tions
Hoard which sencs as the sviiK'r-vi.
soiy iHxly for all cadet pnhlications.
I’eiiiKlicals i><)st:i);e paid- U'-vinston,
Postal N u in h e i : U.Sl’ti.) 1-880
The Cadet is p u h l ish ed weekly
hy The News (Ja/.ette, 20 \V
Ne lso n , l.eviiiKton. \ 'A , 2 l l . 'i0 .
World Wide Web
Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld briefs soldiers on the United
States as well as their current situation in the War on Terror
F.I.G.H.T. C.U.T.
Byjoel Kcncipi)
News Writer
Several upper cla.s.s cadet.s
from VMI participated in the
special t\vent>’-ii<)iir conibatives
training course besinniug htst
'riuirsday, the 20"' of April, and
concluding Sunday, the 23''*
of April. Cadets were actively
participating in the training all
weekend.
T'he program named
By Kevin Finger
News Writer
The Honorable Don:ild
H. Rumsfeld, U.S. Sccretiuy of
Defense, is scheduled to deliver
tlie commencement address at
the Virginia Military Institute’s
graduation on May 16, 2006.
As m:uiy <xs 245 cadets will be
graduating, with about 10.5 of
them commissioning into tlie
U.S. Anned Forces prior to
giaduation.
'VMl's Superintendent,
General J.H. Binlbrd Peay
111 ’62, believes Secretar>'
Rumsfeld’s visit will be valuable
for all cadets, regardless of
whetlier or not tliey pl;m to
commission into tlie armed
forces.
“From tlie time he entered
the Navy after graduating from
Princeton to today, Secretary
Rumsfeld has always been at
die call of his country,” said
Peay. “We expect tlie young
people who gradu.ite from VMI
to serve their nation and tlieir
community, whether in unifonn
or in civilian life, when die need
arises. Secretary Rumsfeld’s
example is certainly one I hope
tliey will strive to emulate.”
Rumsfeld \vill give liis
address .iniidst controversy, as a
number of high profile military
leaders <ind politiciiuis are calling
for his resignation. Critics point
to Rumsfeld’s handling of the
Ira() war, aiid also accuse him of
being dishonest to tlie Aineric.m
people. /Vmong tliose c.illing
Rumsfeld’s resignation are eight
retired U.S. generals, Senator
John Kerry (D-MA), and foniier
Governor of Virginia, M:irk R.
Warner.
President Bush has
strongly rejected :uiy notions
of forcing Rumsfeld to resign,
telling reporters, “I he;u- tlie
voices and I read the front page
aiid I know the si>eculation. But
I’m the decider aiid I decide
what’s best. And what’s best is
for Don Rumsfeld to remain as
tlie Secretary o f Defense.”
Prior to his appointment
as tlie 21“ SecretJuy of Defense
on Jjinuary 20, 2001, Rumsfeld,
a foniier Naxy pilot, <ilso
ser\’ed as the 13"' Secret:uy of
Defense, Wliite House Chief
of StaiT, U.S. Ambiussador to
NATO, U.S. Congressm:ui, and
Chief Executive Officer of t^vo
Fortiine .500 companies.
RegJirdless of what
happens, VMI will sdck with the
embattled Secretary o f Defense.
“W e ’re fully expecting him to be
our commencement spe.Tker,”
school sjiokesmmi LTC Stewart
Maclnnis told tlie Roanoke
See Rumsfeld on Page 2
was
Sgro
NC.
Fully
and
Up
F.I.G.H.T. C.U.T.
founded by David L
from Fayette\ille,
The n;une stands for
Integiated Grap])ling
Hiuing 'I'echnitiues, Close
Technitiues.
'I'he progiam has been
specially developed for militaiy
personnel. I 'h e teclini(iucs were
selected for tlieir simplicity,
elVectiveness, and adaptability to
increase combat readiness and
sunivability.
