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Author: Mike Finkelstein

VMI Brothers Volunteer on the 611

Two brothers from Daleville, Virginia, are toiling in the sultry, muggy summer heat doing filthy, exhausting work, all while having the time of their lives. Andrew Quesenberry ’26, a cadet at Virginia Military Institute, and his younger brother, Ryan, who will be matriculating as a VMI rat in August, are spending their summer as volunteers at the Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT) in Roanoke, doing maintenance work on the Norfolk & Western Class J #611, the iconic steam locomotive built locally in 1950. 

Ever since the brothers can remember, they have been around tools, helping their father, Travis, himself a VMI alumnus from the Class of 1999, and their grandfather work on car engines and tinkering on other projects. They are both huge train enthusiasts, so it is a natural progression that they would find themselves performing a labor of love on the impressively massive locomotive. 

Upon first setting sight on the 611, both young and old are instantly awestruck by the size. Affectionately referred to with feminine pronouns, she stands 16 feet high, is 109 feet long, and weighs 494,000 pounds. Despite her imposing proportions, she projects a charming and endearing personality. She is considered one of the most powerful and technologically advanced steam locomotives ever built, and is the only Class J remaining. She was named a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1984, and is the official steam engine of the commonwealth. She is considered an engineering marvel by many rail enthusiasts and historians.  

Andrew shared that their interest in trains began when they were very young. Their father was in the military and often traveled away from home, so their mother, Sarah, searched out activities to keep the boys busy and entertained. “

She would bring us to the transportation museum, and with every trip — and there were many — our interest in the 611 grew. When plans were announced that the 611 would be restored and running again, we were thrilled. We often returned to the museum to watch the progress of the restoration.” 

Both Andrew and Ryan view their summer volunteer service on the locomotive as a dream come true. And they owe it in large part to Andrew’s VMI uniform. 

“I was in Goshen during the 611 fall excursions in 2023, and Scott Lindsay, chief mechanical officer for VMT, recognized me as a VMI cadet. He has an appreciation for the military and invited me to climb up into the cab and look around. A couple months later after the 611 returned to the museum, I went back to see her, and met with Scott. We started talking, and after I told him both my brother and I have mechanical skills, he encouraged us to come work on the locomotive.” 

Ryan refused to believe the opportunity was true until he arrived at the museum for his first day of work.

“I’ll always remember arriving, meeting everybody, and being part of something bigger than myself. When this thing travels, she brings a crowd with her, and I’m proud to be part of the crew, and able to share my knowledge about her with others. She’s part of Roanoke’s history and Virginia’s history. Our job now is to keep her running, and help the younger generations stay interested.” 

Andrew agreed.

“When we see kids come and take pictures in front of the locomotive, as we did when we were children, it reminds us of why we’re working on her. We didn’t have the opportunity to see her running when we were younger, but now that she is in operation again, we’re hopeful that when the kids see her traveling down the tracks and hear her whistle blow, it will spike their interest.” 

Zac McGinnis, steam operations manager at VMT, is appreciative of the two brothers being part of the 611 crew.

“They fit in very well and bring with them the VMI standards of leadership and following directions. They are extremely helpful. For lack of better terms, it takes a whole army to keep this thing going. I equate it to the wheels on the steam locomotive. You got all the spokes, and every person is a spoke, making the wheels turn. Like Andrew and Ryan, I started out as a little kid loving this stuff. I’m lucky enough to be involved in a leadership position now, and am considered one of the old guys on the crew. I want to mentor these kids, like my mentors did for me, and pass the torch on to them.” McGinnis shared that the 611 has a bright future and, without revealing details, stated that exciting news will soon be announced. 

The Quesenberry brothers graduated from Lord Botetourt High School. At VMI, Andrew is majoring in international studies. He will graduate in May and will commission into the Army. Ryan plans to major in civil engineering. 

More information is available about VMT and the 611 as is more coverage on the Quesenberry brothers.

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

Can Music Improve Athletic Performance?

