The V.M.L Cadet One of Americans Last Independent College Newspapers
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Deck The Dukes The V.M.L Cadet One of Americans Last Independent College Newspapers VOLUME LXXVM Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia, September 26,1986 NUMBERS Polo Comes To VMI Page 2, The VMI Cadet, September 26,1986 s • V Letter To Editor On Tacs Checking Drawers Santa Claus comes every Christmas eve and I always An Unjustified Accusation leave him some goodies by the tree. But now my mind's troubled Last week's Cadet featured an article entitled daily and they didn't mention unprofessionalism as a and I'm not sure what to do, just "Culture Shock" in which the happenings that oc- cause for the Jordanians' leaving. what do you leave a Tac when cured during three Jordanian rats' short stay here at Col. Buchanan made his remarks based on what he he comes through? the Institute were discussed. Col. Harbach, the com- heard or thought, not on what he saw first hand in the My gloves in the drawer just mandant, Col. Hammond, the executive assistant to ratline. I myself ate lunch with one of the Jordanian weren't in good taste but that's the superintendent, and Col. Buchanan, the director rats. I didn't yell at him or belittle him in any way. I the fruit of a simple mind work- of admissions, were all asked their thoughts on the tried to reason with him, and the only thing I could get ing in haste. departure of these rats. him to say was, "we want to leave this place, sir." He A beer in the drawer didn't Both Col. Harbach and Col. Hammond made knew he wanted to leave then, and that was two weeks bring a smile, it just brought remarks to the effect that it was too bad these rats before he departed. I tried to treat him in a profes- that cadet PTs and confinement left, but VMI just wasn't the place for them. Col. sional way, and it didn't work. for a while. The Jordanian rats were handled with great care Buchanan had other thoughts. He said there were two I think I've finally got it now, reasons for the Jordanian rats leaving, one of them and the Corps bent as far as it could to accommodate this sincere little note just to let being that ''cadets are snots." them. But it wasn't meant to be. Col. Buchanan's you know I'm not really a dote: assumption that the Jordanian rats left in part When I read this I was surprised and outraged at "My drawers are in order and the same instance. How can Col. Buchanan justify his because, "cadets are snots," is unfounded and wrong. everything's in its place. You accusation that the Jordanian rats left because The Jordanian rats were given the best chance to stay need not bother check them, "cadets are snots"? that the corps could offer, and they couldn't accept time's too precious to waste." Colonel Buchanan said cadets are snots because, VMI. Cadet Kramer, P.R. "they harrass people about personal things: size of their ears, their mothers and families. They are un- professional." It is true that rats face being called nearly anything, and they are ridiculed endlessly. But every rat faces this. However, in the Jordanians' situation, special care was taken. During a meeting of the first class it was emphasized by the regimental commander that great care should be taken in handl- /f: ing these rats. Great care was taken, but the Jorda- nian rats were yelled at, they had to eat with forks and knives, and they had to take mass showers; just like every other cadet to come through VMI and make it. Was VMI supposed to change for them? No. When I came to VMI, alumni, faculty members, my dykes, and cadre members told me that I couldn't change VMI. I would have to change for VMI; just like every other cadet does. No one comes through VMI without changing. If it was known that the three Jordanian rats were The VMI Cadet so locked into their culture, they should have never 1986-1987 been admitted to VMI. If it wasn't known, hopefully, VMI has learned a lesson. That lesson is that VMI VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE isn't for everyone, and it isn't even for some young men who think it is for them. There are rats every Michael C. Moore year who leave VMI that are from the United States. Editor-in-Chief They leave because they can't accept the VMI way of life. It is no mark against them when they choose to A1 Leatherwood Dean Barr Managing Editor leave VMI, it is just learning that VMI isn't the place Business Manager for them to be. John Lightner This is the case with the Jordanian rats. They