F.I.G.H.T. C.U.T' instincts
how to light, when the situation
dictates, both unaniied or with
weapons such as the baton, or M-
4. Many times these procedures
are taught in a “Live” sceiiiuio,
meaning that tlie exercises are
unreheiused.
This niiikes
for a more
r e a l i s t i c
iniiiression.
Sections
of tlie course
included the
cadets being
in "Full Kit”
or complete
L o a (1
B e a r i n g
Fiiiuijiment
( L B E ) .
Being of high
importance,
s a f e t y
procedures ;uc incorporated to
sustain high intensity: this allows
partici|)ants to le:u n (luickly with
adequate time for enhancing
their individuiil “Skills and
drills."
'i'lie special training is
intended to greatly enhance
both the individual and unit
elVectiveness. T'he training
manual issued to each participant
reads that “proficiency in
conibatives is an essential skill
for anyone who finds themselves
in a hostile environment without
a w eajion."
“T'he need for modern and
ell'ective training is becoming
United States Army Soldiers participate in the hand to hand combatives
www.lnfantry.anny.mil
training course
The techniques
were selected for
tlieir simplicity,
effectiveness, and
adaptability to
increase combat
readiness and
sumvability.
more and more important due
to the excess of urban combat
situations in tlie wiu-. There
are too m;uiy ‘reactions’ tliat
you must do in order to sumve
before you ‘think.’ T'he training
hel])ed increase my persoiiiil
r e a c t i o n
lime ;is well
:ls further
d e v e lo p e d
the groups
o V e r a 1 1
c o 111 b a t
r e a d in e s s ,”
s;iid Rich
W;u-ner, ’08.
T' h e
t r a i n i n g
taught uses
a vmiety of
ell'ective ;uid
p r o m in e n t
ni;uti;il arts
te c l in iq ues
to include many suikes, kicks,
gi apples, joint locks, ;uul lighting
positions, to include botli
staiuling and ground.
All cadets were t;iuglit
both lethal :uid non-letli:d
applications ofeveiy instruction.
T’he program oilers an intense
and high level of physicid
ciidurance and confidence in
the iiarticipants’ abilities to
defeat both single and multiple
assailants.
Cadet Wes Hopkins '07
described his favorite parts of llie
training as “the M4 training...oh
and getting to [beat) each other
with the faceniasks on.”
Hopkins added that “the
giappling was rough, but could
reiilly come in handy in a fight.,
diough tlie most useful thing we
le:uTied was the take down and
flex culling procedures. Overall
it w : l s a lot of fun, I picked up a
few really useful skills.”
David L. Sgro also teaches
otlier siniilai- courses used for a
vaiiety of puqjoses to include
S.T.A.T, Securing Teclmiques
and Tactics, C.A.T, Controlling
Access T’echni(iues, and also
a 40-Hour F.I.G.H.T. C.U.T.
course.
Sgio has been studying
m:ulial :u1s since the age of 13
iuid has been teaching since
1986. He person;illy developed
tlie tiiuning
j) r o g r a m
used by tlie
US Anny.
I 11
a <1 d i t i o n
to ninning
F.I.G.H.T.
C . U . T .
SgK) also
owns :md
operates tlie
A c a d e ni y
of Christiiui
M a r t i a l
Arts, while
a t t e n d i n g
tlie M:uiiia
Church in
Fa>etteville, NC.
“I would first like to
persoiiidly tli:uik my Lord ;uul
The
offers an intense
and high level of
physical endurance
and confidence in
the participants’
abilities to defeat
both single and
multiple assailants.
Savior Jesus Christ for showing
"To Inform the VMI Communitv"
me the real nie:ming o f courage,
long sufl'ering, and peace. He is
the MAN and the real warrior.
Any and all glory, accolades, or
anything else that is considered
good tliat comes from diis
course is given to God, from
whom all blessings :md good
tilings come from.” Sgro said.