If music can charm a savage beast, could it also bring out the beast in an athlete? Music is known to help lower anxiety and stress, slow the heart rate, and create a calming effect, but can certain music enhance an athlete’s performance? Colton Shirk ’27, a biology major minoring in exercise science at Virginia Military Institute, sought to answer the question for his Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) project, “Effects of Music Genre on Vertical Jump Power and Hand Grip Strength in Resistance Trained College Students.” 

Shirk proposed two hypotheses. The first: More aggressive, angry, arousing music genres such as heavy metal, will produce a greater ergogenic effect than sedating, soft, calming genres such as jazz, across songs with similar tempo in strength and power tests. The second: This increase in strength and power is mediated by an increase in salivary A-Amylase enzyme, signaling an increase in epinephrine within the body. 

A-Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into simpler sugars, facilitating digestion. Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is produced naturally by the adrenal glands. It increases heart rate, and is a key part of the body’s emergency fight-or-flight response to danger. 

To test his hypotheses, Shirk recruited volunteers from the VMI Corps of Cadets between the ages of 18 and 25, who have had at least three consecutive years of weightlifting training, and with no reported severe orthopedic or muscular injury within the last year to be his test subjects. 

According to Shirk, subjects were tested on five separate dates. They were instructed to abstain from ingesting alcohol 12 hours prior to testing days; from caffeine and other stimulants six hours prior to testing; from eating large meals, sugary or acidic food and drink, and ingesting nicotine for 90 minutes prior to testing; and from any vigorous lower body exercise 48 hours prior to testing.

“Upon arrival to the lab, subjects’ weights were recorded, and each rinsed out their mouths thoroughly with water. Each test began with the subject completing a standard lower body warmup routine consisting of a hamstring stretch, quadriceps stretch, and two minutes jumping rope. They were exposed to one of five musical conditions—no music, heavy metal, rock, pop, or jazz—then performed vertical jump tests to assess lower body power, an isometric hand grip dynamometer test to assess upper body strength, then provided saliva samples to assess A-Amylase enzyme concentrations. They then rested for three minutes. They repeated the jump test, grip test, rest cycle two times. When the subjects completed testing for each condition, they took a survey to rate their familiarity with each of the four songs,” he reported.  

Shirk’s faculty mentor, Col. Mike Krackow, professor in the Department of Human Performance and Wellness, shared that the research is very important. “Coaches and athletes are always looking for ways to improve their performance. If this study can show that specific music genres can improve strength and power, it can become a valuable resource as part of their training. Future cadets or other researchers can use the results of Shirk’s work and expand on it. With expanding technologies, athletes and coaches can customize music playlists specific to what promotes the greatest performance for that individual. This work is just the beginning of something that can become much larger in terms of athletic performance.” 

Following data analysis, Shirk found that his results were inconclusive. He plans to increase his sample size when he continues the research during the upcoming fall semester.  

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

Governor Announces Appointments to VMI Board of Visitors

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has appointed Garrett J. Exner, L. Scott Lingamfelter ’73, Ernesto Sampson ’98, Lloyd Taliaferro ’95 and reappointed Jose J. Suarez ’82 to four-year terms on the VMI Board of Visitors.  

Exner lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and is the executive director of the Public Interest Fellowship. Previously, he served as military legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and as a counterterrorism policy advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 14 years and received a bachelor’s degree from University of the Incarnate Word and a master’s from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.  

Lingamfelter, from Woodbridge, Virginia, received a degree in history from VMI, and a master’s degree from the University of Virginia. He served in the U.S. Army from 1973 to 2001. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002-2018, representing Prince William and Fauquier Counties.   

Sampson of Glen Allen, Virginia, is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial. He received a degree in economics and business from VMI and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University. He most recently served as the VMI Foundation Board of Trustees president and is a member of the VMI Investment Holdings LLC; prior to that, he served on the VMI Board of Visitors.   

