THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 10, 1997 TAG: 9702100065
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: 39 lines
Female cadets from two established military colleges will live in the barracks at Virginia Military Institute this fall to help the first class of women feel more comfortable.
Superintendent Josiah Bunting III told the VMI board of visitors Saturday that four women from Texas A&M University and four from Norwich University will become part of the corps of cadets in August.
The goal ``is to provide a group of young women as advisers and older friends to a group of scared, nervous female Rats, which I think need and require and deserve the friendly counsel they can get from other women,'' Bunting said.
VMI got the idea from women at other formerly all-male military schools.
In August, VMI will admit women for the first time in its 157-year history. Bunting told the board that 33 women have applied to be part of the incoming Rat class, and 20 have been accepted.
Five women have paid deposits to secure their places. They will be joined by three female graduates from the New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college, who want to get degrees from VMI.
Board member Charles B. Lindsey said he is wary of the mentoring plan.
``They talk about preserving the essential character of VMI, yet they're going to bring mentors in,'' said Lindsey, a member of the class of 1971 who had favored trying to avoid coeducation by making VMI a private school.
Other developments discussed with the board of visitors include:
Faculty, staff and cadets are examining school policies and how women may change them. They include rules regarding sexual harassment and pregnancy.
VMI is preparing to hire a woman to be assistant commandant of cadets, which is akin to an assistant dean of students.
The state House of Delegates and Senate have passed bills for $5.1 million in funding for new staff and construction costs at VMI. A joint legislative committee meets this week to seek compromises to the funding bills.