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Judge won't end VMI oversight yet /
U.S., state debated issue of progress
Saturday, April 17, 1999
BY JAMIE C. RUFF
Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
DANVILLE -- A federal judge yesterday said he will probably
continue federal oversight of Virginia Military Institute's
progress in integrating women on campus.
U.S. District Judge Jackson L. Kiser, who did not say when he
will issue his decision, said he will probably follow the first
class of women, who are in their second year, for another two
years.
"I think it's probably too early to terminate
oversight," Kiser said following about an hour and a half of
debate on the matter by federal and state attorneys.
In June 1996, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that VMI's 157-year
history of accepting only men to the state-supported school was
unconstitutional.
Later that year, Kiser rejected an argument by the Justice
Department that VMI immediately provide a detailed plan for
enrolling females, opting instead to have the school submit
quarterly reports showing what steps it had taken, and was
planning to take, toward coeducation.
But in December, VMI asked that the school no longer be
monitored, and in January Kiser signed off on the request after a
Justice Department clerical error lost the agency's request for
additional time to respond to VMI's appeal.
Yesterday in U.S. District Court in Danville, Justice Department
officials argued that while VMI has made progress in integrating
women into campus life, much work remains and the school has
given sparse progress reports.
Among the questions federal attorneys said the school has not
answered: why some of the women applicants were rejected, how
many of the school's scholarships are restricted by gender and
their worth and plans to accommodate women's athletics.
Michael Maurer, a U.S. Department of Justice attorney, said that
in
the last few months the parents of one female cadet have
complained to the agency about their daughter being sexually
harassed. He declined to give details. School attorneys said any
such problem should have been brought to VMI.
"Their work has not been completed, and the process needs to
continue on," Maurer said. "They may be doing
everything they're suppose to be doing, but there is no way of
knowing that.
"There's simply no substitute for full reports."
But William Hurd, senior council to the attorney general, said
the school has complied with the court's order, and the
government is now trying to micromanage VMI.
"It's time to let VMI go," Hurd said. "They will
never let VMI go voluntarily. What they need is an order telling
them it is time to let go."
Hurd said the quarterly reports were never intended to be given
indefinitely and were never intended to be on everything that
happens on the campus.
"What the court ordered we report, we did report; and much
more," Hurd said.
He said VMI has done a good job of planning for and integrating
female cadets into school life and activities.
Those women who were denied admission were turned down for the
same reasons as male applicants, Hurd said.
He added that 90 percent of the school's female cadets receive
scholarship assistance, averaging $11,436, compared with 75
percent of the school's male cadets, who receive an average of
$9,700.
"There is enough scholarship money available to ensure no
qualifying woman applicant would go without some scholarship
assistance," he said.
And while it was not mandated, VMI has altered its fitness
requirement, Hurd said. Before, students not meeting requirements
were largely on their own and lost privileges until they could
come into compliance. With the revision, however, remediation
training is now done twice a week and exercise equipment is
available, Hurd said.
Meanwhile, Kiser praised VMI's coeducation and the leadership of
Superintendent Josiah Bunting III.
"I think it's fair to say the entire nation has been
impressed by the way . . . VMI has gone about its business of
[integrating] women," he said.
Female Applicants to VMI Increase
The number of female applicants to the Virginia Military
Institute could reach a new high this year. School officials said
the number of women who have applied for admission to the Class
of 2004 already has surpassed last year's total and is nearing
the total received in 1997, the first year VMI accepted women.
By Thursday, 82 women had applied for admission to the school in
Lexington, seven more than last year. The school already has
accepted 59 women and expects slightly fewer than half to enroll.
In 1997, there were 91 female applicants, of whom 67 were
admitted and 30 matriculated. Twenty-two of those women, who are
on track to graduate in 2001, remain enrolled in the school.
Col. Mike Strickler, a VMI spokesman, said the school accepts
applications until mid-June, adding that VMI officials expect the
school's largest overall applicant pool in this decade.
Former VMI cadet gets 9 years in robbery
FINCASTLE -- A former Virginia Military Institute cadet was
sentenced to nine years in prison for the armed robbery of a
Buchanan restaurant.
