(Press Release) The Cadet Foundation (www.thecadetfoundation.org) joined by Alumni Free Speech Alliance partners the Jefferson Council for the University of Virginia (TJC) (www.jeffersoncouncil.org ) and The Generals Redoubt for Washington and Lee University (TGR) (www.thegeneralsredoubt.us ) are sounding the alarm on disturbing efforts by members of the Virginia House and Senate to pressure the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Board of Visitors into granting Superintendent Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins a new four-year contract, despite serious allegations of impropriety.
The Cadet Foundation, TJC and TGR are calling for an independent investigation into the unethical and potentially unlawful actions of those involved.
The Cadet Foundation, TJC and TGR are members of a larger national organization, the Alumni Free Speech Alliance (AFSA) (www.alumnifreespeechalliance.org), comprised of 27 independent alumni groups committed to “Preserving the Pursuit of Truth in American Higher Education”.
Over the past several years, several of the 27 AFSA groups, including The Cadet Foundation, TJC, and TGR have repeatedly raised concerns regarding VMI leadership’s suppression of free speech and intimidation of dissenting voices.
These concerns were formally presented to the Secretary of Education and the VMI Board of Visitors, yet they were dismissed without meaningful action. Empowered by this inaction, the situation continues to deteriorate.
Recently, members of the Virginia Senate and House of Representatives, working in concert, attempted to strong-arm the VMI Board of Visitors into extending the contract for VMI’s Superintendent, Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins, through explicit threats to withhold funding from the Institute.
This coercion, reported by Congressman Ben Cline in a letter to the clerks of the Virginia House and Senate (attached), directly undermines VMI’s institutional integrity and jeopardizes the well-being of cadets by tying essential funding to an administrative decision that should be made independently and in the best interest of VMI’s mission.
A Pattern of Intimidation and Retaliation
The concerns surrounding Maj. Gen. Wins’ leadership are not new.
Under his tenure, The Cadet, VMI’s award-winning independent student newspaper, has faced repeated attempts at censorship, as documented by warning letters or letters of concern from The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), The Student Press Law Center (SPLC), and most recently the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
Despite these concerns, warnings and public outcry, VMI’s administration continued to take retaliatory action against cadets culminating in an egregious memorandum issued by VMI’s Chief of Staff designed to isolate cadets from external supporters.
Additionally, the Virginia Senate’s recent rejection of six highly qualified gubernatorial appointees to the VMI Board of Visitors suggests a deliberate effort to maintain political control over these institutions.
Among those rejected were distinguished leaders committed to transparency, governance, and the preservation of institutional integrity. The exclusion of these individuals raises serious ethical questions about favoritism and undue influence.
Moreover, The VMI Administration appears to be defying the Presidential executive Order and Secretary of Defense Directives on DEI claiming they have the authority to force Cadets to attend “military duty” that includes NCAA Sporting Events, DEI training and more under Title 10 U.S.C. – Armed Forces.
In light of recent discussions surrounding the extension of Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins’ contract as Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), we unequivocally condemn the attempts by members of the House and Senate to threaten withholding funds in exchange for a new contract based solely on race. Read VMI’s Claims and the ADF Letter HERE
Call for an Independent Investigation
Congressman Ben Cline is calling for an immediate ethics investigation into reports that members of the Virginia General Assembly have engaged in political coercion, and threatening to withhold funding if the Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors does not extend the contract of VMI’s superintendent (enclosure).
“The idea that members of the General Assembly would use their positions of power to intimidate VMI Board members by conditioning funding on the extension of the superintendent’s contract is not just inappropriate, it is an outright abuse of power,” said Congressman Cline.
In his letter, Congressman Cline highlighted that one VMI Board member reported that Senator Jennifer Carroll-Foy stated the following:
“I am just trying to help VMI. Cedric is African American. The leadership of the General Assembly is African American. Your board appointments and budget amendments are in peril. You can fix this by giving Cedric a four-year contract extension.”
VMI cadets themselves called attention to how this situation puts their education and VMI experience at risk but so far are being ignored except by Cline’s inquiries.
READ the Opinion Piece BY CADETS HERE
The Cadet Foundation, TJC, and TGR join Congressman Cline’s call for an immediate and thorough investigation into these matters by the Virginia House and Senate Standards of Conduct Subcommittees and The Virginia Attorney General’s Office.
If these allegations prove to be true through a fair and impartial investigation, those responsible should face the severest penalties available. As the Cadets on VMI’s independent student newspaper so articulately pointed out, Cadets should not be pawns in fights over political ideology. No one should fear the truth a truly open, transparent, objective, and thorough investigation will reveal.
Defending VMI’s Legacy and Its Cadets
The Cadet Foundation, TJC, and TGR stand resolutely in defense of free expression, institutional independence, and the cadets who have been subjected to an environment of fear and retaliation. VMI is at a crossroads.
The Board of Visitors must act courageously and independently in making decisions for the institution, free from political interference. Any failure to do so will undermine the very principles VMI seeks to instill in its cadets—honor, integrity, and service.
The Cadet Foundation, TJC, and TJR urge all VMI alumni, supporters, and concerned citizens to contact their legislators, demand accountability, and stand up for the principles upon which VMI was founded. The time for action is now.
Further information on VMI and The Cadet Newspaper is available from The Cadet Foundation on its website at: www.thecadetfoundation.org and The Cadet newspaper at: www.cadetnewspaper.com .
Media Contact:
Robert C. Morris, Jr.
COL, USA (Ret)
The Cadet Foundation
Phone: (757) 869-6770
Email: [email protected]
Thomas M. Neale
University of Virginia Class of 1974
President Emeritus and Co-Founder
The Jefferson Council for the University of Virginia
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.jeffersoncouncil.org/
Tom Rideout
President
The General’s Redoubt
Washington & Lee University
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.thegeneralsredoubt.us
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