BEAT THE BULLDOGS! The V.M.I. Cadet One of America's Last Independent College Newspapers VOLUME LXXVII Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia, February 6,1987 NUMBER16 Stofft Starts Lectures VMI Track by: Martin O.Castillo the times and adjust. Concern- leader and what broke another by: PeteCarty Last week The John Biggs understand about leadership. ing the moral aspect of an army leader, as Napoleon said, "One Leadership encompasses three The VMI Track team hosted Cincinnati Lectures on Military he quoted General Patton: must know in order to do." the annual VMI Winter Relays Leadership and Command for major field: brains, courage Discipline, self-respect, faith of Through history we know the and fitness (good health). held last Saturday in the Pit. Of the Spring of 1987 began with coimtry and trust in country failure of Pickett's charge at the schools competing in the Brigadier General William A. Leaders need to develop and obligation of the leader is Gettysburg and of (jeneral themselves educationally. He meet were interstate rivals Stofft. General Stofft is Chief of what makes an army move. He Lee's resounding words which JMU, William & Mary and the Center for Military History said of officers, "officers left us with two more things a make us consider him an translate thought into action Virginia Tech and ACC powers of the U.S. Army in Washington, leader must be: technically pro- awesome leader, "It's all my Clemson and Duke among D.C. His lecture this particular while the enemy does the ficient (know all you need to fault." Through history we can same." The officer must take many other schools. The team evening was on History and know to lead) and to recognize see what went on because look^ impressive as it had nine Military Leadership. care of those men which he the need to develop fully. "Soldiers write of what they leads and make sure they individual or team medalists. Both areas of his topic were Concerning history, he used see." Because of what's been develop to their full potential. Medals were given to the top well covered. He used many ex- examples of experiences by the concrete in the past, "Today's By preparing his men and three finishers in each event. amples of leadership including men mentioned above. History leaders follow yesterday's himself he can accomplish his In the 55 meter dash, first such men as Napoleon, our own is true and those who want to leaders who set the fundamen- aim, "Operational success to olassman Keith Washington General George C. Marshall, lead must look at history and tals of the present." win" because "War is essential- came away with a first place Patton, Clausewitz, Jackson learn through past experiences ly intellectual." Also, a leader finish while first classman Bob and Eisenhower. He brought to what made a man a successful must be ready to change with Blackwell finished third. Se- light what many of us don't cond Classman Bob Harris cap- tured one individual medal, a second place in the 300 meter dash, and two team medals. Harris was a member of More Biggs Lecture News! Pages 4 and 8 distance medley relay and the Inside... 1600 meter relay which both A.U.S.A. Thriller! Page 4 finished second. He was joined on the Distance medley relay by Fencing Update Page 7 First Classmen Pete Carty and Mike Maxwell and Second Beef Conducts Phillips Probe Page 8 Classman Gregg Hoofnagle and on the 1600 meter relay by Max- well and Rats Mario Small and Dining In Planned Greg Hatchet. (continued on page 7) by Lou Buonpane lasting customs and tradi- On 20 February the Army tions." ROTC detachment will hold its The highlight of the event will first annual Dining In. This be a full seven-course meal very formal event will be held which will require the guests to in the lounge and dining room of employ polished manners and Moody Hall. proper ettiquette. Those guests Colonel David V. Harbach, failing to observe proper etti- Commandant of Cadets, will quette can be charged a preside as President of the nominal fine by the President of Mess. The guest of honor will be the Mess. Lt.Gen. (Ret.) Brecton. These breeches of ettiquette The formal Dining-In takes are known as violations of the its roots from the British Of- Mess. Examples of these viola- fiver's Mess System, the con- tions are untimely arrival, loud duct of which has had great in- and obtrosive remarks, foul fluence on many of the pro- language, departing early or cedure practices today by U.S. discussing women, politics or organizations. religion. The purpose of the British Captain Cerrone is the project Mess was to promote cordiality, officer for the event. He hopes comradeship, and esprit de cor- that the cadets who attend will ps. It has been described as a gain some insight from the ex- "contrasting source of satire, perience, as many of the cadets upheaval and solemn formali- going on active duty will find ty; instillation of duelling and themselves being required to horseplay; a reason for living attend a formal dining-in once > , . standards above one's means; they get to their units. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band will appear in J.M. Hall on Wednesday, February and the development of long- 15th. Story on page.6. Page 2, The VMI Cadet, February 6,1987 Reason To Evolution Editorial Believe Defended by: BrianP.Egloff Earlier in the year an editorial was published ask- Last week, in The Cadet, I ing for Corps, alumni, faculty, and community sup- read an article entitled "Crea- port for the VMI football team. An overwhelming tionism Supported" and was Uniform Code shocked by what I read. Charles response came when all of VMI ventured down to The Darwin did write the orgin of Citadel and administered a thorough whipping to species in 1859, but there is a lot their football team. Then there were no more vic- of erroneous information in the It starts Rat year. The new cadet sees some pro- tories for the remainder of the year, just a handful of article in question. I'd like to fessors walking around post in uniforms that are im- ifs and buts. But hey, if you only have one game to present the views .of an Evolu- properly worn, with improper insignia on them. Their win, it's best to beat The Citadel, right? tionist and one who does, by the way, believe in a Supreme Be- brass and shoes are rarely shined and they usually do Tomorrow we play The Citadel in basketball. If we ing. not have proper mihtary haircuts. Many of these pro- win this game it will be a key to the team's progress Species are constantly evolv- fessors have only a minimal knowledge of basic towards a berth in the Southern Conference Tourna- ing, changing, and occasionally military courtesy, including how to execute a proper ment. A victory also will snap the team out of a three- in their adaptations to differing salute. And, after cadets get to know their professors, game slump that has seen the confidence of the environments giving rise to new the cadets realize that most of the teachers at VMI species. This is a scientific fact. players drop tremendously. The reason that Darwin's' have absolutely no desire to be in uniform. There should be no need to ask the VMI community theory was so successful when The required wearing of a uniform can only act as a to get up for this game. It's The Citadel, a hop it was published an remains ef- deterrent to prospective teachers considering weekend, and the Keydet Club and Alumni Associa- fective today is because Darwin employment at VMI. The Institute has little to offer tion members will be in attendance. gathered, consolidated and an- with its less-than-cosmopolitan location, stringent ticipated arguments against The game has been made military duty for the en- evolution over a 20-year period. military atmosphere, and added "bonus" (to cadets tire corps—but that's not such a bad deal. Take your While DNA is a very complex and professors alike) of Saturday classes. And to ag- date and maybe she'll think you really are interested molecule and is the basic code gravate these factors, the prospective professor finds of life, it is the genes that deter- in something other than the blue whales the two of you that he has to invest in and wear a uniform five and a mine what an organism will are going to drink at the hotel parties later on. It's half days a week. This cannot make faculty recruiting look like. DNA is subject to shorter than a football game and it's in Cameron Hall. change. Many mutations, easy. You'll be warm and won't have to worry about the harmful, neutral, and helpful It has been argued that the uniform causes cadets elements. have been documented in many to have more respect for their professors. After tak- species. The moth diston ing classes with professors who were lucky enough to It shouldn't take any of these reasons to stir up in- betularia is a perfect case of be tenured before the wearing of uniforms was re- terest. This is The Citadel—that other military school evolution and mutation. The whose athletic director wrote our athletic director re- moth is usually a grey mottled quired for teachers, and talking with cadets who have color and this serves as had these professors, I seriously doubt that a uniform questing information on how our Corps was so en- camoflague on trees but occa- has any affect on the respect a cadet has for a pro- thusiastic and showed such good sportsmanship.