Virginia Military Institute: Encyclopedia II - Virginia Military Institute - Student life

Virginia Military Institute - Student life

The Virginia Military Institute is a unique military and educational experience.

All Cadets are housed on campus in a large five story building, called the "barracks." The Old Barracks, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark, stands on the site of the old arsenal. The new wing of the barracks ("New Barracks") was completed in 1949. The two wings surround two quadrangles connected by a sally port. All rooms open onto porch-like stoops on one of the quadrangles. VMI Cadets wear uniforms every day and eat their meals together in a mess hall.

Potential students must be between 16 to 22 years of age. They must be unmarried, physically fit for enrollment in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and be graduates of accredited secondary schools. The typical new cadet has an average SAT score of over 1200 and an average high school GPA of 3.35. Eligibility is not restricted to Virginia residents (although it is more difficult to gain an appointment if the potential student is not a resident of Virginia) and VMI has graduated students from across the U.S. and from many other countries. Virginia residents do receive a discount in tuition, as is common at most state-sponsored schools. Tuition for the 2005-2006 school year is approximately $15,000 for Virginia residents and $28,000 for all others. These fees can be misleading, because VMI's endowment enables VMI to meet a substantial ammount of a cadets's financial need before the cadet needs to take school loans. It is common for in-state cadets to have their last two years at VMI paid for by alumni.

Virginia Military Institute - Ratline

The freshman student is known as a "Rat", and walks a prescribed line in barracks while in an exaggerated form of attention known as "straining." The Rat experience, called the Ratline, is intended to instill pride, discipline, brotherhood, and a sense of honor in the students. A Rat and his or her "Brother Rats" (classmates) face many challenges and must memorize rules, school songs, and facts about the school and its history. The Ratline is among the toughest, most grueling, and in-depth initiation programs in the country. It is best described as a longer version of the Marine Corps boot camp combined with rigorous academics.

After having their heads shaved bald, the Rats undergo their first week in a long year of intense military and physical training. The initial week is a crash course in everything VMI: how to wear every uniform, how to march, how to clean a rifle, etc.

Once the first week is complete, Rats anxiously await the arrival of the returning students, the "Old Corps". Rats are each paired with a senior(first classman) who serves as a mentor for the rest of the first year. This pairing is integral to Keydet life at VMI. The first classman is called a "Dyke", reference to an older phrase "to dyke out", or to get into a uniform. This arose from a pair of Keydets helping each other get into the full parade dress, which includes white pants or ducks, full dress coatee, belt and leather cartridge box, military dress shako, (head piece with plume), several large web belts, or "cross dykes", that are extremely difficult to don alone, and a school issued M-14 rifle. Cadet officers and noncommissioned officers have the privilege of bearing a sash and sabre, while the Institute's regimental band carries instruments for parades and formal functions.

During the freshman year, Rats continue to undergo training from the most highly skilled Cadets at VMI, the Cadre. They enforce all rules, and the Rats live a life involving "sweat-parties," early morning runs, late night runs, and countless push-ups. It is hoped they will learn to think under pressure and focus on a team approach to solving challenges.

The Ratline experience culminates in a "Break Out" event during the second semester where the Rats are formally welcomed to the VMI community. After break out, rats are officially fourth class students and no longer have to strain in the barracks or eat "square meals" at attention. Many versions of the Break Out ceremony have been conducted. In the 1950s, Rats from each company would be packed into a corner room in barracks and brawl their way out through the upperclassmen. In the late 60's through the early 80's, the Rats had to fight their way up to the fourth level of the barracks through three other classes of Keydets determined not to let them get to the top. The stoops would often be slick with motor oil, grease or water. Another recent version had the Rats climbing a muddy hill on their stomachs while the upper classes dragged them back down.

Virginia Military Institute - Honor System

VMI is known for its strict Honor System. Under the VMI Honor Code, "Cadets will not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do." There is only one punishment for breaking the Honor Code: immediate expulsion in the form of a "Drum Out" ceremony. During a Drum Out ceremony, Cadets are awakened in barracks deep in the night to the sound of a long snare drum roll followed by a single bass drum beat, repeated over and over again, and then they listen in the darkness to the announcement from the president of the Honor Court that the Cadet has "placed personal gain above personal honor, and has left the Institute in shame." The name of the Cadet is never to be mentioned inside the four walls of VMI again. [5]

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Student life", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki