Posted on 01/31/2005 11:00:00 AM PST by jb6
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A well-known US academy that moulds cadets for potential military careers has opened an investigation after photographs of some of its students posing in Nazi costumes and parodying gays were posted on a public website.
VMI Photo
The Virginia Military Institute (VMI) said it was "disappointed" in the cadets' behaviour, but that the probe will determine whether any disciplinary actions will be taken against those involved, some of whom also parodied Africans during an October 2004 Halloween party.
Although the party at the academy's "barracks" in rural Virginia occurred several months ago, the photographs of cadets -- showing some adopting Nazi salutes -- only surfaced recently on a public website.
"Photographs taken during a Halloween costume party in Barracks last October 2004 that showed VMI cadets parodying Nazis and stereotyping other groups have been posted to an Internet chatroom," the academy said in a statement issued Friday.
"While recognizing cadets have rights as private citizens to express themselves, VMI is disappointed in their behavior and judgment," the statement said.
The photos of the VMI cadets wearing Nazi costumes to a party at the academy emerged weeks after a photograph of Britain's Prince Harry dressed as a Nazi at a January 8 party in Britain were published in the media sparking a political firestorm across Europe.
One of the VMI cadets pictured in Nazi dress appears to have a small mustache similar to the one adopted by Adolf Hitler.
Other photographs posted on the Richmond.indymedia.org website show cadets mocking gays; in one a cadet with a bull's eye target attached to his buttocks bends over while a shirtless cadet poses behind him.
Another photograph shows a cadet painted brown from head to toe wearing just a loincloth.
The academy in Lexington, Virginia, is not military-run like West Point, but it claims to be the US' oldest state military college and many of its graduates go on to illustrious military careers.
Founded in 1839, famous alumni include former US secretary of state George C. Marshall who led Europe's reconstruction under the so-called 'Marshall Plan' following the Allied victory over the Nazi Germany.
A contingent of cadets from the school -- where tuition can cost 17,512 dollars a year -- also took part in President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s recent inaugural parade here.
VMI's website also lists four military alumni who died in Iraq (news - web sites) serving with US forces there.
Well there's our answer to where Harry got the costume. Sounds like he and his Nazi friends have an abundance of them. Harmless fun, huh?
This is sick. I spit on Harry, so-called son of the philanderer Charles.
was there anyone in a (communist) Cheka uniform? NKVD?
Cowboys killed Indians. Where is the outrage?
At the sake of being ridculed for insensitivity, where is the outrage at every other offensive costume? Quite frankly, every scary costume is offensive.
Note to self, read article thoroughly before commenting.
Not any connection to Harry, but I still spit on him, and the VMI cadets.
Gays, Blacks and Hitler. Sounds like they've got it all covered.
Well, they actually make Harry look pretty tame and reasonable. What are these idiots thinking? Many of these morons plan to be officers in the armed forces and will lead units of mixed personnel. If they don't get expelled then VMI is sunk.
I think the point to such *private* parties is to be outrageous and to 'push the envelope'.
I dont want our military to be led by fascists and perverts, but I also dont want our military to be led by a bunch of panzy a$$es afraid of doing anything that might bring them social censure.
Bad judgement on the part of the cadets?
Maybe, but that was the point, but I doubt any of them thought any of this would be posted on the internet.
It is the latter act, being an act of betrayal of confidence, that is, IMO, far worse than playing 'Hogans Heroes' or 'Fairy Tales' at a private party.
I don't know, but I wonder if that would get them promoted?
I think the problemis, the NKVD and Cheka had really lousy looking uniforms. Long leather coats, makes you look more like a flasher then a hearld of death. The Nazis, though, had good fashion for the message.
If the every citizen has to go through some PC Police checkpoint before having a good time, perhaps we go straight to the Constitution and remove the right of free speech, right of assembly, freedom of the press... any others?
'They have an honor code there?
I thought those uniforms loked a lot like New Jersy State Polizei (I mean police).
They weren't thinking at all. Typical for a frat party perhaps, but not exactly a leadership trait.
The purpose of the Honor Code is to maintain the high standards traditionally attributed to VMI cadets by seeking to instill in all cadets the desire to conduct themselves according to the code of an honorable cadet, who will neither LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, NOR TOLERATE THOSE WHO DO. All cadets should be able to determine right from wrong, and thus be able themselves to arrive at honorable answers to their questions.
The Code is the heart of VMI. It pervades every activity of the Corps-personal, academic, athletic, and military, and presents a rigid standard by which all cadets must live. Because the Code is such an integral part of the life of cadets, its very existence depends on the vigilance of every cadet at VMI. Therefore, every suspected violation of this Code must be reported immediately.
The Honor Code is the daily application of the principles of ethics, honesty, and personal integrity by all cadets to the problems with which they are confronted.
The Code has been administered and enforced by the cadets themselves since its beginning, and therefore belongs to the Corps. In the broadest sense, however, it belongs to all VMI men and women everywhere--those who have been cadets, those who are cadets, and most important, to those who will be cadets in the future. It is their most jealously guarded possession.
But the Code itself is never to be left behind by cadets when they depart from the Post. Though cadets may be in summer school, at another college, or later in life, they remain morally obligated to the Code and the personal standards on which it is based.
It is therefore far more than just a set of principles for four years in the life of a cadet. It is a Code which must be strictly followed by all cadets, no matter where they may be, if they wish to preserve the most priceless thing they have in life -
THEIR HONOR
Well I think that when you are "Instutionalized" for four years straight for a very stressful place like VMI(or any other academy for that matter) it becomes necessary to relax from time to time, mostly though small things. However, Halloween is a time where you can forget who you are and enjoy yourself for a night. I think that is what most of these cadets were doing (other than the hitler jugen).
I think that would be a case of bad judgement, they will probably be punished severely since the adminstration has been embarrassed by this incident, and the old addage says that "shit roles down Hill. However, to expell these cadets on this incident would be stupid. I can tell you that a lot worse things are taking place on this nations college campuses and in the frat quads. I would rather have any of these "morons" at my side than some frat boy from State U.
They do have an honor code there I know. Though I dont know the specifics its probably something like "We dont lie cheat or steal or tolerate those who do".
I was a frat boy from a state university and left as a major. And I can tell you, while we did a lot of stupid (and fun) stuff, no one, not one of my fraternity bothers ever dressed up as a nazi or a black "savage". Sorry, but "slips" like these can destroy unit moral and integrity and in the end cause casualties.
The problem is that many young people today live in a complete electronic fantasy world, driven by music, movies and video games.
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