By Carmen D. Villani, Jr. ’76
Members of the Virginia Military Academy Board of Visitors,
A little over 4 years ago, the BOV made a conscious decision to depart from the “road less traveled” and joined the social justice bandwagon.
Despite the clear purpose of the Ratline to remove societal identity, the decision was made to implement DEI/CRT/DOI and bring societal identity to the forefront.
As foolish as that decision was, I hope that it is now understood that the majority of Americans, President Trump, and Secretary of Defense Hegseth reject this divisive and destructive ideology.
Since Day 1, President Trump has placed eradicating DEI as one of his highest priorities. Recall that the FBI has already taken steps to remove DEI. See: FBI closed DEI office in December
The STARRS website highlights two memos, one from the Army and the other from the Air Force/Space Force.
The Army memo calls for the immediate cancellation DEIA training. In the Air Force/Space Force memo states the following: “These programs divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination.”
Army: Immediate Actions to Implement Guidance on DEIA Executive Orders
USAF/USSF Memo re Closing Down DEI
Then Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted this just yesterday.
If you may recall, here is what Chief Diversity Officer Briana Williams had to say in the Alumni Review last year that VMI DOI programs are designed to align with other programs, such as the Department of Defense’s “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Strategic Plan 2022-2023.
2024-Issue 2 Alumni Review by VMI Alumni Agencies
It is becoming ever more evident that the nation realizes DEI has no place in our society.
Studies have been published stating that it achieves the exact opposite of what it is intended to do. More and more companies are abandoning it, Target being one of the most recent.
Even BOV member Meaghan Mobbs had this to say about DEI:
“This is the problem with DEI: it pits immutable characteristics against one another and makes no one feel welcome.”
See: DEI’s Impact on our Military with West Point Grad Meaghan Mobbs
When government, the military, businesses, and colleges are all abandoning DEI/DOI, it is past time that VMI does the same.
I therefore request that the VMI BOV add the removal of DEI to the agenda at the upcoming meeting.
President Trump has demonstrated with tariffs that he will not hesitate to exert financial pressure to keep the promises he made to the American people.
Are you willing to risk federal funding in the form of Pell Grants and ROTC scholarships to keep DOI?
Carmen D. Villani, Jr. ’76
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