Bradley Clay Purcell, 20, told Botetourt County Circuit Judge
George E. Honts III yesterday that he was on drugs at the time of
the robbery last September of the North Star Restaurant shortly
after it closed for the night.
Purcell, who was in his second year at VMI when he was arrested,
had faced up to life in prison. He resigned from VMI after his
arrest.
John White was convicted and sentenced in February as a youth
offender for his role in the robbery. White was 17 at the time.
Spring Sports Update: The following represents
some recent articles regarding a number of spring sports at VMI.
During the past several weeks several participants have asked
that some updates be provided.
KEYDETS HOLD BACK ST. ANDREWS FOR 15-12 LAX VICTORY
April 14, 1999
LEXINGTON, Va. -- A seven-goal run by VMI through the second and
third quarters helped the Keydets to outlast St. Andrews
Presbyterian, 15-12, in lacrosse action Wednesday afternoon at
VMI's Patchin Field in Lexington, Va.
VMI (5-5) nosed out to a 6-4 lead by the 4:46 mark of the second
quarter, when Steve Schmidt's (Huntington Station, N.Y./Fork
Union, Va.) shot at St. Andrews goalie Jesse Weber was mishandled
and eventually put back into the Knights' net. That began a
string of seven Keydet goals including one more by Schmidt, two
by Matt Gallienne (Richmond, Va./Collegiate), and one each by
Aaron Bush (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield), John Humphries (Salem,
Va./Salem), and Mason Ayers (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's)
before St. Andrews would respond.
The 13-4 lead built by the Keydets with 6:07 remaining in the
third quarter diminished quickly as the Knights (1-10, 1-3 Deep
South Conf.) scored eight times, including five EMO goals,
through the final 19 minutes of play.
St. Andrews' Brad Cann scored two goals in the span of 11 seconds
to trim the VMI lead to 13-6, and Chaz Bulera's EMO goal made the
score 13-7 by the end of the third quarter.
The two teams traded goals early in the fourth quarter, making
the score 14-8, which Cann cut to 14-9 with his fourth goal of
the game with 10:41 to play. Chris Novello scored a rare 'true'
hat trick of three consecutive goals made even more unusual by
the fact they were all EMO goals trimming the VMI lead to 14-12.
However the Keydets successfully held off all further St. Andrews
scoring attempts, and picked up an insurance goal by Matt Gehring
(Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's) in the waning moments of the
game to post the 15-12 win.
VMI goalies Cregg Burns (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Bros. Acad.)
and Alexander Ayers (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's) combined to
turn away 11 St. Andrews shots, while Knights goalie Weber made
nine saves.
The Keydets next go into action on Saturday, April 17, at 1 p.m.,
when they host Lehigh University at Patchin Field.
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KEYDETS OVERWHELMED BY LEHIGH IN LACROSSE, 22-3
April 17, 1999
LEXINGTON, Va. -- Lehigh scored 15 goals before the Keydets put
their first point on the scoreboard, on their way to a 22-3 win
over VMI in lacrosse action Saturday afternoon at VMI's Patchin
Field in Lexington.
VMI (5-7) did not get their first goal of the afternoon until the
10:02 mark of the third quarter, when Mason Ayers (Richmond,
Va./St. Christopher's) ended VMI's goal drought.
Lehigh (6-3, 3-0 Patriot League) grabbed a 7-0 lead in the first
quarter, with seven different players tallying goals for the
Mountain Hawks. The lead doubled to 14-0 by halftime, with
Christian Castellani and Scott Reynolds each scoring twice in the
second quarter.
Castellani scored two more in the third quarter, and added one
more in the final frame, to finish as the game's high scorer with
five goals.
Matt Gallienne (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) and Mike Dunn (Garden
City, N.Y./Garden City) scored the remaining two goals for the
Keydets.
The Mountain Hawks outshot VMI 45 to 15 during the contest, and
out-groundballed the Keydets 35 to 32. Lehigh goalie Todd
Schreiner made five saves during the afternoon, while Keydet
netminders Cregg Burns (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Bros. Acad.) and
Alexander Ayers (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's) combined for
four saves.