From Norfolk, Virginia, Taliaferro received a degree in mechanical engineering from VMI, and an MBA from Emory University. He served as a U.S. Naval officer and currently owns corporate finance consulting firm Gosport Ventures. He is currently a member of the VMI Investment Holdings LLC, and most recently served as the VMI Foundation Board of Trustees vice president. He also serves as an advisory member of the VMI superintendent search committee.  

Originally appointed to serve the remainder of an unexpired term, Suarez was reappointed to a four-year term. He received a degree in civil engineering from VMI and a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Kansas. He served in the U.S. Navy for seven years and is the president and CEO of JS Consulting. He resides in St. Augustine, Florida.  

Departing the board are Hugh Fain III ’80, J. Conrad Garcia, and Damon Williams ’90, whose service and dedication to VMI are deeply appreciated. 

VMI Marches in Army 250th Parade: Reflects Army of the Future

A group of 49 Virginia Military Institute cadets, along with VMI Army ROTC staff members, marched in the Army’s 250th Birthday Parade in Washington, D.C., June 14, to commemorate the founding of the U.S. Army in 1775. The Army is the oldest of the six branches of the U.S. armed forces.

The parade highlighted the Army throughout the years, including the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Global War on Terror, the Army of today, and the Army of the future, in which VMI was included.

Maj. Mackenzie Colella ’08, assistant professor of military science at VMI, said it was an honor for VMI to be part of the Army’s birthday celebration. “We are very proud of how they performed in the parade. They marched with precision and looked great!”

Blake Darmante ’26, a cadet from Lexington, said it was a pleasure to participate in the parade. “It was a unique opportunity offered to us to represent VMI in our nation’s capital.”

While in D.C., the cadets were able to tour the Capitol Building led by VMI alumnus Lt. Col. Rob Kelly ’08, Army Congressional Defense fellow. They also ran in the “Army Birthday Run” through Arlington Cemetery alongside Army units from across the capital region. The run was preceded by addresses from the Secretary of the Army, Daniel P. Driscoll, and Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Randy A. George.

Founded in 1916, the VMI Army ROTC Program, known as the Blue Ridge Battalion, is the largest Army ROTC Program in the country and commissions more Army officers each year than any other ROTC program. The Blue Ridge Battalion is also responsible for providing basic military instruction to all non-commissioning cadets in support of VMI’s mission to produce citizen-soldiers. 

More about VMI’s participation in the parade may be found from WDBJ, who have also released an additional follow up story.

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

Youth Fife and Drum Corps Performs at VMI

Virginia Military Institute will host the Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps, an all-youth band from Plymouth, Michigan, who will perform 18th and 19th century fife and drum music, while demonstrating marching and color guard maneuvers, Saturday, July 12 at 10:30 a.m. on the Parade Ground. The event is free and open to the public.

Founded in 1971, the corps wears 1783 period replica uniforms of George Washington’s Life Guards, and carry replica 18th century period muskets and sabers. In addition to VMI, they will perform at Monticello, Poplar Forest, Yorktown, Mount Vernon, and will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, as part of their Virginia tour.

VMI alumnus, Dr. Rodney Daniels ’99, current vice president and equipment manager for the corps, has been involved for seven years and has three children who are members. He said he is especially looking forward to being on post again. “Living in Michigan, I don’t have many opportunities to travel through the Shenandoah Valley.”

The group has performed all over the country including Independence Hall, Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, and aboard the USS Constitution. It is governed by an administrative board which serves collectively as its leadership, along with a music director and a group of drum, fife, and color guard instructors.

Additional information about the Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps is available on the group’s website.

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

Bulger-Barnett Initiated into Prestigious Order

Col. Kathleen Bulger-Barnett, professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures (DoMC) at Virginia Military Institute, was initiated into the Order of José Martí, one of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society’s highest honors, for her outstanding service and loyal support for its ideals.

