This is the last issue of the semester. If you haven't sent in your subscription—you may do so. Information may be obtained by contacting The VMI Cadet, Box 7, VMI Post. Cadet- * One of America's Last Independent College Newspapers VOLUME LXXV Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia, November 30, 1984 NUMBER 13 Thalman Cormack Relieved Retires by: JohnM Powers. Jr loss. "I think the alumni were II had been rumored by generally unhappy with the She was hardly more than a many, and hoped for by some results of the program. If you bride when she came to VMI in who had muttered their frustra- were a VMI alumnus, would you September 1949 Her husband tions after each of the season's be happy with a 1-9 record? ask- was the new geology professor nme losses So it came as no ed Harry I.«e, President of the and head track coach, and surprise that on the Monday Board of Visitors and an alum- though she never planned a before Thanksgiving General nus, Class of 1947 "But I fulltime office career, today she Sam S Walker fired Bob haven't heard a lot of com- approaches retirement after 35 Thalman, who had served plaints because most of us can working years at the Institute longer than any other VMI head appreciate what Bob Thalman Ruth Cormack, whose distinc- football coach Along with ran into when he came to VMI ." tive South Carolina drawl has Thalman went the entire foot- But is it realistic to expect com- made her instantly identifiable l)all coaching staff, an action petiveness with such up and to all who call the civil that bothered the newly coming programs as George engineering department, will dismissed head coach "I'm Welsh's Virginia Cavalier and retire at the end of December especially distressed that my Bill Dooley's Hokies of Virginia A Cool Analysis: Motivation And while she says she will miss total staff has been dismissed I Tech, both of whom are atten- the daily contact with the just hate to see families torn up ding Bowl games this season? wonderful friends of her work- And The Military College ing years, she is ready to pursue and forced to relocate. We have The decision to release never had a better togetherness the interests and pleasures that Thalman was made Sunday by Do you as a cadet often find motivation Such factors in- she's never really had time for between the staff and the General Walker, who based his yourself having to deal with clude: punishment, learned before players I'm extremely proud of verdict on input from the ex- contradictory or conflicting helplessness, and self- (continued on page 7> the total team because they had ecutive committee of the VMI motives and drives for attribution. that "never say die" spirit And Athletic Committee' Walker academic achievement? in a When a response is punished, so did Coach Thalman, who fired Thalman Monday, and military college, how does the frequency or probability of coached the smallest school in Thalman informed the team at militar> motivation influence recurrence decreases Punish- Arson Update the nation playing Division 1- the noon meeting. He then academic motivation? How ment on a 100% schedule AA football He had lost one- issued a prepared statement does military motivation in- depresses the response rate by: Tim Perez third of his recruiting classes which said "1 am sad and disap- fluence educational com- more quickly on intermittent Former VMI cadet Matthew from 1982 and 1983 which did not pointed that I have been petitiveness and academic ex- schedules. Punishment can B. Walrod, who was charged for aide the Keydets in their push to dismissed from my coaching cellence? This analysis will br- cause frustration, thus eliciting the alleged arson that took become competitive; the two- position at VMI...I want to go ing to your attention various undesirable behaviors. Such place in an academic building deep roster this year occa- out with class...1 want to be psychological principles of frustrating behaviors include here on post, is currently sionally included as many as 15 judged by my peers." Bob motivation and learning which extremely rigid and nonadap- waiting for a Lexington grand freshmen Thalman was judged by one of will allow you, through your tive emotional responses which jur>' to convene. The grand jury his peers, a VMI alumnus and a Competitiveness seems to be own reasoning, to interpret how may endure even when the is set to meet beginning on recognized football authority. at the core of reasoning for the a military setting may in- punishment is removed Februar>'4,1985. Maryland Head Coach Bobby dismissal of Thalman. His loss fluence academic motivation. Moreover, observing the un- Walrod, who is being Ross felt Bob Thalman should record in the past three years The purpose of this essay is necessary and unduly harsh represented by Lexington At- not have been fired. "1 was apparently cast a shadow of didactic, not polemic; punishment of another may pro- torney Eric Sisler, waived his very disheartened when I read doubt upon whether or not he therefore, the intent here is not duce lower morale and motiva- .preliminar>' hearing in General that Bob Thalman has been could steer the Keydets back in- to attack the VMI system, but to tion in the observer. Hence District Criminal Court fired. I coached against Bob to competing with their counter- point out the potential conflicts "vicarious punishment" can Walrod's arrest concluded an when I was at The Citadel and I parts in Division 1-AA. Pro- between military and academic have deleterious-effects not on- investigation conducted by VMI know what a great job he has blems began with A 5-6 record motivation. This essay is based ly on the punished but all who Post Police Chief C. L Burch. done there. At a military in 1982, followed by a disappoin- on psychological evidence and have witnessed the punishment with assistance from school, there are so many ting 2-9 season last year and a theories which were discussed Learned helplessness refers Rockbridge County Sheriff's things which happen to affect further disheartening 1-9 season in an educational psychology to a lack of goal-directed Department. your program that you ab- this year. His team in 1983 was class. responding and passive accep- The incident allegedly took solutely can't control. Sure, outscored 339-100, while this Motivation refers to the tances of avoidable aversive place around 2:00 a.m. on May Bob had a couple of hard years, year it ended at 320-121. Cer- dynamics of behavior: the pro- stimuli (Seligman, 1974). A 5, 1984, in Scott Shipp Hall. but at a military school thing tainly it was enough to shake cess of energizing and directing military system can remove Damages were estimated to be run in cycles. It's always peaks even the loyalist of the VMI the activities of an individual control over daily activities close to $6,000. and valleys." alumni ranks, those traveling toward achieving rewarding from the individual. Such a The Cadet will continue to run for miles only to witness either Much focus had been given on goals. Several factors strive to (continued on page 7) updates as the Walrod case con- a rout, or a frustratingly close .,, ,(con;inued,on page 5) either enhance or reduce tinues Pagt 2, Tht VMI Cadtt November 20,1984 Letter To The Editor The last issue of The Cadet really my son? Something hap- I know that what I have said are contained an article written by pened that year, I saw it in your the thoughts of every parent The Paradox your staff to the Rats regarding faces and the way you walked. associated with your class, motivation and it was a point At the beginning of your third those that have proceded you well made. Over the last four class year, you had grown and those that will follow. I Of Pessimism years I have read your paper, closer and you were the class of know that these thoughts are Whenever friends approach me with problems, they Init this was the first time I have 1985. Remember how bad the also shared by faculty and staff openly seen the hand of kind- food was as a third? If it had not and the way to the top at the In- seem always to look for immediate and simple solu- stitute. When we look at you we tions. Patiently, I listen to their narrations of ir- ness and understanding extend- been for the Chaplain a lot of ed to a group all of us know are you might have walked. As a would like to see a reflection of revocable hardships and grave dilemma. Upon their having a hard time adjusting to parent I began to view VMI as a ourselves knowing all the while completion, one by one, I propose various and the Institute. Oftentimes a huge psychological rubber your image is far brighter than reasonably viable solutions only to have them re- public statement such as yours room designed to make you ours will ever be. jected (often with little consideration). It seems as is the sort of encouragement a mentally tough. During your se- Sometimes you get so close to though these people are resolved in their p^simisms young man needs to tighten his cond class year you really put it the trees you can't see the l)elt another notch and plan together and drew upon your forest.