VMI next sees action on Wednesday, April 21, when it heads to
Columbus, Ohio, to battle Ohio State. Game time is 3:30 p.m.
--------
VMI PULLS OUT DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT WITH ETSU ON
THOMPKINS' SOLO SHOT
April 17, 1999
LEXINGTON, Va. -- Scott Thompkins' (Sumter, S.C./Sumter) solo
homer to lead-off the seventh inning allowed VMI to post a 2-1
win in the second game of a doubleheader with East Tennessee
State, in Southern Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon
at VMI's Patchin Field in Lexington, Va.
VMI and the Buccaneers split the doubleheader, with ETSU posting
a 16-9 win over the Keydets in the first game of the day.
The Keydets (19-17, 11-11 Southern) took the lead in the second,
when Thompkins reached on a dropped ball by Buccaneer first
baseman Nathan Copeland. Thompkins was moved around the bases on
a single by Rob Riley (Springfield, Va./West Springfield), and
scored on a single to center field by Ryan Colvin (Plymouth,
Ind./Plymouth).
East Tennessee State (18-17, 11-9 Southern) scored their only run
of the second game in the third inning, when Nathan Copeland
tripled to left field, and was plated on the next at bat by
Travis Blevins with a sacrifice fly to right.
The game remained tied until Thompkins belted his shot over the
left field fence.
Ian Ostlund (Singers Glen, Va./Turner Ashby) picked up the win,
in relief of starter Matt Poulos (Ft. Belvoir, Va./Hayfield). The
two Keydet pitchers combined to strike out six, while giving up
only two hits. ETSU's Matt Baber turned in an equally fine
performance, fanning five Keydets while walking one and giving up
only six hits, on his way to a complete game loss.
In game one, three Bucs drove in eight runs on four homers to
lead ETSU to the nine-inning victory.
ETSU posted five runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. The
Buccaneer fifth was keyed by a two-run double by Ed Sparks,
followed by a two-run homer by Matt Nunley. In the sixth, Rusty
Swackhamer scored Brandon Eierman with a double to center, and
Sparks homered three batters later to plate Swackhamer and Lance
Torbett. Copeland homered two batters after Sparks, producing an
additional run.
VMI scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth, briefly making
the score 9-6 for ETSU, but that was as close as the Keydets
would get. Eric Walker (Union Hall, Va./Franklin Co.) keyed the
VMI fifth with a three-run home run.
The two teams complete the three-game set Sunday afternoon at 1
p.m. at Patchin Field.
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KEYDETS TAKE SERIES FROM ETSU WITH 14-7 VICTORY
April 18, 1999
LEXINGTON, Va. -- VMI pounded out 14 runs on 19 hits as the
Keydets defeated East Tennessee State, 14-7, in Southern
Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon at VMI's Patchin
Field in Lexington, Va.
The win gave VMI a two-games-to-one advantage in the three-game
series between the two clubs.
VMI (20-17, 12-11 Southern) posted big innings in the second,
sixth, and seventh innings on their way to the victory.
Two of the Keydet runs in the second inning were scored off
Stephen Johnson's (Marshall, Va./Fauquier) one-out triple to
right field. Johnson later came home on a single by Ed Pearson
(Hampton, Va./Bethel), and Pearson was plated on a double by
Chris Catanzaro (Kaneohe, Hawaii/East Lake, Fla.).
VMI scored four more runs in the sixth on singles by Johnson,
Eric Walker (Union Hall, Va./Franklin Co.), and Michael Goldman
(Midlothian, Va./Midlothian), another double by Catanzaro, and
walks to Ben Bradford (Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill) and Scott
Thompkins (Sumter, S.C./Sumter).
More Keydet runs were plated in the seventh on doubles by Pearson
and Goldman, and a sacrifice fly by Bradford.
East Tennessee State (18-18, 11-10) scored three of their runs on
homers by Ed Sparks and Rusty Swackhamer in the second and third
innings respectively.
VMI reliever Brannon Howle (Richmond, Va./D.S. Freeman) picked up
his fifth win of the season, while Ian Ostlund (Singers Glen,
Va./Turner Ashby) earned his sixth save of the season. Ostlund
entered the game with bases loaded and two out in the seventh,
and forced Swackhamer to fly out to right field to get out of the
inning. He then struck out four batters over two innings to give
VMI the win.