Bulger-Barnett, who has a doctorate in Spanish from the University of Kentucky with a specialization in Spanish Golden Age literature and has been teaching Spanish courses at VMI for 36 years, stated, “This honor represents my career goal of fostering the love of learning and understanding all things Hispanic. I am especially proud to have shared this journey with my colleague, Dr. Sabrina Laroussi, who is responsible for nominating and supporting me.”

Col. Abbey Carrico, head of DoMC and holder of the Lieutenant General John W. Knapp ’54 Chair of Academic Excellence, said, “This award represents Colonel Bulger-Barnett’s outstanding and lasting achievements as a Spanish professor and scholar. It is a truly fitting way to honor her and her impact at VMI and on the profession.”

Established in 1919 at the University of California, Berkeley, Sigma Delta Pi honors those who have completed three years of study of college-level Spanish, including at least three semester hours of a course in Hispanic literature or Hispanic culture and civilization with a minimal grade point average of 3.0 in all Spanish courses taken. Candidates must also rank in the upper 35% of their class—sophomore, junior, or senior—and must have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of college work. Graduate students may also be elected to membership upon completion of two graduate courses in Spanish with an average which, if continued, will make them eligible for a graduate degree.

With 637 chapters nationwide and its national office at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, Sigma Delta Pi is the largest foreign language collegiate honor society in the U.S. and a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, the nation’s only certifying agency for college and university honor societies. VMI has its own active chapter of Sigma Delta Pi that was founded in 1983.

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

A Final Message from Maj. Gen. Wins ’85

In November 2020, I addressed the VMI Corps of Cadets for the first time. Today, as the 15th superintendent, I am communicating for the final time with cadets, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. Although my departure is premature, a new chapter in the history of the Virginia Military Institute begins. That chapter is yet to be written by the next superintendent, but I remain optimistic about our future. 

As I looked back at those before me, I found each superintendent left a distinct mark on VMI. I believe VMI is better now than when I arrived. We faced significant challenges, including COVID-19, accusations of institutional racism and sexism, partisan politics, and a twelve-year decline in admissions applications. By directly addressing these issues and making difficult, and at times unpopular, decisions, I helped keep VMI relevant as a public college capable of fulfilling its unique mission. 

Over my professional career as a military officer, I learned that leaders are pivotal in shaping an organization’s culture and my immediate challenge was redefining VMI’s culture. We needed to transform and produce positive outcomes of change. The positive outcomes of our cultural transformation – including fostering a more diverse Corps and systematically creating opportunities for experiential leadership over the past four years – significantly contributed to developing young leaders from diverse backgrounds. This increased diversity strengthened our leadership ranks and enriched the Corps’ overall educational experience. We successfully restored a professional culture where cadets’ actions are driven by purpose, recognizing the intrinsic value of each cadet regardless of their background. Leading through these challenges required unwavering focus, decisive action, and the courage to embrace necessary change. Our success was watched closely and recognized. 

Our achievements recognized leadership development opportunities throughout our VMI systems. This included Corps leadership with cadet captains wearing chevrons, the class elected leaders involved in cadet governance, participation in the esteemed Honor Court, and positions as Division I athletic or club team captains or members. We made significant investments to enhance both academic and cadet well-being resources, along with the development of compensation models that effectively allocated state appropriated funds, demonstrating our commitment to supporting our exceptional workforce. Additionally, we continued to invest in human capital through comprehensive onboarding, training, managerial, and mentorship programs. 

At the beginning of each academic year during my tenure, I addressed the entire Corps and various segments, encouraging them to embody the qualities of a VMI cadet. The Code of the Cadet, drafted and instituted for all cadets to study, serves as a guide. I reminded each class of matriculants of the purpose behind their presence here, emphasizing they all belonged and could achieve success if they chose the path toward a successful cadetship and committed to meeting the Institute’s challenges. The VMI brand, which I frequently reference, is not merely a logo or catchphrase; it represents how the community perceives the Corps through its conduct, bearing, and achievements. 