F.I.G.H.T. C.U.T.’s
first visit to VMI was in Februiiry
of 2004, 40 Cadets p:ulicipated
in its in.iugunU nin. This year
32 Ccidets participated.
“I had a great time lemiung,
I hope next ye;u- diat we c:m get a
group or club togetlier :ind re;dly
have those numbers grow,”
Tishman, ’08 s;iid.
“'^riiis training is really
useful ;md program j,, m=my
p r a c t i c a 1
applications
in self-defense
as
well iis in
a militjuy
or civilimi
c o 111 b a t
s i t u a t i o n .
I :un very
pleased widi
tlie progiam
:uid iun veiy
grateful to
:ill of die
cadre diat
c.'une out to
teach us dieir skills. This is one
of diose ojipoitunities that you
cjui’t get at odier schools,” s:ud
BriUiey Ray, ’08. •
Local Boy
Drowns in
Accident
By Phil Pohlm;m
Asst. News Editor
Search and Rescue Divers
recovered die body of a local
high school student in die West
Mauiy River Monday, after a
24-hour search by professionals
:uid community members. 16-
year old Chailes Volpe and a
childhood friend disappeared
over an old d:un stiTictiire
late Sunday while swimming
near Jordan’s Point. Tlie
friend, Br\c Talley, man:iged
his way back to die shore and
was unable to locate Volpe.
AuthoiiUes responded alter
Tiilley alerted family members
to die emergency.
Volpe’s body w"as
recovered at 3:30 p.m. when a
police cadaver dog on die scene
helped divers to loc.ite die area.
Volpe’s drowning occuired at
appro.ximately 4pm Sunday
iiftenioon, explained officials,
after swift currents c.iused by
recent rainfall swept him and
Talley over die dam.
Talley got out safely on
die soudi bank. WHien he w-as
getting out, he looked over, and
diought he saw his friend, but
quickly lost track of him in die
water.
Many teenagers and other
community members including
cadets spent Monday seaiching
die banks and standing by at
Jordan’s Point, fearing die worst
but :ilso holding onto hope for
a miracle.
“It is hard on the kids;
it’s hard on die community,”
. Lexington police Lt. Steve
Crowder s;iid. DMore dian 100
fire and rescue, law enforcement
personnel, and EMS agencies
from across Virginia seaiched
die area by helicopter, boat, Jet
Ski and foot
Volpe and his friend Biyc
Talley, a 16-year-old junior at
die high school, decided to swim
at Jordan’s Point around 4:00
pm on Sunday. Tlie river was at
See Accident on Page 2
Environmental
Sympos ium
comes to VMI
By Phil Pohlman
Asst News Eilitor
Governor Kaine traveled to
Environment Virginia to oudine
his environmental plan for
more than 800 environmentid
professionals. Governor Kaine
shared his plan to preserve
400,000 acres of open space
meeting die Comnionwe:ddi’s
responsibility , under die
Chesapeake Bay Agreement on
April 18"' dirougli die 20"'.
The Governor also;''c;dled
for land-use policies diat are
b:d:uiced, and a greater use
of innovation in addressing
pollution Jind odier critical
challenges facing Virginia’s
outdoors. Kaine wis die first
governor to address the assembly
in close to a decade.
The 17"' Anniuil
Environmental Symi)osium,
a diree-<lay event held at
Virginia Military Institute, drew
state and fedend bureaucrats,
environmentilistsandcompjuiies
all concerned widi how best to
preserve and produce beneficial
environmentid policy for die
Conunonwe;ddi.
World-renowiied architect
and designer V\'illi:un A.
McDonough fascinated diose
who attended widi photos and
drawing of buildings diat had
roofs doubling as gjuxleiis,
mimufactuiing phuits disch:uging
drinkable water, :uid Nike
sneakers diat :ue biodegradable.
“Design is die first signal
of huniiui intention, what do
See Environment ori Page 2