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Ex Lurker

(3,808 posts)
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 01:39 PM Jul 2020

VMI will not remove statues or rename buildings

LEXINGTON, Va. – Rather than remove its past, VMI plans to focus on its future.

The military college’s superintendent, Ret. Gen. J.H. Bindford Peay III, announced the decision to neither remove Confederate statues nor rename any buildings as part of a seven-page letter.

On campus are statues of Stonewall Jackson and Francis H. Smith, who both served in the Confederate army. There is also the New Market Monument, which honors the VMI cadets who fought at the Battle of New Market for the Confederacy.

Peay said that VMI, which has been around for nearly 200 years, will emphasize the Institute’s second century.

We do not currently intend to remove any VMI statues or rename any VMI buildings. Rather, in the future we will emphasize recognition of leaders from the Institute’s second century.We will place unvarnished context on the value and lessons to be learned from the Institute’s rich heritage, while being mindful of the nation’s challenges and sensitivities to being fair and inclusive to all. Nevertheless, this and other issues related to the Plan will be discussed in the September Board of Visitors meeting.
Ret. Gen. J.H. Bindford Peay III, VMI Superintendent

Peay’s letter breaks down a plan which breaks down into five pillars.

Education
VMI Corps of Cadets
Promote Increased Commissioning
VMI Symbology
Alumni

Peay said that these pillars will be integrated into VMI’s Strategic Vision 2039.


https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2020/07/29/vmi-will-not-remove-confederate-statues-or-rename-buildings/
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VMI will not remove statues or rename buildings (Original Post) Ex Lurker Jul 2020 OP
Emphasis on "currently". nt ooky Jul 2020 #1
It's a public school. Funded by the Commonwealth underpants Jul 2020 #2
The governor went to VMI. The leading candidate to replace him went to VMI. LexVegas Jul 2020 #3
Interestingly, these people also went to VMI: LastDemocratInSC Jul 2020 #5
Yep. So did this guy... LexVegas Jul 2020 #6
+1000 Celerity Jul 2020 #10
Fire the prick. I'm paying his salary. lagomorph777 Jul 2020 #7
Since VMI's history in tangled in the history of the Confederacy Coleman Jul 2020 #4
One side thing about VMI underpants Jul 2020 #8
Adding a link mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2020 #9

underpants

(182,274 posts)
2. It's a public school. Funded by the Commonwealth
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 01:43 PM
Jul 2020

The Gov. can tell them to change if he wants. Of course the VMI crowd will howl.

LexVegas

(6,005 posts)
3. The governor went to VMI. The leading candidate to replace him went to VMI.
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 01:48 PM
Jul 2020

Some of the "VMI crowd" will howl. Some won't. Just like every other crowd.

Coleman

(847 posts)
4. Since VMI's history in tangled in the history of the Confederacy
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 01:50 PM
Jul 2020

Maybe it shouldn't exist any longer. It provided the military leadership of the Confederate army as well as government leaders.

underpants

(182,274 posts)
8. One side thing about VMI
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 03:48 PM
Jul 2020

If you graduate from there, you will never want for a job. Incredible network. Word gets out so and so class of ____ needs a job - phones start ringing.

mahatmakanejeeves

(56,893 posts)
9. Adding a link
Fri Jul 31, 2020, 01:21 PM
Jul 2020
VMI to alter longstanding traditions tied to its Confederate history, but leave statues in place
Alison Graham 17 hrs ago

Virginia Military Institute’s superintendent said the school will not take down Confederate monuments, but did announce changes to some of the school’s longstanding traditions.

Retired Army Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III wrote a seven-page letter distributed to the VMI community on Wednesday that said the school will not remove Confederate statues or rename any buildings. Instead, he said the school will emphasize leaders from its second century of history.

“Throughout the years, the primary focus on honoring VMI’s history has been to celebrate principles of honor, integrity, character, courage, service, and selflessness of those associated with the Institute,” Peay wrote. “It is not to in anyway condone racism, much less slavery.”

VMI has a long history and association with the Civil War and Confederate leaders. Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, who owned six enslaved people, taught at the school before he left to lead Confederate troops in the Civil War. Until a few years ago, first-year cadets had to salute his statue, which was erected in 1912 and stands in front of the barracks. Multiple buildings are named for Jackson and other alumni and faculty who fought for the Confederacy.

{snip}

Alison Graham
Alison Graham covers Roanoke County and Salem news. She’s originally from Indianapolis and a graduate of Indiana University.
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