Buccaneer starter Michael Harrell picked up his first loss of the
season, falling to 3-1.
VMI's next game will be Tuesday, April 20, when the Keydets host
William and Mary at 3 p.m. at Patchin Field.
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TRIBE DOWNS KEYDETS, 12-5
April 20, 1999
LEXINGTON, VA - William & Mary's Mike O'Kelly went 3 for 4
and drove in four runs to lead the Tribe to a 12-5 victory over
VMI Tuesday afternoon at Patchin Field in Lexington.
The Tribe pounded out a 13-hit attack off seven VMI pitchers to
knotch its fifth win in the last seven games. Center fielder
Charles Wilson collected four hits in five trips and scored two
runs for the visitors.
VMI took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first on Michael
Goldman's two-run homer and John Yates' RBI double. After the
Tribe knotted the game with two runs in the third, VMI plated an
unearned run in the bottom half of the frame to nudge ahead, 4-3.
Keydet reliever Chris Riley took over in the fourth inning from
Abe Hughes. After retiring the first batter, Riley was greeted
with a solo shot from Tribe third baseman Brendan Harris which
tied the game at 4-4. William & Mary took the lead for good
later in the inning when Chris Clarke walked, advanced to second
on a wild pitch, and scored on O'Kelly's two-out RBI single.
The Tribe scored in each of the next two innings, producing three
runs on just two hits and taking advantage of four walks issued
by VMI relievers. William & Mary was equally effective on the
basepaths and stole eight bases on the afternoon.
Cliff Wilson pitched 4-2/3 innings of relief and surrendered just
one run to earn his first victory of the year.
Tribe hurler Ben Shepard closed out the game with 2- 1/3 innings
of scoreless relief to keep the Keydet bats quiet.
Goldman finished as VMI's top hitter - going 3 for 5 with two
homers and three RBI on the day.
VMI next faces Western Carolina Saturday in a Southern Conference
doubleheader at 1 pm.
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PEARSON WINS SOUTHERN CONFERENCE PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK
HONORS
LEXINGTON, Va. -- Junior centerfielder Ed Pearson (Hampton,
Va./Bethel) was named Reebok/Southern Conference
Player-of-the-Week for the week of April 12-18, the conference
office announced this afternoon in Asheville, N.C.
Pearson hit .529 (9-of-17) for the week to lead VMI to a pair of
Southern Conference wins over East Tennessee State.
Pearson keyed the victory in the series finale with 5-of-6
batting, including a pair of doubles, one home run, four RBI, and
four runs scored. The Keydets' leadoff hitter was 6-of-13 in the
series against ETSU. His second home run was a solo shot in the
first game.
In non-conference action, Pearson was 3-of-4 with a pair of
doubles against William and Mary.
VMI is now 20-17 overall, and 12-11 in the Southern Conference.
It marks the most SoCon victories by a Keydet baseball team (12).
---------
VMI'S DICKSON, WCU'S FRANKLIN TAKE FIRST DAY LEADS At
SoCon Track Championships
April 22, 1999
JOHNSON CITY, TENN. —- VMI's Martin Dickson and Western
Carolina's Altavise Franklin took leads in the multi-event
competition to kick off the Southern Conference Outdoor Track
& Field Championships at the Liberty Bell Track Complex,
Thursday afternoon.
Dickson won two of the first five events on the day en route to
a364-point lead over Brad Berry of Western Carolina (3250).
AppalachianState's Daniel Duckworth is in third with 3077 points.
Franklin tallied 2741 in the first four events of the women's
heptathlonand holds a 364-point lead over The Citadel's Peaches
Hudson (2377). WCU'sDee Mittman is in third with 2346 points.
Today marks the beginning of the first ever multi-event
competition in theSouthern Conference. Friday's schedule will
start at 9:00 a.m. with the finals of the women'shammer.
Decathlon results (After 5 Events)
1. Martin Dickson (VMI) 32532.
Brad Berry (WCU) 32503.