Associate Editor weren't meant to be at VMI and they left. If anything, every exception possible was made to accommodate these rats and they didn't adjust. FrancM Arahart Typist Chris Packham Distribution In remarks made about the rats' departure, Col. Lou Buonpana ... Naws a Faaturas Editor Todd Arris Circulation Harbach and Col. Hammond felt that the Jordanian T. Bruca Bonas Sports Editor Matt Morgan Alan Cowan Editorial Editor Alan Cowan Ad Manager rats just weren't ready culturally to tackle VMI's Curran Bo«van Entartainmant Editor system. They didn't blame cadets' unprofessionallsm Jack McCarttiy Columnist Brian Colllor Ptiotographar Wayna Fuiiar Consulting Editor for the Jordanian rats' departure. It seems they Victor SradI Uyout Editor Baaf Diasal Humor/Apologias would know the situation with these rats since they ManAtUrga work with the Corps on a daily basis. Col. Harbach has even commended the cadre for their profes- I '^""•'•y Institute, Is published ovary Friday sionalism in handling the rats. But Col. Buchanan, wll •he offices of who is very seldom seen in barracks, felt cadets were Li Th?VMi subscription Is $12.00 on post and $14.00 mailed off snots and unprofessional. I don't see how Col. th A Classniatter September 19.1944, at the Post Office In ® the VMI bar- Buchanan can be vindicated in his remarks. Col. Har- racks, and the mailing address is: Box 1, VMI, Lexington, Va. 244S0. bach and Col. Hammond work closely with the corps postal numberUSP654-880 The VMI Cadet, September S, 1986, Page 7 NCO's On Parade News and Features Rate Lou Buonpane Cadets Friday afternoon parade, a formation that is used by:EdLedford to show off tthe Corps, is a function that works Across a muddy drill field, "Gentlemen, prepare to automatically, and it has been working perfectly. low crawl!", rings out. The Corps of Cadets is showing itself, to be sure, on Polo Exhibition "Gentlemen, if you don't keep hot Friday afternoons, but in the poorest light. your butts down you're going to Misaligned rifles, khaki colored ducks and bad stance get them shot off!" Sgt 1st class poUute the VMI Parade Ground, shuffled in with the by: Lou Buonpane to us in handicap. The field was Alired Lane presides over the Wednesday afternoon, the very nice but short when com- Military Science cadets, as he unreliable and sometimes barely audible requests of seventeenth of September, the pared to a regulation size teaches them how to be platoon officers to keep their ranks in step. This is a VMI Parade Groimd was the field." soldiers. true representation of the Corps of Cadets though; site of a polo match between the Wilson also said that "The The NCO's at Virginia parade really does show VMI's internal state of af- British Combmed Services Polo Americans were used to their Military Institute are in a uni- fairs. No amount of 0:745 beard inspection by Com- Team and Farmington, a team own ponies and this was que situation. They teach young from Charlotte, N.C. definitely a factor throughout men how to fight and lead, and pany tactical officers will change this internal decay. This event has occurred the game; but we were thankful upon their graduation, the new The problem does not lie with some unlucky in- every two years since 1976, with for the use of them anyway." 2nd Lieutenants and Ensigns dividual's appearance who did not get enough sleep the American team travelling While the British Team is become their teacher's leaders. the night before. It lies with the minority of in- to Britain on alternating years. here in the States they will play After spending some twelve dividuals who are chosen to lead them. The series is sponsored by the eleven games against various years in the Army, and instruc- English Speaking Union. This opponents. Mr. E.S. "Tad" ting at VMI for soon to be three Military rank and structure does not exist in the year's match was won by the Humphreys, former VMI tennis years, SFC Lane speaks on the VMI Corps today; a set of gold chevrons to many is Americans, 10-6. coach and recently retired quality of leadership that the In- nothing more than a uniform improvement, not an in- The American Team was business manager of the Lex- stitute produces. "I think that dication of responsibility. made up of players from the ington News-Gazette, arranged after they are commission- many of the details required to ed,and go through OBC, I think Take the Third Class Corporal who possesses the Virginia area. Mr. Garrick Steele of Alexandria has been get the polo team to exhibit they'll be prepared..