It is my firm belief the Corps of Cadets should have remained free from political controversies and negative stereotypes. Unfortunately, a few individuals’ poor actions led to unfair perceptions of the entire group, further fueled by alumni anger and harsh comments about the many needed institutional changes. But as the Corps marched on, and to their credit, visitors observed a Corps of Cadets consisting of dedicated young men and women who embody our core values: honor, excellence, self-­discipline, courage, esprit de corps, selfless service, and resilience. These values are preparing them for real-world challenges. 

What does the future of VMI look like in fulfilling its mission? First, I know my service to the Institute removed barriers and embraced diversity. Future leaders must maintain these inclusive attitudes. With women showing great leadership, such as our first regimental commander, and, to date, five battalion commanders, I anticipate seeing female class and Honor Court presidents soon. It is likely a regimental commander will be a non-African American person of color, not due to tokenism but through earned achievements. 
The new strategic plan approved by the Board of Visitors, “Forging 21st Century Leaders,” is already under way and charts a course for the next 10 years. Tangible results are already being realized. 

A campaign is needed to generate financial support, allowing the Institute to achieve the goals of its strategy. Campaign resources will help develop future leaders by focusing on producing well-rounded cadets while appropriately balancing three key areas: maintaining a military-like environment, pursuing academic excellence leading to graduation, and promoting physical development through athletics or other activities to achieve fitness. At the foundation all we hold dear must be our Honor Code, indiscriminately applied, without regard to race, gender, legacy association, or financial status. 

Our faculty and staff must receive ongoing support as professionals within their field. Faculty members should be able to exercise academic freedom without the influence of political or ideological constraints in the classroom. We should ensure their ability to educate, pursue professional development, and strive for excellence – particularly in scholarly research – that is recognized and encouraged. Selection and evaluations of faculty should be based solely on their qualifications and capabilities as educators, rather than a “litmus test” on political affiliation or views on controversial subjects. Continuing to provide competitive compensation comparable to leading state institutions is crucial to retaining our talented staff and faculty. This approach will ensure our workforce continues to educate, inspire, and challenge our cadets to think critically and ask insightful questions that enhance their learning and training.

The integration of minority cadets into the Corps and their selection as leaders historically occurred sporadically and only when evaluated through an unbiased lens. Despite our success in fostering a more diverse Corps during my tenure, assertions have suggested a decline in quality despite no empirical data supporting that claim. Each chosen leader, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, demonstrated admirable leadership, rapid maturation, and performance comparable to that of their predecessors. Again, progress in this area is easily measurable and must remain a cornerstone of VMI as a 21st century institution.

Achieving a balance in the “three-legged stool” of leadership development is crucial, with each component varying for every cadet. Leadership development happens within every aspect of this triad. VMI’s military structure applies equally to all cadets, nullifying any notion of a double-standard. Our cadet-athletes represent VMI at the highest intercollegiate level and often excel academically despite their added responsibilities. A modest investment in athletics showed positive outcomes during my tenure, but consistent performance requires more resources through endowed funds to avoid mediocrity or worse. As the NCAA landscape changes, VMI must adapt while adhering to our mission and values. Investment directly impacts our ability to “compete to win.” I am confident VMI’s future is bright if we stay united by our core values and uphold the true “Spirit of VMI.” 

Cadet athletes also represent about one-third of each recruited class, highlighting the importance of the athletic department’s role in attracting quality students to VMI. Athletes enhance Corps diversity and often become key ambassadors for a VMI education. They dedicate time, risk injury, and sacrifice privileges, demonstrating commitment to both VMI and their sports. 

Striking a balance is crucial for cadets aiming for leadership roles. Often athletes prioritize sports with their academics, while others prioritize commissioning, research, or graduate school attainment through academic pursuits. All cadets must adhere to the same rules, wear the uniform, march in parades, stand guard, and face similar challenges. Success hinges on Institute leaders’ ability to coach, teach, mentor, guide, and enforce discipline. Leaders must help struggling cadets see the benefits of our military structure. All cadets who consistently fail to meet standards have and do risk their cadetship. But, prioritizing Title IX violations is most important as they harm VMI’s reputation and contradict the Code of Cadet, diminishing the standards expected by everyone. 

