I respectfully ask that you oppose this bill. VMI has been an honorable institution for a long time. Nothing needs to be changed as the mission of VMI has never changed. Politics should not be involved with VMI and this bill will fundamentally change the type of graduates VMI produces. As a member of the alumni association I ask that we allow VMI to continue to do what it does best.

Present BOV better to serve VMI.. VSU BOV has very limited military experience and has its’ hand full with their present responsibilities. This bill was submitted by an individual who needs an education on what is involved. Stupid bill! .

I do not believe this bill should even come before the committee. The only rational reason for changing the BOV of VMI is political. When partisan politics enters education, the students suffer. I taught at VMI for 33 years and did not experience any of the allegations that have been brought forward. I am sure some did happen, but it is not an everyday occurrence. Sometimes college students do dumb things. The final product speaks for itself. VMI has been producing graduates who have excelled in the civilian and military communities. Many have given the full measure in protecting our freedoms. The BOV, though politically appointed, has done an outstanding job through the years of ensuring the cadets get a quality education. When you have names like Marshall, Byrd, Puller, Shepard, and many others who have influenced the direction of our country and the world, you can surmise the system is doing something right. The country and the commonwealth are getting more than their money back in the contributions of VMI graduates.

While I served 14 years in the military, I had numerous leaders though those years. I will say that the best leaders came from VMI. Not only where they very knowledgeable in history, tactics, and many other aspects of military life but they also were the most fair and balanced individuals. When things got tough they always remained composed, professional and genuinely a strong backbone. VMI produces amazing men and women that are some of the best people, I have ever met. I have worked and looked up to just about every person that is a product of VMI. They were a driving factor in my military career because I never wanted to let my leadership down. I realized the type of great people they produced and decided that since I wasn't able to go to college there as an adult that I wanted to work there. I have spent over 5 years there. I have worked directly with the cadets and leadership. I served as a police officer as well a coach on the campus and really enjoyed working with the cadets. In the 5 years of working here I have noticed the VMI of 1864 is in the corner gathering dust. It's time that we look at the product VMI of today is polished and shiny, a beacon of hope. The current leaders and those of the recent years have moved VMI in a great direction and will continue to move in the right direction. Please leave this great institution alone as it serves more than just Virginia but our great nation.

I vehemently oppose this heinous bill. My son is currently a senior there, majoring in chemistry with a minor in math. He will also commission into the Army in May. There is no justification for this action. You are singling out one college over all other VA state colleges. And you propose to put it under one of the worst colleges in the country. VMI has graduated great leaders, explorers, actors, sportsmen, and businessmen. Graduates serve in the Armed Forces and some have lost their lives while fighting under our flag. Instead of asking what VMI offers the Commonwealth, what has VMI done for the country. My son has lived under the VMI Code of Honor that “A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do.” I doubt many of the VA delegates could adhere to this. If you pass this bill you will be destroying one of the oldest Institutions in the country as well as a large piece of Virginia history. You need to stop this now for the sake of history, for the graduates, and those still attending, for all those who have served and still serve in the military, and those who lost their lives serving our country. Shame on you. You should be doing better and building up instead of tearing down.