Military cadets recently spoke out after Democrats in Virginia introduced legislation last week that could revoke state funding for the Virginia Military Institute, which could lead to the closing of the military school.
Last week, the Democrat-run Virginia General Assembly introduced two bills that could have a major impact on the Virginia Military Institute. House Bill 1377 would create the Virginia Military Institute Advisory Task Force as an advisory commission under the state’s executive branch. The task force would be responsible for determining whether the Virginia Military Institute should continue to be “a state-sponsored institution of higher education.” Fox News reported that the Virginia Military Institute would likely close if it lost its state funding.
Meanwhile, the Virginia General Assembly also introduced House Bill 1374, which would lead to the institute’s board of visitors being dissolved and oversight of the military school being given to the board of visitors at Virginia State University.
Addressing the current situation at the academy, Cadet Devin Auzenne, a regimental commander, and Cadet Michael Ferrara, a regimental S3 captain, told Fox News, “I would say on the cadet side, there’s a little bit of confusion. One of the bills questions the contribution that VMI contributes to the commonwealth of the state and this school produces nothing but prestigious men and women ready to serve the country.”
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Highlighting the importance of the Virginia Military Institute, Ferrara told Fox News, “We’ve had approximately 300 generals and flag officers coming from the Virginia Military Institute. We’ve had seven Medal of Honor recipients, 11 Rhodes Scholars, one Nobel Prize winner.”
According to Fox News, the former Gov. Ralph Northam (D-Va.) ordered an audit of the Virginia Military Institute in 2021 over allegations of racism and sexism linked to the school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The outlet noted that the investigation was conducted during former President Joe Biden’s administration amid the peak of the DEI movement.
Pushing back against allegations of racism and sexism at the Virginia Military Institute, Auzenne told Fox News, “My two roommates, they look nothing like me, come from completely different places, worship different gods. My roommates, including Mike, who [was my] rat roommate, these are the people who I can call my brothers, my family, my friends, and anytime I ever need them, they’ll always be here for me.”
The cadet added, “I can say VMI is the most inclusive environment that I have ever been a part of.”