Daniel Duckworth (ASU) 30774.
Joe Condrey (WCU) 26085.
Josh Langley (WCU) 2507
Heptathlon results (After 4 Events)1.
Altavise Franklin (WCU) 27412.
Peaches Hudson (TCU) 23773.
Dee Mittman (CIT) 23464.
Lena Summers (ETSU) 22075.
Anna Hutcherson (UTC) 21406.
Jayna Bryant (WCU) 2122
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FROM THE SoCon Web Page:
Johnson Doubles to Help Western Carolina Men To Large
Lead At SoCon Outdoor Track Championship
April 23, 1999
JOHNSON CITY, TENN. — Western Carolina’s Phillip
Johnson recorded two individual titles on the day to pace the
Catamounts to a 29-point lead at the Southern Conference
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Friday
afternoon.
Johnson, a senior, earned first-place efforts in the shot put and
hammer throw events. WCU’s Brad Berry captured the
Catamounts’ other top finish by winning the SoCon’s
first-ever decathlon.
WCU posted double-digit points in the long jump, shot put, hammer
as well as the decathlon to grab the early lead. Johnson placed
ahead of teammate Jeb Hall in the shot put, while the Catamounts
had three athletes total 19 points in the decathlon.
The four other titles up for grabs during the first day were
divided by four different schools. Appalachian State’s Will
Dickerson crossed the finish line first in the 10,000-meters,
while Chattanooga’s Shon Grice won the 3,000-meter
steeplechase. East Tennessee State’s Jason Farr (high jump)
and VMI’s Smith Lamoytna (long jump) were the other winners.
WCU is attempting to break a string of 21-consecutive outdoor
men’s titles won by either Appalachian State or VMI.
The men’s competition will get started at 10:30 a.m. with
the finals of the discus at the Liberty Bell Track Complex.
Team Results (thru seven events)
1. Western Carolina 78
2. Appalachian State 49
3. VMI 43
4. East Tennessee State 40
5. The Citadel 21
6. Chattanooga 16
Furman 16
8. Davidson 4
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Southern Conference Internship Opportunities
The Southern Conference, an NCAA Division I Athletic Conference
in Asheville, North Carolina, is now accepting applications for
two (2) 10-month, paid internships. Candidates must have the
ability to work within the framework of Southern Conference and
NCAA regulations. Compensation is $1,000 per month. The
individuals chosen will have duties as assigned by the
Commissioner and internship coordinator. Both internships will
offer a comprehensive experience in all areas of conference
administration.
One internship will focus primarily in the areas of championships
and marketing. Assigned tasks will include, but are not limited
to, assisting the Assistant Commissioner for Championships and
Special Events with the administration of 18 Conference
championship events and assisting the Associate Commissioner for
Marketing, Licensing, Promotions, Radio and Television with the
administration of the marketing and promotions program.
The second internship will focus primarily in the areas of
compliance and business operations. Assigned tasks will include,
but are not limited to, assisting the Assistant Commissioner for
Compliance and Student Services in the administration of
conference and NCAA rules compliance and student-athlete services
and assisting the Assistant Commissioner for Internal Affairs
with daily conference operations.
Qualifications: The successful applicants should possess a
bachelor's degree (advanced degree candidate preferred), have a
background in sports administration, and must have strong
communication, organizational, and computer skills. Applicants
must have initiative and drive to complete tasks as assigned,
working independently to meet conference deadlines. It is also
preferred that the candidates have experience in either
championships administration, marketing, compliance, or business
operations.
These internships are available August 1, 1999. Interested
candidates should send a letter of application indicating the
internship of choice, resume, and list of references to: Ms. Sue
Arakas, Intern Search Committee, The Southern Conference, One
West Pack Square, Suite 1508, Asheville, North Carolina
28801-3406. The application deadline is May 15. The Southern
Conference is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
A Correction: In a recent update I mentioned
that Bill Jennings '82 had started an engineering firm in
Lynchburg and that he was looking for some help. Unfortunately
the phone and fax number I provided was actually the fax number.
The phone number should have been listed as 804-846-6510.
That's it for this week.
RB Lane '75
Last Updated: October 11, 2009
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