{"id":123229,"date":"2023-02-27T00:06:35","date_gmt":"2023-02-27T05:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=123229"},"modified":"2023-02-26T12:17:39","modified_gmt":"2023-02-26T17:17:39","slug":"vmi-alumni-work-to-disrupt-alumni-donations-to-force-school-to-end-dei-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/vmi-alumni-work-to-disrupt-alumni-donations-to-force-school-to-end-dei-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"VMI alumni work to disrupt alumni donations to force school to end DEI programs"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘The only way you can influence them is by hurting their pocketbook’<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Virginia Military Institute continues to face intense pushback from an alumni group that opposes the military school\u2019s ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.<\/p>\n

The activists in recent months upped their efforts by seeking to redirect the institute\u2019s alumni fundraising in an effort to persuade campus leaders to pull back on critical race theory policies and programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only way you can influence them is by hurting their pocketbook,\u201d alumnus Gene Rice told The College Fix<\/em> in an interview.<\/p>\n

In a Jan. 23 letter<\/a> to their fellow \u201cBrother Rats of the great VMI Class of \u201974,\u201d concerned alumni requested that for their 50th reunion class gift, they do not donate to VMI Alumni Agencies but instead to the Cadet Foundation.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll contributions directed to the Cadet Foundation would be used to fund programs and projects that directly benefit cadets but not those that would impose divisive changes derived from political agendas and policies on the Corps, Ratline and Honor System,\u201d the letter stated.<\/p>\n

\u201c…We desire to take a stand and save what is left of the VMI experience,\u201d the letter added. \u201c… DO NOT fund programs and policies that force changes on the Corps, Ratline, and Honor system, resulting from political agendas and ideologies such as CRT, a divisive DEI Program, and others.\u201d<\/p>\n

The donation disruption effort is the latest in an ongoing campaign<\/a> by a large and vocal company of alumni, cadets, parents and friends of VMI calling for the discontinuation of DEI programs at the school.<\/p>\n

The controversy dates back to a 2021 Barnes & Thornburg report<\/a> that accused VMI of \u201cinstitutional racism and sexism\u201d and recommended the implementation of new DEI measures.<\/p>\n

\"\"VMI reportedly did not vigorously refute<\/a> the charges, but the superintendent \u201ctasked his senior staff with evaluating each recommendation and providing an update on requirements for implementation,\u201d as stated in VMI\u2019s \u201cDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion Review: 30 Day Report<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of us are really upset because we were essentially being accused of being racist and sexist,\u201d alumnus Carmen Villani, from the class 1976, told The College Fix.<\/em><\/p>\n

Villani said he is \u201cabsolutely convinced\u201d that DEI and critical race theory \u201care being woven into the fabric of VMI.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sal Vitale, class of 1961 and class agent for 48 years, told The College Fix<\/em> that prior to targeting donations, he along with several others \u201ctook on a mission\u201d of trying to persuade the Board of Visitors to join their cause by \u201coffering solutions\u201d and not just condemning board actions.<\/p>\n

But after they requested 30 to 45 minutes at a Board of Visitors meeting to present their concerns, they said they were refused.<\/p>\n

Several members of the class of 1974, including Gene Rice, Ron Stelmasczyk, James Cottrell, Mike Andriani, and John Williams, Jr., said they now support the Cadet Foundation. They spoke to The College Fix<\/em> in a group Zoom interview.<\/p>\n

The Cadet Foundation, an independent financial support system for VMI cadets, aims to financially support the cadets without the \u201cbaggage and overhead\u201d of the VMI Alumni Agencies and administration, the alumni told The Fix.<\/em><\/p>\n

The foundation sent a letter in December 2022<\/a> to VMI Alumni Agencies extending an \u201copen hand\u201d and providing an opportunity \u201cto work together supporting the VMI Mission,\u201d requesting that they formally recognize the foundation as a partnering organization.<\/p>\n

The foundation has received no response, the alumni told The Fix.<\/em><\/p>\n

Stelmasczyk pointed out that VMI can request a budget to support \u201coperating costs\u201d from the Alumni Agencies\u2019 unrestricted funds for the institute to use how it sees fit, including DEI initiatives. He said he does not want his money supporting such endeavors.<\/p>\n

The effort to convince fellow alumni is beginning to show results, they said, with one donor promising to pull $1 million out of his will and rechanneling that to the Cadet Foundation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re fighting the grassroots battle,\u201d Rice told The Fix.<\/em><\/p>\n

The alumni group does not seek to overthrow the institution, but to \u201cstop the money\u201d given to administration while preserving the core values of VMI, they said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want the ability to express our points of view, we\u2019re not asking anyone to endorse it,\u201d Villani said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we really want is to preserve the VMI experience,\u201d Stelmasczyk added.<\/p>\n

Tim Cordle, class of 1979, said that the alumni \u201chave the ability to do this,\u201d and is hopeful for the future of VMI alumni and that the redirection of funds to the Cadet Foundation will bring back alumni who lost trust in the administration and the Alumni Agencies.<\/p>\n

The alumni told The Fix<\/em> they do not believe VMI is too far gone to redeem.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not too late,\u201d Rice said. \u201cWe wouldn\u2019t be fighting this fight if we thought it was too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE: Virginia Military Institute alumni launch full-scale assault against school\u2019s DEI plans<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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