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VMI board discusses uptown cadet conduct after Lexington City Council video, pledges policing and coordination with city
Summary
Following a Lexington City Council video highlighting parking and alleged misconduct by cadets, the superintendent told the executive committee VMI has engaged city officials and police and urged the cadet corps to 'police yourselves'; board members pressed for formal mechanisms and use of GC trials or the Cadet Equity Association for off-post conduct.
Members of the Virginia Military Institute executive committee raised concerns about cadet conduct in Lexington after the superintendent said he had reviewed a Lexington City Council video in which a resident described parking difficulties and alleged unacceptable behavior by cadets. The superintendent said staff had spoken to the city manager and the chief of police and that the commandant and post officials would act when misconduct is reported.
The superintendent told the committee: "You all need to police yourselves because I'm aware of it now, and the commandant is aware of it," urging cadet leaders to use a buddy system and to return intoxicated cadets to post rather than allowing disruptive conduct off campus. He described conversations with city officials and said post police and campus authorities would be used when an off-post incident justified intervention.
Board members pressed for clarity on formal mechanisms for dealing with off-post misconduct. One member recalled an 'executive committee' reporting procedure used in earlier years where cadets could be written up for conduct unbecoming while off post; the superintendent and others explained that conduct reports currently can lead to GC trials and that the Cadet Equity Association may act as an investigative body with referrals to GC or Title IX as appropriate.
Several board members urged that the institute not rely solely on informal admonitions to cadet leadership. Suggestions included re-emphasizing the formal reporting procedures, using the GC trial process and developing a dashboard of conduct and attrition trends to monitor whether reforms are working. The superintendent said he had already discussed the matter with the mayor and city manager and that staff had made proposals to city police about addressing the problem.
No formal disciplinary motions were taken in open session. Committee members asked staff to brief the full board and to report back on any procedural changes, use of the GC process and outcomes of city–post coordination on public-safety responses.
