Two weeks ago, pictures of a Halloween party that took place in barracks at Virginia Military Institute where students dressed in costumes mimicking gays, Nazis and blacks surfaced online. VMI instituted a panel of three students to investigate and suggest disciplinary action against the students.
A military institution is obviously a different culture from most colleges when it comes to leadership, but it's unbelievable that VMI administration is not getting involved.
It is inappropriate and irresponsible of the school to not take more of a stance. VMI is not letting students act as spokesmen to the media on behalf of the school, so it's very troubling that it will let them be responsible for choosing the punishment. Students are responsible for the incident occurring, and supposedly responsible student-chaperones were present at the party, so it's a questionable decision to entrust them with the power to choose the punishment.
The Eagle hopes that the punishment determined will not only be severe but also will make a point to the students about diversity and why what they did was wrong.
Along with this incident, the recent incidents involving Professor Ward Churchill and Prince Harry have shown a curious lack of perspective and lack of knowledge of history on the part of in-training military officers, professors and even royalty.