Advancing VMI as a state-supported military college means aligning its culture, climate, and appearance with our values and desired cadet experience. Clinging to outdated traditions and attitudes hinders VMI’s goal of developing future 21st century leaders. Most current cadets do not find past traditions meaningful for their future pursuits. They acknowledge VMI’s founding history but also recognize it did not consider inclusivity for women and minorities, and changes only came through directives. Historically, VMI was slow to adapt, but the previous Board of Visitors made the right decisions about which historical iconography and traditions should remain and what should be removed. What remains reflects the best of VMI’s history, progress, and future to be built upon. 

VMI’s future vision must leverage recent progress and align graduates’ character with national needs. For the members of the Corps and our most recent graduates, the years ahead will place you into leadership roles which are complex and complicated. Stay mission-focused and goal-oriented, even when facing agendas, personal attacks, rumors, and politics. Set those distractions aside and have the courage to do what’s right. Strive for organizational excellence rather than self-interest. This is a reward in itself. Although the world you will enter differs from when I graduated, VMI’s values will serve you well. Serving VMI has been one of my greatest honors. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the Institute, and thankful to all who supported the Institute’s progress during these transformative years. I wish you all the very best and may God bless VMI. 

Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85
U.S. Army (retired) 
15th Superintendent
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

CD&D Program Maintains Spring Debate Activities

VMI’s College Debates and Discourse (CD&D) program, co-sponsored by the Center for Leadership and Ethics (CLE) and the Building BRIDGES service club, had a full and varied spring semester, covering topics ranging from societal issues to those internal to VMI. The debates are grounded in the light parliamentary format developed by Braver Angels, a national organization whose mission is to bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen the democratic republic. VMI’s programming was recognized in the National CD&D Alliance’s annual report and also in their video.

Col. Sara Whipple, professor in the Department of Psychology and one of VMI’s Civil Discourse and Debate faculty fellows and Building BRIDGES advisor, said, “Braver Angels debates are not about scoring points against an opponent with statistics or soaring rhetoric. Instead, we offer the opportunity to speak freely and without fear to say what we truly believe on topics that can be divisive, in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.”

The CD&D program kicked off the spring semester with an intercollegiate debate Feb. 4 in Marshall Hall that asked, “Should monuments perceived as symbols of oppression be removed from public spaces?” Student peers and faculty from Washington and Lee University, Southern Virginia University (SVU), and Mountain Gateway Community College, along with some community members and alumni, approached the topic from various viewpoints. The debate moderator, CD&D faculty fellow, Lt. Col. Kim Connolly, assistant director of programs and conferences at the CLE, told the large group of participants in her opening remarks to expect nuance, ambiguity and doubts to be expressed. That turned out to be the case, with speakers mentioning contextualizing monuments and letting the local community decide whether to remove a monument. “While some may have expected fireworks, they were disappointed,” Connolly observed. “There were thoughtful, complex, and personal beliefs shared, and I hope that all walked away with a greater appreciation for differing viewpoints without demonizing those with whom we disagree.”

The intercollegiate partnerships forged by VMI in the previous year continued with another well-attended debate at SVU March 18. That debate explored the topic, “Is cancel culture erasing free speech in America?” Six cadets traveled to the campus in Buena Vista to participate. Once again, speakers came at the discussion from a surprising variety of viewpoints, ranging from cultural touchpoints such as movies and music to protest movements.

March 24, a VMI-centric topic was tackled: the athlete/non-athlete divide at VMI. This was addressed using a new format, the A Braver Campus Dialogue (ABCD) workshop. Sadie Webb, associate director of the College Debates and Discourse Alliance, came to post to moderate and introduce this solutions-based format. “The ABCD workshop encourages participants to ask questions, raise challenges, and engage each other to understand the other’s perspectives in an effort to offer solutions,” said Col. Valentina Dimitrova-Grajzl, professor in the Department of Economics and Business, CD&D faculty fellow and Building BRIDGES advisor. Jamaal Walton ’07, director of intercollegiate athletics at VMI, enthusiastically endorsed the debate, and there was a large turnout of coaches and athletes to listen and share, along with cadets not involved in NCAA sports. There were several observations about rats and fall sports, focusing on the challenges of fully integrating them into their new VMI experience when pulled away with practices, workouts, and travel to games. Many ideas were offered, not just for athletes and coaches, but for all cadets, such as modernizing the Rat Bible with consideration of the vocabulary used and understood by current cadets.

In addition to the large debates and workshops, the CD&D program also offered small-format “food for thought” gatherings during lunch for informal, inclusive discussions. In January, the pizza and dialogue get-together focused on misinformation, free speech, and TikTok. In February, addiction in society was discussed. The rat-dyke relationship was the topic of the March gathering.

Cadet fellows for the 2024-25 academic year were Earl Filgo ’25, Bella Bruzonic ’25, Katy Layman ’26, and Zach Denton ’27. The cadet fellows help choose debate topics, recruit opening speakers, and promote the debates to the Corps.

Filgo said being a part of Braver Angels has taught him the important skill of active listening. “In the noise of your own thoughts, listening, and I mean listening with a quiet mind, has tremendous benefits to your intelligence and growth as an individual. Being able to actively listen to people’s opinions, thoughts, and rationale promotes a sense of maturity in me. Many I have invited personally have expressed some sense of surprise at the benefit of enjoying an environment where we all let our guard down and pour our thoughts and minds into an issue many may feel passionately about. My most memorable moment was when my own rat felt comfortable sharing heartfelt and emotional experiences, for which our listeners showed empathy. And empathy is a prized gift of our Braver Angels discourses.”

VMI’s CD&D program was granted five years of support from the Jackson Hope Fund in April to continue the programming, conduct research, support cadet and faculty fellows in attending conferences, and develop an academic course around civil discourse.

Lt. Col. Kim Connolly
Center for Leadership and Ethics
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTTITUTE

Bookstore Announcement

Virginia Military Institute is pleased to announce that, beginning July 14, Barnes & Noble College will assume management of all course materials, as well as the retail and online operations of the VMI Bookstore.

Barnes & Noble College brings extensive experience and a national reputation for excellence, currently operating more than 1,160 physical and virtual campus bookstores across the U.S. Their partnership will enhance our bookstore experience and provide expanded support for cadets, faculty, and staff.

What to Expect:

For Cadets: Access to one of the industry’s largest selections of affordable physical and digital course materials, a price-match program, and flexible options for ordering and delivery, including in-store pickup and shipping.

For Faculty: Use of the innovative Adoption & Insights Portal (AIP), a market-leading tool that simplifies the research and selection of course materials while promoting affordability and student success.

For Everyone: A refreshed VMI Bookstore offering a wider selection of Keydets apparel, gifts, supplies, and more — available in store, online, or via mobile app. The new experience will be dynamic, personalized, and focused on delivering exceptional service to post.

We look forward to sharing more updates soon and are excited about the benefits this transition will bring to the VMI community.

Squire Featured on “With Good Reason”

Col. Jim Squire, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Military Institute, shares that engineering is full of creativity, rather than being stoic and fixed, on the public radio program, “With Good Reason,” starting May 24. Speaking from his military experiences and years of teaching, he emphasizes that personal experiences will never be replaced in the problem-solving process by AI. 

In addition to Squire, the upcoming show, “After Service,” will feature Anthony Fontes of Tidewater Community College and Stephanie Richmond from Norfolk State University. The episode will also highlight the transition back to civilian life after military service and some of the programs available to help veterans connect their skills to careers. 

“With Good Reason” is sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. Local broadcast times, as well as audio files of full programs and companion news features, are on the “With Good Reason” website.