Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

Page 21 text:

Seated: L. K. Fuscaldo, N. A. Skinrood, Jr., J. R. Amos, G. N. Savage, III, P. .1. Ippolito. Standing: R. M. Frasche, C. H. Watson, III, G. A. Tucker, B. R. Gardner, K. E. Dice, F. D. Drake. THE GENERAL AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES Student self-government has been a highly cherished tradition at the VMI since the founding of the school in 1839. The central agency charged with the realization of this concept is the cadet General Committee, which is composed of the officers of the upper three classes, the Chairman of the Rat Disciplinary Committee, and several members-at-large elected by the first class. The General Committee has as its primary responsibilities the enforce- ment of the traditional class system and the protection of the rights and prerogatives of the individual cadet within the barracks society. The General Committee is also the parent organization of the Executive Committee which functions to enforce and im- prove the high standards of appearance and conduct of the Corps, for which the VMI is renowned. Cadets sununoned to appear before the Committee are assured of fair and just consideration, for each case is weighed on its individual merit. Findings are tempered by many years of tradition and precedent which provide a uniform code of punitive articles for those found guilty of infractions of the rules and standards of the Corps. Each cadet is well aware that his case is being heard by his peers, his fellow cadets, chosen of, by, and for the Corps to serve and guard the rich heritage of self-govern- ment. JoHx R. Amos President

Page 20 text:

iy jiJULikjiii Seated: J. Bunting. J. H. Storm, P. E. Brunei, J. J. Miite, C. H. AVatson. Standing: G. il. Rapport, T. J. Snyder, W. A. Vells, O. E. Souder, L. L. Peters, J. F. Frosch, C. M. Walton, C. T. Sprouse. HONOR COURT njr- f Pierre E. Bbxtnel President The men in barracks with perhaps the most burdensome re- sponsibility to bear are the ones chosen by their classmates to rep- resent them on the Honor Court. After their selection, it becomes their duty to interpret and decide upon matters involving the Honor Code of the ' irginia Military Institute. To say that only the fourteen men pictured on this page rep- resent the Honor System would be facetious, for it has become, through inherited tradition, the duty of every member of the Corps to uphold and jealously guard each and every principle on which the Code is based. Although the rules set by the Court are basically sim|)le — a ])erson may not violate those principles considered honorable by the Corps — they iiave been so admirably observed that colleges throughout the United States have come to the VMI in hopes of finding out just how they might also initiate a similar system in their particular schools. To a query of this nature, the Court can only answer that such a network of honor cannot be started by a small group, rather it must be the sincere concern of the entire student body. It is, therefore, the duty of the Court not to serve as constables for the Corps, but to act as interpreters of the moral laws under which the Corps lives. The Honor Court is only the ai)ex of honor which finds its foundations in the honorable character of every cadet at the VMI.

Page 22 text:

James Autcher Griffin President At the on l of its second year of existence, the Rat Disciphnary Conunittee has trnly made a clean break from its ])redecessor, the old Officers of the Guard Association. This year ' s RDC followed in the footsteps of last year ' s Committee in that the meetings are of a more formal nature, and penalties are graduated according to tiie nature of the offense. The purpose, as the title implies, is to discipline Rats that have committed violations of any of the Rat Restric- tions. Some examples of these regulations are: to keep one ' s person and his room neat and clean in appearance at all times and to remain orderly and quiet while in his rooms. Other restrictions require Rats to l earn all school songs and yells, plus a myriad of facts pertaining to the history of the Institute. Many of the rules are designed to instill some measure of self-discipline and respect for duly constituted authority in the New Cadet. Some of the rules, however, are designed for the convenience of upper-classmen, for example: a Rat shall not visit the barber shop on days when insjjection in ranks is held. The committee is made up of seven elected company representatives, one frcin each coinpaTiy, plus a chairman who is also a member of the (General Committee. Any upper- classman has the authority to send the Rat-deviate to the Committee, where he will receive, if warranted, penalty tours and confinement. RAT DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE FrnnI ru„ . I!, i;. ,„ ,„c, ,Ir., 1). K. lVrkin , Jr., I- ' . I). I)r;ikr, II. I.anipk ' v, Jr. Second row: W. W. Custer, J. A. GrilKn, C. F. McBri.le, U. K. l?Mlclwiii. —